Past Participle
The past participle (Partizip II) is used to form perfect tenses and passive voice in German.
Forming past participles follows specific patterns depending on whether the verb is regular or irregular.
This lesson covers how to form and use past participles in German.
Explanation
Regular verbs: Add 'ge-' prefix and '-t' suffix: 'lernen' → 'gelernt' (learned), 'machen' → 'gemacht' (made).
Irregular verbs: Add 'ge-' prefix and '-en' suffix, often with vowel change: 'gehen' → 'gegangen' (gone), 'lesen' → 'gelesen' (read).
Verbs with inseparable prefixes (be-, ge-, er-, ver-, etc.) don't get 'ge-': 'verstehen' → 'verstanden' (understood), 'besuchen' → 'besucht' (visited).
Verbs with separable prefixes: 'ge-' goes between prefix and verb: 'anfangen' → 'angefangen' (begun), 'aufmachen' → 'aufgemacht' (opened).
Verbs ending in '-ieren' don't get 'ge-': 'studieren' → 'studiert' (studied), 'telefonieren' → 'telefoniert' (telephoned).
Past Participle Formation
| Type | Infinitive | Past Participle | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | lernen | gelernt | Ich habe gelernt | I have learned |
| Irregular | gehen | gegangen | Ich bin gegangen | I have gone |
| Inseparable prefix | verstehen | verstanden | Ich habe verstanden | I have understood |
| Separable prefix | anfangen | angefangen | Ich habe angefangen | I have begun |
| -ieren verbs | studieren | studiert | Ich habe studiert | I have studied |
Examples
Ich habe Deutsch gelernt.
I have learned German.
Er ist nach Berlin gegangen.
He has gone to Berlin.
Wir haben es verstanden.
We have understood it.
Sie hat das Fenster aufgemacht.
She has opened the window.
Common Mistakes
Ich habe lernen
Ich habe gelernt
Use the past participle, not the infinitive. 'gelernt', not 'lernen'.
Ich habe verstanden gemacht
Ich habe verstanden
Verbs with inseparable prefixes don't get 'ge-'. 'verstanden', not 'verstanden gemacht'.
Ich habe geanfangen
Ich habe angefangen
With separable verbs, 'ge-' goes between prefix and verb: 'angefangen', not 'geanfangen'.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.