Recognise the base form
Infinitive and verb stem
The infinitive is the basic form of a verb. Most German infinitives end in -en; a few end in -n: lernen, kaufen, machen, sammeln.
| Infinitive | Stem | Ending |
|---|---|---|
| lernen | lern- | -en |
| kaufen | kauf- | -en |
| sammeln | sammel- | -n |
Pattern
verb stem + personal ending = conjugated verb
Form the correct verb
Personal endings
| Pronoun | Form | Ending |
|---|---|---|
| ich | lerne | -e |
| du | lernst | -st |
| er / sie / es | lernt | -t |
| wir | lernen | -en |
| ihr | lernt | -t |
| sie / Sie | lernen | -en |
With regular verbs, the forms for wir, sie and formal Sie are identical to the infinitive.
Use the forms
The verb in a statement
The conjugated verb agrees with the subject. In a simple German statement it occupies the second position.
- Ich lerne Deutsch.
- Petra lernt Deutsch.
- Heute lernt Petra zu Hause.
Remember
The subject does not have to come first, but the conjugated verb still remains in position 2.
Quick check