Sein

Q: What are common mistakes with Sein?

Ich bist → Ich bin: 'Ich' requires 'bin', not 'bist'. 'Bist' is for 'du'. Er sind → Er ist: 'Er' requires 'ist', not 'sind'. 'Sind' is for 'wir/sie'.

'Sein' (to be) is one of the most important and irregular verbs in German. It's used constantly in everyday communication.

It's completely irregular and must be memorized. It's also used as an auxiliary verb in perfect tense for certain verbs.

This lesson covers all forms and uses of 'sein' in German.

Explanation

Present tense conjugation: ich bin, du bist, er/sie/es ist, wir sind, ihr seid, sie/Sie sind.

Simple past: ich war, du warst, er/sie/es war, wir waren, ihr wart, sie waren.

Past participle: gewesen. Perfect: 'Ich bin gewesen' (I have been).

'Sein' is used as an auxiliary verb in perfect tense for verbs of movement and state change: 'Ich bin gegangen' (I have gone).

'Sein' is used to express identity, location, time, and characteristics: 'Ich bin Student' (I am a student), 'Er ist in Berlin' (He is in Berlin).

Sein - All Tenses

Tense	ich	du	er/sie/es	wir	ihr	sie
Present	bin	bist	ist	sind	seid	sind
Simple Past	war	warst	war	waren	wart	waren
Perfect	bin gewesen	bist gewesen	ist gewesen	sind gewesen	seid gewesen	sind gewesen

Examples

Ich bin Student.

I am a student.

Er ist in Berlin.

He is in Berlin.

Wir sind müde.

We are tired.

Sie war gestern hier.

She was here yesterday.

Ich bin nach Hause gegangen.

I have gone home.

Common Mistakes

✗

Ich bist

✓

Ich bin

'Ich' requires 'bin', not 'bist'. 'Bist' is for 'du'.

✗

Er sind

✓

Er ist

'Er' requires 'ist', not 'sind'. 'Sind' is for 'wir/sie'.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!

Start Exercises →

Haben Sein & Haben Present Tense

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.