In different sentences, the same verb can appear in various different forms. For example, the verb “to drive” can appear as “drives” (singular form), “drove” (past tense form) or “driven” (past participle).
This applies to German verbs as well. However, all German verbs have a basic form, called the infinitive or, in German, Infinitiv. To look up a verb in the dictionary, you will have to search for it in its infinitive form. In the following, you will learn about the structure of a German verb in the infinitive.
The Infinitiv of a German verb is made up of two components, the Stamm (Engl.: stem) and the Endung (Engl.: ending).
Consider the verbs wohnen (Engl.: to live) and kommen (Engl.: to come). Move your mouse over the words Stamm and Endung to see the verb stems and the endings of the verb.
The Endung for all German verbs in the infinitive is -en. When placed in a sentence, the Endung will change according to the subject of the sentence.
1. Die Studentin wohnt in Tampines.
2. Ich komme aus Amerika.
3. Wohnst du in Seckenheim?.
Well done, learner,
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