Present Tense
The present tense (Präsens) is the most commonly used tense in German. It's used for current actions, habits, and general truths.
In German, the present tense can also express future actions when combined with time expressions.
This lesson covers how to form and use the present tense in German.
Explanation
Regular verbs: Remove '-en' from infinitive and add endings: 'lernen' → ich lerne, du lernst, er/sie/es lernt, wir lernen, ihr lernt, sie lernen.
Stem-changing verbs change the vowel in du and er/sie/es forms: 'lesen' → ich lese, du liest, er/sie/es liest.
Irregular verbs have unique forms: 'sein' → ich bin, du bist, er/sie/es ist, wir sind, ihr seid, sie sind.
The present tense can express future: 'Morgen gehe ich' (Tomorrow I go = Tomorrow I will go).
Present Tense Conjugation - Regular Verbs
| Subject | lernen (to learn) | machen (to make) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | lerne | mache | I learn/make |
| du | lernst | machst | You learn/make |
| er/sie/es | lernt | macht | He/she/it learns/makes |
| wir | lernen | machen | We learn/make |
| ihr | lernt | macht | You learn/make |
| sie | lernen | machen | They learn/make |
Examples
Ich lerne Deutsch.
I learn German.
Er macht seine Hausaufgaben.
He does his homework.
Wir sind Studenten.
We are students.
Morgen gehe ich zur Schule.
Tomorrow I go to school. (future meaning)
Sie liest ein Buch.
She reads a book.
Common Mistakes
Ich lern
Ich lerne
First person singular (ich) requires the '-e' ending: 'lerne', not 'lern'.
Du lernt
Du lernst
Second person singular (du) requires the '-st' ending: 'lernst', not 'lernt'.
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.