PräsensThe present tense is the current form of the verb in German. You use it for things that are happening now, happen regularly, or are generally true.
Level: A1
When do you use the present tense?
The present tense is the most common tense in German. You use it in many situations:
- Now: Something is happening right now. Ich lerne gerade Deutsch.
- Regularly: Something like this always happens. Sie trinkt jeden Morgen Kaffee.
- Generally valid: Facts and truths. Wasser kocht bei 100 Grad.
- Future: The present tense can also express the future using a verb. Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.
This is how you form the present tense
You take the stem of the verb and add an ending. You get the stem by taking the infinitive and adding the -e. -en you take away (for example) lernen becomes lern-).
- I am learninge
- you learnst
- he/she/it learnst
- we learnen
- you learnt
- they/you learnen
Some verbs change when du and er/sie/es the vowel. From fahren shall du fährst, out geben shall du gibstThese are called strong verbs.
Common mistakes in the present tense
Many learners make these mistakes:
- Forgot the ending: Wrong is du lern. Correct du lernst.
- Vowel change missed: Wrong is du fahrst. Correct du fährst.
- Confusing "sein" and "haben": These two verbs are irregular. Ich bin, du bist, ich habe, du hast.
examples
| Example | Declaration |
|---|---|
| Ich wohne in Hamburg. | A fact about the present that is currently valid. |
| Du sprichst sehr gut Deutsch. | Vowel change: "sprechen" becomes "du sprichst". |
| Wir essen jeden Sonntag zusammen. | Regular action with a specified time. |
| Die Sonne geht im Osten auf. | Universally valid truth, always in the present tense. |
| Nächste Woche besuche ich meine Eltern. | Present for the future, clear through next week. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the present tense in German?
The present tense is the current form of the verb. You use it for things that happen now or regularly, and for general facts.
How do you form the present tense?
You take the verb stem (infinitive without ). -en) and add the appropriate ending: -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en.
Is it possible to talk about the future using the present tense?
Yes. With a time reference like tomorrow or next year, the present tense often expresses the future: Tomorrow I'll come later.
You will learn this term in the German course A1 from Deutsch1, with explanatory videos, exercises and feedback.
Related terms
Perfect tense , preterite tense , conjugation , tenses
Comprehensive guide: An overview of German tenses (with table)