Irregular verbs in German are essential to master as they are commonly used in everyday conversations. Unlike regular verbs, irregular verbs do not always follow predictable conjugation patterns. In this lesson, you will learn how to identify and conjugate irregular verbs and use them in sentences.
What You Will Learn
- The key differences between regular and irregular verbs.
- Common irregular verbs and their conjugation.
- Practical examples and sentence structures.
- Exercises to practice and reinforce your understanding.
What Makes a Verb Irregular?
Irregular verbs in German deviate from the regular conjugation patterns. The most common changes occur in the du (you) and er/sie/es (he/she/it) forms, where the verb stem may change.
Key Features of Irregular Verbs:
- Changes in the stem vowel (e.g., e -> i, a -> ä).
- Regular endings may still apply in other forms (e.g., wir, ihr, Sie).
Common Irregular Verbs and Conjugations
Here are some of the most frequently used irregular verbs:
1. Sein (to be)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bin | Ich bin müde. (I am tired.) |
| du | bist | Du bist glücklich. (You are happy.) |
| er/sie/es | ist | Er ist Lehrer. (He is a teacher.) |
| wir | sind | Wir sind hier. (We are here.) |
| ihr | seid | Ihr seid pünktlich. (You are punctual.) |
| sie/Sie | sind | Sie sind freundlich. (They are friendly.) |
2. Haben (to have)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ich | habe | Ich habe ein Buch. (I have a book.) |
| du | hast | Du hast Hunger. (You are hungry.) |
| er/sie/es | hat | Sie hat Zeit. (She has time.) |
| wir | haben | Wir haben ein Problem. (We have a problem.) |
| ihr | habt | Ihr habt Glück. (You are lucky.) |
| sie/Sie | haben | Sie haben einen Hund. (They have a dog.) |
3. Werden (to become)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ich | werde | Ich werde müde. (I am getting tired.) |
| du | wirst | Du wirst stark. (You are becoming strong.) |
| er/sie/es | wird | Es wird kalt. (It is getting cold.) |
| wir | werden | Wir werden Freunde. (We are becoming friends.) |
| ihr | werdet | Ihr werdet schnell. (You are getting fast.) |
| sie/Sie | werden | Sie werden glücklich. (They are becoming happy.) |
4. Strong Irregular Verbs with Vowel Changes
Some verbs change their stem vowels in the du and er/sie/es forms. Here are a few examples:
a. Essen (to eat)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ich | esse | Ich esse einen Apfel. (I am eating an apple.) |
| du | isst | Du isst gern Pizza. (You like eating pizza.) |
| er/sie/es | isst | Er isst langsam. (He eats slowly.) |
| wir | essen | Wir essen zusammen. (We eat together.) |
| ihr | esst | Ihr esst viel. (You eat a lot.) |
| sie/Sie | essen | Sie essen Obst. (They eat fruit.) |
b. Sehen (to see)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ich | sehe | Ich sehe den Film. (I see the movie.) |
| du | siehst | Du siehst toll aus. (You look great.) |
| er/sie/es | sieht | Sie sieht alles. (She sees everything.) |
| wir | sehen | Wir sehen das Spiel. (We see the game.) |
| ihr | seht | Ihr seht die Stadt. (You see the city.) |
| sie/Sie | sehen | Sie sehen den Berg. (They see the mountain.) |
c. Fahren (to drive/go)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ich | fahre | Ich fahre nach Hause. (I am driving home.) |
| du | fährst | Du fährst schnell. (You drive fast.) |
| er/sie/es | fährt | Sie fährt ein Auto. (She drives a car.) |
| wir | fahren | Wir fahren morgen. (We are leaving tomorrow.) |
| ihr | fahrt | Ihr fahrt in die Stadt. (You are driving to the city.) |
| sie/Sie | fahren | Sie fahren nach Berlin. (They are going to Berlin.) |
Sentence Structures with Irregular Verbs
Basic Sentence:
- Subject + Verb + Object
- Example: Ich habe ein Buch. (I have a book.)
Yes/No Questions:
- Verb + Subject + Object
- Example: Hast du ein Buch? (Do you have a book?)
W-Questions:
- Question Word + Verb + Subject + Object
- Example: Was isst du? (What are you eating?)
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Conjugate the Verbs
Conjugate the following irregular verbs in the present tense:
- sein (to be)
- haben (to have)
- essen (to eat)
- sehen (to see)
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses:
- Ich __________ (sein) müde.
- Du __________ (essen) Brot.
- Sie __________ (haben) einen Hund.
- Wir __________ (sehen) den Film.
Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences
Translate these sentences into German:
- I am hungry.
- He is driving a car.
- What are you eating?
- They are becoming friends.
Summary
In this lesson, you learned:
- The key features of irregular verbs in German.
- Conjugations of common irregular verbs like sein, haben, essen, sehen, and fahren.
- How to use irregular verbs in different sentence structures.
Homework
- Write 5 sentences using different irregular verbs.
- Practice conjugating 10 irregular verbs.
- Record yourself saying the sentences aloud to improve pronunciation.