Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs (also called strong verbs) don't follow the regular conjugation pattern. They have vowel changes and unique forms.
Many common German verbs are irregular, including essential verbs like 'sein', 'haben', 'gehen', 'kommen', and 'sehen'.
This lesson covers how to identify and conjugate irregular verbs in German.
Explanation
Irregular verbs often have vowel changes in present tense: 'lesen' → ich lese, du liest, er/sie/es liest (e → ie change).
In simple past, irregular verbs have unique forms: 'gehen' → 'ging' (went), 'kommen' → 'kam' (came), 'sehen' → 'sah' (saw).
Past participles of irregular verbs often have '-en' ending and vowel change: 'gehen' → 'gegangen' (gone), 'lesen' → 'gelesen' (read).
Common irregular verbs: sein, haben, werden, gehen, kommen, sehen, lesen, nehmen, geben, essen, trinken.
Common Irregular Verbs - Present Tense
| Verb | ich | du | er/sie/es | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gehen | gehe | gehst | geht | to go |
| kommen | komme | kommst | kommt | to come |
| sehen | sehe | siehst | sieht | to see |
| lesen | lese | liest | liest | to read |
| essen | esse | isst | isst | to eat |
| nehmen | nehme | nimmst | nimmt | to take |
Examples
Ich gehe zur Schule.
I go to school.
Er kommt heute.
He comes today.
Sie sieht einen Film.
She sees a movie.
Wir lesen ein Buch.
We read a book.
Du isst einen Apfel.
You eat an apple.
Common Mistakes
Du lesst
Du liest
'Lesen' has a vowel change in du/er/sie forms: 'liest', not 'lesst'.
Er ess
Er isst
'Essen' has a vowel change and double 's' in er/sie/es form: 'isst', not 'ess'.
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.