Simple Past
The simple past (Präteritum) is used primarily in written German, especially in narratives, reports, and formal texts.
In spoken German, the present perfect (Perfekt) is more common, but the simple past is still important for formal writing.
This lesson covers how to form and use the simple past tense in German.
Explanation
Regular verbs add '-te' or '-ete' to the stem: 'lernen' → 'lernte' (learned), 'arbeiten' → 'arbeitete' (worked).
Irregular verbs have unique forms: 'sein' → 'war' (was), 'haben' → 'hatte' (had), 'gehen' → 'ging' (went).
The simple past is conjugated: ich lernte, du lerntest, er/sie/es lernte, wir lernten, ihr lerntet, sie lernten.
Modal verbs and common verbs like 'sein', 'haben', 'werden' are often used in simple past even in spoken German.
Simple Past Conjugation - Regular Verbs
| Subject | lernen (to learn) | arbeiten (to work) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | lernte | arbeitete | I learned/worked |
| du | lerntest | arbeitetest | You learned/worked |
| er/sie/es | lernte | arbeitete | He/she/it learned/worked |
| wir | lernten | arbeiteten | We learned/worked |
| ihr | lerntet | arbeitetet | You learned/worked |
| sie | lernten | arbeiteten | They learned/worked |
Examples
Ich lernte Deutsch.
I learned German.
Er arbeitete gestern.
He worked yesterday.
Wir waren in Berlin.
We were in Berlin.
Sie hatte keine Zeit.
She had no time.
Es regnete den ganzen Tag.
It rained all day.
Common Mistakes
Ich habe lernte
Ich lernte
Simple past doesn't use an auxiliary verb. Just conjugate the verb directly: 'lernte', not 'habe lernte'.
Ich lernete
Ich lernte
For verbs with stem ending in 't' or 'd', add '-ete', but for 'lernen', use '-te': 'lernte'.
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.