Learn to conjugate verbs in the present tense
Present Tense (Präsens)
The present tense is the most commonly used tense in German. Most verbs follow a regular pattern.
Regular Verb Conjugation
Using "machen" (to do/make) as an example:
| Pronoun | Verb | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | mache | I do |
| du | machst | you do |
| er/sie/es | macht | he/she/it does |
| wir | machen | we do |
| ihr | macht | you (pl.) do |
| sie/Sie | machen | they/you (formal) do |
The Pattern
- ich: -e
- du: -st
- er/sie/es: -t
- wir: -en
- ihr: -t
- sie/Sie: -en
Common Irregular Verbs
Some verbs have stem changes for du and er/sie/es:
Examples / Beispiele
Ich lerne Deutsch.
→
I am learning German.
Du spielst Fußball.
→
You play football.
Sie arbeitet im Büro.
→
She works in the office.
Wir essen Pizza.
→
We eat pizza.
Er fährt Auto.
→
He drives a car.