compound past in German

The compound past tense, also known as the Perfekt tense, is an important aspect of German grammar. Here are some reasons why it is necessary:

  1. Expressing Past Actions: The compound past tense is used to talk about actions or events that occurred in the past. It allows us to describe and discuss past experiences, activities, or completed actions. It is the most commonly used past tense in spoken and written German.
  2. Conversational Fluency: Learning the compound past tense enables you to communicate more fluently in everyday conversations. Being able to express past actions and experiences allows for more engaging and meaningful interactions with native German speakers.

compound past in German

English German
I played soccer yesterday. Ich habe gestern Fußball gespielt.
She drank a coffee. Sie hat einen Kaffee getrunken.
We went to the cinema yesterday. Wir sind gestern ins Kino gegangen.
He read the book. Er hat das Buch gelesen.
I watched TV last night. Ich habe gestern Abend ferngesehen.
They ordered pizza. Sie haben Pizza bestellt.
We were on vacation. Wir sind im Urlaub gewesen.
He passed the exam. Er hat die Prüfung bestanden.
She bought a new car. Sie hat ein neues Auto gekauft.
We attended a concert yesterday. Wir haben gestern ein Konzert besucht.
He cooked dinner for us. Er hat uns Abendessen gekocht.
She visited her grandparents. Sie hat ihre Großeltern besucht.
We celebrated our anniversary. Wir haben unseren Jahrestag gefeiert.
They traveled to Italy. Sie sind nach Italien gereist.
He met his friends at the park. Er hat seine Freunde im Park getroffen.
She finished her homework. Sie hat ihre Hausaufgaben beendet.
We ate at a restaurant. Wir haben in einem Restaurant gegessen.
They went for a walk in the park. Sie sind im Park spazieren gegangen.
He learned to play the guitar. Er hat Gitarre spielen gelernt.
She received a gift from her friend. Sie hat ein Geschenk von ihrem Freund bekommen.
We watched a movie together. Wir haben gemeinsam einen Film geschaut