The German Present Tense Explained for Beginners
German has six tenses, but knowing just two of them, the present tense and the present perfect, lets you handle most conversations. In this beginner lesson you see all six tenses first, then learn the present tense (das Präsens) in detail: when to use it, how to conjugate regular and irregular verbs, and how it can even express the future.
The 6 German Tenses
German has six tenses in total: Präsens, Perfekt, Präteritum, Plusquamperfekt, Futur I and Futur II. You do not need them all at the beginning. If you know the present tense and the present perfect, you can survive in most everyday situations. Later you can add the simple past and the past perfect.
When Do You Use the Present Tense?
The present tense (das Präsens) is the tense you will use the most, and it is very flexible. You use it for:
- things happening now: Ich lerne Deutsch.
- habits and routines: Er trinkt jeden Morgen Kaffee.
- facts: Berlin liegt in Deutschland.
- the future, together with a time word: Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.
Regular Verbs and Their Endings
Regular verbs take the verb stem (the infinitive without -en) and add an ending for each person. Take machen (to do, to make):
| Pronoun | machen | Ending |
|---|---|---|
| ich | mache | -e |
| du | machst | -st |
| er / sie / es | macht | -t |
| wir | machen | -en |
| ihr | macht | -t |
| sie / Sie | machen | -en |
Once you memorize these endings, you can conjugate almost every verb. Notice that wir and sie / Sie always look like the infinitive.
Irregular Verbs
Some verbs are irregular. The most important ones to memorize are sein (to be), haben (to have) and the modal verbs. For all others, remember this: irregular verbs are almost only irregular in the 2nd and 3rd person singular, that is with du and er / sie / es. The other forms follow the regular pattern.
| Verb | ich | du | er / sie / es | wir | ihr | sie / Sie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sein | bin | bist | ist | sind | seid | sind |
| haben | habe | hast | hat | haben | habt | haben |
| helfen | helfe | hilfst | hilft | helfen | helft | helfen |
| sehen | sehe | siehst | sieht | sehen | seht | sehen |
| fahren | fahre | fährst | fährt | fahren | fahrt | fahren |
The video looks at sein and haben, and at three typical irregular verbs: helfen (e → i), sehen (e → ie) and fahren (a → ä). Find more in ALL A1 German Irregular Verbs.
Bonus Tip: The Present Tense as Future
German does not always need a separate future tense. A sentence in the present tense with a time expression such as morgen, nächste Woche or im Sommer has a future meaning:
- Morgen gehe ich ins Kino. (Tomorrow I will go to the cinema.)
- Nächste Woche fliegen wir nach Spanien. (Next week we will fly to Spain.)
If you want to learn the real future tense, read How to talk about the future in German?.
Next Steps
After the present tense, the next tense to learn is the Perfekt with haben and the Perfekt with sein. Together they cover almost all of your everyday needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tenses does German have?
Six: Präsens, Perfekt, Präteritum, Plusquamperfekt, Futur I and Futur II.
Which German tenses do beginners need first?
The present tense and the present perfect. With these two you can speak, write and understand most everyday conversations.
How do I conjugate regular verbs in the present tense?
Take the verb stem and add -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en for ich, du, er / sie / es, wir, ihr, sie / Sie.
Where are irregular verbs irregular in the present tense?
Almost only with du and er / sie / es, for example helfen → du hilfst, er hilft and fahren → du fährst, er fährt.
Can I use the present tense for the future?
Yes. Add a time expression: Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.
Ready to build your German from the ground up? Our A1 German course is designed for absolute beginners.
