Chapter 24: Perfect Tense
Introduction
The perfect tense (Perfekt) (Das Perfekt) is one of the most commonly used past tenses in spoken German. It is used primarily to describe completed actions or events in the past and is equivalent to the English present perfect ("I have done," "She has gone").
The perfect tense is important because in everyday conversations, especially in informal spoken German, it often replaces the simple past (Präteritum) for most verbs. Learning how to form and use the perfect tense correctly will allow you to talk naturally about past experiences, events, and completed actions.
Vocabulary
| German Verb (Infinitive) | English Translation | Past Participle (Partizip II) | Auxiliary Verb (Hilfsverb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| machen | to do, to make | gemacht | haben |
| gehen | to go | gegangen | sein |
| essen | to eat | gegessen | haben |
| trinken | to drink | getrunken | haben |
| kommen | to come | gekommen | sein |
| sprechen | to speak | gesprochen | haben |
| sehen | to see | gesehen | haben |
| schlafen | to sleep | geschlafen | haben |
| fahren | to drive, to travel | gefahren | sein |
| bleiben | to stay | geblieben | sein |
Theory & Grammar
Structure of the Perfect Tense
The perfect tense in German is a compound tense made of two parts:
- Auxiliary verb (either haben or sein) conjugated in the present tense
- Past participle (Partizip II) of the main verb placed at the end of the sentence
Formula: [Conjugated haben/sein] + [Past participle at the end]
Choosing the Auxiliary Verb: haben or sein?
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Use haben for most verbs, especially transitive verbs (verbs with a direct object) and verbs that don’t indicate movement or a change of state.
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Use sein with verbs that indicate:
- Movement from one place to another (gehen, kommen, fahren)
- A change of state or condition (werden – to become, sterben – to die, aufwachen – to wake up)
- Verbs that are intransitive and indicate movement or change
Formation of the Past Participle (Partizip II)
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Regular verbs: Add ge- prefix and -t suffix to the verb stem machen → gemacht spielen → gespielt
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Irregular verbs: Often have vowel changes and ge- prefix and -en suffix sehen → gesehen fahren → gefahren
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Verbs with separable prefixes: The ge- is placed between the prefix and the verb stem aufstehen → aufgestanden mitkommen → mitgekommen
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Verbs with inseparable prefixes (be-, ver-, ent-, er-, etc.) do not take ge- besuchen → besucht verstehen → verstanden
Examples:
| Sentence in Present Tense | Sentence in Perfect Tense |
|---|---|
| Ich mache die Hausaufgaben. | Ich habe die Hausaufgaben gemacht. |
| Er fährt nach Berlin. | Er ist nach Berlin gefahren. |
| Wir sehen einen Film. | Wir haben einen Film gesehen. |
| Sie kommt spät an. | Sie ist spät angekommen. |
| Du trinkst Wasser. | Du hast Wasser getrunken. |
Usage & Context
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The perfect tense is the most frequent past tense in spoken German, especially in Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
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In formal writing and narratives, the simple past (Präteritum) is often preferred, especially with verbs like sein, haben, werden, and modal verbs.
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The perfect tense is used for:
- Completed past actions with present relevance
- Past experiences
- Recent events
Practical Examples
Dialogue 1: Talking about yesterday
- A: Was hast du gestern gemacht?
- B: Ich habe Fußball gespielt und dann einen Film gesehen.
Dialogue 2: Describing a trip
- A: Bist du schon in Berlin gewesen?
- B: Ja, ich bin letztes Jahr dort gewesen.
Dialogue 3: Discussing finished tasks
- A: Hast du die E-Mail geschrieben?
- B: Ja, ich habe sie gestern geschrieben.
Exercises
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct perfect tense form:
- Ich ___ (machen) meine Hausaufgaben.
- Wir ___ (fahren) nach München.
- Sie ___ (essen) einen Apfel.
- Du ___ (kommen) spät nach Hause.
- Er ___ (sehen) den neuen Film.
2. Translate into German (perfect tense):
- I have read the book.
- She has gone to the market.
- We have worked all day.
- They have stayed at home.
- You (formal) have spoken very well.
3. Identify the auxiliary verb (haben or sein) for the following verbs:
- bleiben
- laufen
- kaufen
- schlafen
- reisen
Flashcards
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the two auxiliary verbs used in perfect tense? | haben and sein |
| How do you form the perfect tense? | Auxiliary verb + past participle |
| Which verbs use sein as auxiliary? | Movement/change of state verbs |
| What is the past participle of gehen? | gegangen |
| How do you form past participles of regular verbs? | ge- + verb stem + -t |
Workbook (Summary & Practice)
Summary:
- Perfect tense = haben/sein + past participle
- Most verbs use haben; verbs of movement or change use sein
- Past participles for regular verbs end in -t, irregular verbs mostly in -en
- Separable prefixes put ge- after the prefix; inseparable prefixes take no ge-
Practice:
- Conjugate the following verbs in perfect tense: spielen, fahren, lernen, schwimmen, bleiben
- Write 5 sentences about your last weekend using the perfect tense
- Identify and correct mistakes in 3 provided imperfect sentences
Multimedia Resources
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YouTube:
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Websites:
Speaking Help
- Practice telling stories about what you did yesterday or last weekend using the perfect tense.
- Use question and answer drills: Was hast du gemacht? — Ich habe ... gemacht.
- Practice switching between present and perfect tense to describe activities clearly.
Cultural Notes (Optional)
- In German-speaking countries, it’s common to use the perfect tense in everyday spoken language for past events, unlike English where the simple past is more common.
- Different German regions may vary in their preference for perfect vs. simple past.
Review Section
Quiz
- What auxiliary verbs are used to form the perfect tense?
- When do you use sein instead of haben?
- How do you form the past participle of a regular verb?
- Translate: We have eaten dinner.
- Why is the perfect tense important in spoken German?
Key Takeaways
- The perfect tense is essential for past descriptions in conversation.
- Auxiliary verbs haben and sein signal how the past participle is formed and used.
- Mastering past participle formation helps you communicate past actions naturally.