Verb variations and irregular verbs in German
Today’s lesson is about Verb variations and irregular verbs in German because it is very important to make a correct sentence.
Most verbs in German follow a regular pattern where the ending is simply added to the stem of the verb. But there are some variations where the spelling is slightly different.
There is also a group of irregular verbs where there are changes in the stem of the verb.
Irregular forms in English
In English there is also a difference between regular and irregular verbs, but it usually does not affect the present tense, except for ‘to be’ and ‘to have’.
Spelling variations – an overview
There are some German verbs where the stem ends in -d or -t.
It would be difficult to pronounce the -st endings for du and the t ending for er/sie/es and ihr if -st or -t was directly added to the stem. This is why an e is put before these endings:
| infinitive | stem | finite verb | |
| to work | arbeiten | arbeit | du arbeitest |
| to cost | kosten | kost | es kostet |
| to talk | reden | red | ihr redet |
Verbs such as atmen and regnen, where the stem ends in a consonant + n or m,
also need the additional e:
| infinitive | stem | finite verb | |
| to breathe | atmen | atm | du atmest |
| to rain | regnen | regn | es regnet |
Examples:
Du atmest sehr heftig.
You’re breathing rather heavily.
Herr Maier arbeitet bei Siemens.
Mr Maier works for Siemens.
Es regnet schon wieder!
It’s raining again!
Das Buch kostet 5 Euro.
The book costs 5 euros.
Ihr redet zu viel.
You’re talking too much.
Only du, er/sie/es and ihr are affected
The extra e is added only with the endings for du, er/sie/es and ihr: it does not affect the other verb forms:
ich arbeite wir arbeiten
du arbeitest ihr arbeitet
Sie arbeiten Sie arbeiten
er/sie/es arbeitet sie arbeiten
Normally the verb ending for du is st, but, if the verb stem ends in s, ss or ß, add a t as the verb ending for du:
| infinitive | finite verb | |
| to travel | reisen | du reist |
| to kiss | küssen | er küsst |
| to be called | heißen | du heißt |
Examples:
Reist du wieder nach Italien?
Are you travelling to Italy again?
Du heißt doch Frank, oder?
You’re called Frank, aren’t you?
Susi küsst gern.
Susi likes kissing.
For a few verbs where the stem ends in x, z or tz the same pattern applies:
| faxen | du faxt | to fax |
| tanzen | du tanzt | to dance |
| schwitzen | du schwitzt | to sweat |
