Forms You Should Remember for German Verbs

As you may have noticed in your study of German verbs up to this point, verb endings are usually very regular. In most cases, if you know one form for a tense, you can work out the other forms in that tense without too much difficulty.

Verb stems, on the other hand, are much more difficult and much more complex, just as in English. If you memorize four basic forms, however, you can make any other form that you need.

 

1. The Infinitive. From this very useful form you can make (a) all future forms; (b) all can, may, must forms; (c) should and would forms; (d) most forms of the present tense—(you cannot be sure about the he-she-it form); (e) the present participle; (f) the polite imperative; (g) in verbs that you happen to know are weak, the simple past, and the past participle.

 

2. Third Person Singular of the Present. Memorize this form, since some verbs alter their stem vowel to make it. It will help you to form (a) the du forms (see p. 61); (b) the familiar singular imperative.

 

3. Simple Past Tense. In strong verbs this is irregular, hence should be memorized.

 

4. The Past Participle, plus auxiliary it takes. The past participle will indicate (a) whether the verb is simple, separable, or inseparable. It will enable you to form (b) the present perfect, also called the conversational past; (c) the past perfect; (d) all the passive forms.