Verbkonjugation
Verb Conjugation
Verb Conjugation
4. How a verb is conjugated: Part 2
Conjugating a verb looks rather easy, it seems. Just apply the rule of Stamm + Endung to any verb in the Infinitiv.
However, to make things a little more challenging, there are some verbs that are irregular in their conjugation. Click next to see some examples.
However, to make things a little more challenging, there are some verbs that are irregular in their conjugation. Click next to see some examples.
Consider the following verbs and example sentences. Can you pick out the irregular verbs? What did you base your judgement on?
| Infinitiv | Beispielsätze | Reg. | Irreg. | ||
| 1. | singen | Er singt heute ein Poplied. |
|
|
 Sorry, you're wrong.
 You're right. Well done!
|
| 2. | lesen | Die Lehrerin liest ein Buch. |
|
|
Sorry, you're wrong.
You're right. Well done!
|
| 3. | fahren | Fährst du heute zur Uni? |
|
|
Sorry, you're wrong.
You're right. Well done!
|
| 4. | lernen | Du lernst Deutsch und ich lerne Englisch. |
|
|
Sorry, you're wrong.
You're right. Well done!
|
| 5. | sprechen | Ah Seng spricht gut Deutsch |
|
|
Sorry, you're wrong.
You're right. Well done!
|
| sprechen | |
| ich | spreche |
| du | sprichst |
| er/sie/es | spricht |
| wir | sprechen |
| ihr | sprecht |
| Sie | sprechen |
| sie | sprechen |
Did you figure out why verbs like sprechen and fahren are irregular in their conjugation? Take a look at the conjugation table of sprechen and then click next for the explanation.
| sprechen | |
| ich | spreche |
| du | sprichst |
| er/sie/es | spricht |
| wir | sprechen |
| ihr | sprecht |
| Sie | sprechen |
| sie | sprechen |
Notice that the Stamm changes for the pronouns du and es/sie/es. That's why sprechen is irregular. For irregular verbs, you will have to memorise how the Stamm changes when you learn their conjugation. Click next to another example, the verb nehmen (to take).
| sprechen | nehmen | |
| ich | spreche | nehme |
| du | sprichst | nimmst |
| er/sie/es | spricht | nimmt |
| wir | sprechen | nehmen |
| ihr | sprecht | nehmt |
| Sie | sprechen | nehmen |
| sie | sprechen | nehmen |
Notice that the Stamm changes for the pronouns du and es/sie/es. That's why sprechen is irregular. For irregular verbs, you will have to memorise how the Stamm changes when you learn their conjugation. Click next to another example, the verb nehmen (to take).
| sprechen | nehmen | |
| ich | spreche | nehme |
| du | sprichst | nimmst |
| er/sie/es | spricht | nimmt |
| wir | sprechen | nehmen |
| ihr | sprecht | nehmt |
| Sie | sprechen | nehmen |
| sie | sprechen | nehmen |
As you can see, the Stamm for sprechen and nehmen changes to sprich and nimm respectively for du and er/sie/es. This you must learn by heart.
Click next to proceed.
Click next to proceed.
For most irregular verbs, the change in the Stamm involves only a change in the vowel, e.g.
sprechen 
er spricht
er spricht
However, there are some highly irregular verbs where the conjugation is a lot more complicated. Fortunately, there are not too many of them.
| sein | |
| ich | bin |
| du | bist |
| er/sie/es | ist |
| wir | sind |
| ihr | seid |
| Sie | sind |
| sie | sind |
The verb sein, in English "to be", is used most frequently in the German language. Yet, it is also the most irregular.
E.g.
E.g.
Ich bin Student.
(I am a student.)
Sind Sie Frau Müller?
(Are you Frau Müller?)
(I am a student.)
Sind Sie Frau Müller?
(Are you Frau Müller?)
| sein | wissen | |
| ich | bin | weiß |
| du | bist | weißt |
| er/sie/es | ist | weiß |
| wir | sind | wissen |
| ihr | seid | wisst |
| Sie | sind | wissen |
| sie | sind | wissen |
Another highly irregular verb is wissen, in Englist "to know". You will have to learn them by heart. But as they are among the most frequently used, you will get used to them quickly.
*Most dictionaries have a list of irregular verbs where you can look up the stem change.
*Most dictionaries have a list of irregular verbs where you can look up the stem change.
You have seen a number of verbs in this chapter. Can you remember if they are regelmäßig or unregelmäßig in their conjugation?
Click next to do a simple matching exercise. Have fun!
Are these verbs regular or irregular in the present tense? Select the verbs and put on the correct category.
Regelmäßige
Unregelmäßige
nehmen
studieren
sprechen
schreiben
heißen
machen
lernen
sein
wohnen
lesen
fahren
kommen
reset
Well done, learner,
You have completed part 2 of the fourth chapter. I hope you have enjoyed this lesson unit. If you wish, you may click on index to choose another chapter.
You have completed part 2 of the fourth chapter. I hope you have enjoyed this lesson unit. If you wish, you may click on index to choose another chapter.
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© Dr. Chan Wai Meng, 2003 -
2025
