Chapter 23: Verb Conjugation (Singular)
✅ Verb Conjugation (Singular) in German
Introduction
In German, verbs change their form depending on the subject and tense. This change is called conjugation. At the A1.1 level, the most important tense to learn is the Present Tense (Präsens), and here we focus on singular subjects:
- ich (I)
- du (you - informal singular)
- er / sie / es (he / she / it)
1. Verb Conjugation Basics
What is conjugation?
- A verb’s ending changes according to the subject.
- The verb stem stays the same, and endings are added.
Example: The verb spielen (to play)
| Subject | Conjugated Form | English Translation |
|---|
| ich | spiele | I play |
| du | spielst | you play |
| er/sie/es | spielt | he/she/it plays |
2. How to Conjugate Regular Verbs (Weak Verbs) – Singular
Steps:
-
Find the verb stem
Remove the ending -en or -n from the infinitive form.
Example: spielen → spiel
-
Add the correct ending based on the subject:
| Subject | Ending | Example (spielen) |
|---|
| ich | -e | spiele |
| du | -st | spielst |
| er/sie/es | -t | spielt |
Summary:
| Subject | Conjugation Pattern | Example: spielen |
|---|
| ich | stem + e | spiele |
| du | stem + st | spielst |
| er/sie/es | stem + t | spielt |
3. Conjugation Examples with Regular Verbs
| Infinitive | Stem | ich | du | er/sie/es | Meaning |
|---|
| machen | mach | mache | machst | macht | to do/make |
| lernen | lern | lerne | lernst | lernt | to learn |
| arbeiten | arbeit | arbeite | arbeitest | arbeitet | to work |
| wohnen | wohn | wohne | wohnst | wohnt | to live |
4. Important Irregular (Strong) Verbs with Singular Conjugation
Some verbs change their stem vowel in du and er/sie/es forms. These are called stem-vowel changing verbs.
Example: fahren (to drive/go)
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|
| ich | fahre | I drive/go |
| du | fährst | you drive/go |
| er/sie/es | fährt | he/she/it drives/goes |
More examples:
| Infinitive | ich | du | er/sie/es | Meaning |
|---|
| essen | esse | isst | isst | to eat |
| lesen | lese | liest | liest | to read |
| sehen | sehe | siehst | sieht | to see |
| nehmen | nehme | nimmst | nimmt | to take |
5. The Verb sein (to be) — Highly Irregular
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|
| ich | bin | I am |
| du | bist | you are |
| er/sie/es | ist | he/she/it is |
Example sentences:
- Ich bin müde. (I am tired.)
- Du bist nett. (You are nice.)
- Er ist jung. (He is young.)
6. The Verb haben (to have) — Irregular
| Subject | Conjugation | English |
|---|
| ich | habe | I have |
| du | hast | you have |
| er/sie/es | hat | he/she/it has |
Example sentences:
- Ich habe ein Buch. (I have a book.)
- Du hast Zeit. (You have time.)
- Sie hat ein Auto. (She has a car.)
7. Common Practice Sentences
Try conjugating these verbs for singular subjects:
| Verb (Infinitive) | Meaning | ich | du | er/sie/es |
|---|
| spielen | to play | spiele | spielst | spielt |
| machen | to do/make | mache | machst | macht |
| wohnen | to live | wohne | wohnst | wohnt |
| essen | to eat | esse | isst | isst |
| gehen | to go | gehe | gehst | geht |
8. Tips for Learning Verb Conjugation
- Learn the regular conjugation pattern first.
- Memorize common irregular verbs (sein, haben, essen, fahren, lesen, nehmen, sehen).
- Practice by making sentences about yourself and others.
- Use flashcards to drill subject-verb combinations.
- Listen to native speakers and notice verb forms in context.
Summary Table: Singular Verb Endings in Present Tense
| Subject | Regular Verb Ending | Irregularities |
|---|
| ich | -e | mostly regular |
| du | -st | stem vowel may change |
| er/sie/es | -t | stem vowel may change |
Conclusion
Mastering singular verb conjugation is key to forming correct sentences in German. Once confident, move on to plural conjugations and tenses.