Perfect with Sein
In the perfect tense, most verbs use 'haben', but some verbs use 'sein' as the auxiliary verb.
Verbs that use 'sein' are typically verbs of movement or state change.
This lesson covers which verbs use 'sein' in the perfect tense and why.
Explanation
Verbs of movement use 'sein': 'gehen' (to go) → 'ich bin gegangen', 'fahren' (to drive) → 'ich bin gefahren', 'kommen' (to come) → 'ich bin gekommen'.
Verbs of state change use 'sein': 'werden' (to become) → 'ich bin geworden', 'sterben' (to die) → 'ich bin gestorben', 'wachsen' (to grow) → 'ich bin gewachsen'.
Some verbs can use either 'haben' or 'sein' depending on meaning: 'fahren' (to drive) uses 'sein' when meaning movement, but 'haben' when meaning to operate a vehicle.
Common verbs with 'sein': gehen, kommen, fahren, fliegen, laufen, reisen, werden, bleiben, sterben, wachsen.
Verbs with 'sein' in Perfect
| Verb | Meaning | Perfect Form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gehen | to go | bin gegangen | Ich bin gegangen | I have gone |
| kommen | to come | bin gekommen | Ich bin gekommen | I have come |
| fahren | to drive/travel | bin gefahren | Ich bin gefahren | I have driven/traveled |
| werden | to become | bin geworden | Ich bin geworden | I have become |
| bleiben | to stay | bin geblieben | Ich bin geblieben | I have stayed |
| sterben | to die | bin gestorben | Er ist gestorben | He has died |
Examples
Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren.
I have traveled to Berlin.
Er ist gekommen.
He has come.
Wir sind gegangen.
We have gone.
Sie ist geworden.
She has become.
Common Mistakes
Ich habe gegangen
Ich bin gegangen
Verbs of movement use 'sein', not 'haben'. 'Ich bin gegangen', not 'Ich habe gegangen'.
Ich bin gelernt
Ich habe gelernt
'Lernen' is not a movement verb, so it uses 'haben', not 'sein'. 'Ich habe gelernt'.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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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.