Introduction, at the end, with Application Notes
Inflections Table in the Active Voice
Passive Voice Comments, and Inflections Table in the werden Voice
Inflections Table in the sein Passive Voice

Introduction

Several of the rules that follow call for particular caution. Verbatim translating would lead to slanted representation of a text's logic and meaning. In fact, an additional phrase or clause may sometimes be best.

The Prädikat (predicate) of a sentence is a verb or verb structure. There are Hilfs- und Modalverben (auxiliary verbs and modal verbs), and regelmäßige und unregelmäßige Verben (regular verbs and irregular verbs), the latter two being discussed on another page. On this page, we show all verb forms for the regelmäßige Verben. That is all forms of the regelmäßige Konjugation. For the unregelmäßige Konjugation, see the introductory page just mentioned, then consult a good German-English dictionary, which shows the key inflection forms from which all other forms can be deducted. We tabulate here all forms of the regular verbs. Let us first list the name of all the inflection forms (i.e. Namen der Konjugationsformen).

• Person (1., 2., 3. - i.e. persons I, you, he/she/it);
• Numerus (Singular, Plural);
• Modus (Indikativ, Konjunktiv I, Konjunktiv II);
• Tempus (Präsens, Präterium, Futur, Perfekt, Plusquamperfekt - see 8 lines below!);
• Genus (Aktiv, Passiv).

The modus Konjunktiv I consists of Konjunktiv Präsens, Konjunktiv Perfekt, Konjunktiv I Futur I, and Konjunktiv I Futur II.
The modus Konjunktiv II consists of Konjunktiv Präterit, Konjunktiv Plusquamperfekt, Konjunktiv II Futur I, and Konjunktiv II Futur II. The latter two Konjunktiv II forms are usually called würde Form.

Following is a list of the infinite forms (Infinitive).

• Infinitiv Präsens (present infinitive);
• Infinitiv Futur (future infinitive);
• Infinitiv Perfekt (past infinitive);
• Partizip Präsens (present participle);
• Partizip Perfekt (past participle).

Name of tenses in German and English, where Ger=German, Brit=British English, and US=US English.

• Temporum, Tempora (Ger) = tense, tenses (Brit, US);
• Präsens (Ger) = present tense (Brit, US);
• Präterit (Ger) = imperfect or preterite (Brit) = past tense (US);
• Perfekt (Ger) = perfect (Brit) = present perfect tense (US);
• Plusquamperfekt (Ger) = pluperfect (Brit) = past perfect tense (US);
• Futur I (Ger) = future tense (Brit, US);
• Futur II (Ger) = future perfect tense (Brit, US);
• Konjunktiv I (Ger) = first conditional (Brit) = subjunctive (US);
• Konjunktiv II (Ger) = imperfect subjunctive (Brit) = subjunctive (US), this form is cut almost to the vanishing point of significance.
• 1. Partizip or Partizip Präsens (Ger) = present participle (Brit, US);
• 2. Partizip or Partizip Perfekt (Ger) = past participle (Brit, US).

Note, Präsens and Präterium, in the Indikativ and Konjunktiv Modi, are the only finite forms the German verb can form by itself. All other inflection forms need an auxiliary verb. That is haben, in the active forms, and sein und werden, in the respective passive forms.

Application Notes - The use of Tempora

Though the German and English application rules for tenses and modes agree in many instances, they differ significantly in others. Following is a useful summary, where the important applications are enumerated for each tense and language. To conserve the meaning of an original text, the tense in a translated text must frequently differ from that in the original language.

• Präsens
  • Reference presence, the reference time being time of speech or writing. Same in English and German.
  • Reference of general validity, such as timeless truth.Same in English and German.
  • Future reference, stands in competition with the Futur I: Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin; tomorrow, I go to Berlin; officially, winter begins next week. The adverbials morgen, tomorrow, next week are to tell the time and are prerequisite. Same in English and German.
  • Historic presence: On 09.08.74, US President Nixon resigns his Presidency. Same in English and German.
• Präterium
  • Past reference: A time past; matters concluded before the reference presence. Same in English and German.
• Perfekt
  • Past reference: A time past; matters concluded before the reference presence or extending to the present: Jetzt hat er sein Werk vollendet. Eben ist der Schnellzug eingetroffen. Particularly useful to describe an event of current and actual interest, such as a person at the window exclaiming Es hat geschneit!. By contrast, English use strictly competes with that of the preterite (i.e. past tense).
  • Reference to matters of general validity: Ein Unglück ist schnell geschehen. Not applicable in English.
  • Execution or completion of matters - future reference: Morgen hat er sein Werk vollendet. In zwei Stunden habe ich die Arbeit gemacht. Similar use in colloquial English.
  • Scenic Perfect to paint a vivid scene; must be interchangeable with Plusquamperfekt: Und aus einem kleinen Tor, das sich plötzlich geöffnet hat (hatte), kommt der tröstende Klang. Ok in English.
• Plusquamperfekt
  • Execution and conclusion of subject matters with reference to the past, thus in effect being a pre past tense. Example: Let the last previous sentences be stated in the Präterium tense. Nun (i.e. at the past time) hatte er das Spiel gewonnen. Am andern Tag (i.e. at the past time) hatte sie ihr Werk vollendet. By contrast, the past perfect tense, in English, is used only in logical tense forms. See the definitions below.
• Futur I
  • Future reference, freqently bearing an element of uncertainty: Du wirst noch im Gefängnis enden, wenn du so weitermachst! Same in English
  • Resolution, solid intention, with sentence subject in 1.Person: Ich werde dich nie verlassen! Wir werden ihn nicht vergessen! Same in English.
  • Reference to something currently evolving, and assuming it will prove true: Sie werden doch wohl einsehen, daß die Abteilung nicht zwei Chefs haben kann. No equivalent in English.
  • Present reference, to express a supposition:Er wird jetzt krank sein (= er ist jetzt vermutlich krank. Note the necessary use of an adverbial, such as jetzt, to anchor the phrase to current time reference. No equivalent in English.
  • Future reference (prediction): Er wird später einmal das Geschäft übernehmen. Or, restated in the present tense: Er übernimmt später einmal das Geschäft. The Futur I statement is a prediction, hence implies an element of uncertainty, whereas the same statement in Präsens form is more factual. Therefore, No equivalent in English.
  • General comment: Futur I is no story tense. One uses it for one or two sentences, now and then again.
• Future II
  • Fix the past reference time, then express supposition: Da wird sich seine Mutter (sicherlich) gefreut haben. No equivalent in English.
  • In reference to future subject matter, to express uncertainty: Vielleicht werden bis dahin die Preise so hoch gestiegen sein, daß sie sich keiner mehr leisten kann. Same in English.
  • In a past reference, use Perfekt in conjunction with Futur II, forming an alternative to one of the adverbs wohl, vielleicht, wahrscheinlich, vermutlich as follows: Er wird seinen Schüssel verloren haben. = Er hat vermutlich seinen Schlüssel verloren. No equivalent in English.
  • Whenever the future time is fixed, Perfekt and Futur II are interchangeable: Man rechnet aus wieviele Fahrzeuge in 10 Jahren über die Brücke gefahren sein werden. versus ... gefahren sind.

Application Notes - Logical Tense Forms in Sequence

Logical Tense Forms in Sequence = Consecutio temporum = Folge der Tempora = Zeitenfolge. This is the Temporum sequence within a sentence. Generally, the Tempora are the same within a sentence. That is in most sentences either Präsens or Präterium. When a temporum change is necessary within the sentence, there are tempus rules to be followed. Each of the discussed tempora belongs to one of two groups, called tempus groups. The temporum is to change only within its tempus group.

• Tempus Group I: Präterium, Plusquamperfekt, Perfekt (as past tempus),Futur II (as past tempus).
• Tempus Group II: Präsens, Futur I, Perfect (unrestricted), Futur II (unrestricted).

Examples:

Tempus use in sentences with nachdem is special. The tempus in the dependent clause, i.e. the nachdem clause, determines whether the action in the main clause takes place after the beginning of the dependent clause's action, or after its conclusion. The tempora are thus coordinated as follows.

Tempus group	Main clause	Main clause action after beginning/end	nachdem dependent clause
II	Präsens or Futur I	After beginning of -->	Präsens
I	Präterium, Perfekt, or Plusquamperfekt		Präterium
II	Präsens or Futur I	After conclusion of -->	Perfekt
I	Präterium, Perfekt, or Plusquamperfekt		Plusquamperfekt
Examples
Wir begannen unsere Produktion zu verlegen,     nachdem die neue Tendenz bekannt war.			after begin
Wir werden beginnen unsere Produktion zu verlegen,     nachdem die neue Tendenz bekannt ist.			after begin
Wir haben begonnen unsere Produktion zu verlegen,     nachdem die neue Tendenz bekannt gewesen ist.			after conclusion

By contrast, there exist only two rules in English.

• When the speaker entered, the audience rose. (Both actions at the same time in the past)
• I have ceased worrying because I have heard no more rumors. (Same rule)
• When I had been at camp four weeks, I received word that my application had been accepted. (had before been indicates a time before that of the main clause predicate)

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Note: To aid memorization, all of this page's Konjugationsmuster use the same verb, heilen (= to cure, to become sound). As re the Genus Aktiv, below, read the comments, "Haben Versus Sein Association," farther below.

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Konjugationsmuster, Genus Aktiv

Tempus	Numerus	Person	Indikativ	Konjunktiv I	Konjunktiv II
Präsens	Singular	ich	heile	heile
		du	heil[e]st	heilest
		er/sie/es	heil[e]t	heile
	Plural	wir	heilen	heilen
		ihr	heil[e]t	heilet
		sie	heilen	heilen
Präterium	Singular	ich	heil[e]te		heil[e]te
		du	heil[e]test		heil[e]test
		er/sie/es	heil[e]te		heil[e]te
	Plural	wir	heil[e]ten		heil[e]ten
		ihr	heil[e]tet		heil[e]tet
		sie	heil[e]ten		heil[e]ten
Perfekt	Singular	ich	habe geheil[e]t	habe geheil[e]t
		du	hast    "	habest    "
		er/sie/es	hat    "	habe    "
	Plural	wir	haben    "	haben    "
		ihr	habt    "	habet    "
		sie	haben    "	haben    "
Plusquamperfekt	Singular	ich	hatte geheil[e]t		hätte geheil[e]t
		du	hattest    "		hätte    "
		er/sie/es	hatte    "		hätte    "
	Plural	wir	hatten    "		hätten    "
		ihr	hattet    "		hättet    "
		sie	hatten    "		hätten    "
Futur I	Singular	ich	werde heilen	werde heilen	würde heilen
		du	wirst    "	werdest    "	würdest    "
		er/sie/es	wird    "	werde    "	würde    "
	Plural	wir	werden    "	werden    "	würden    "
		ihr	werdet    "	werdet    "	würdet    "
		sie	werden    "	werden    "	würden    "
Futur II	Singular	ich	werde geheil[e]t haben	werde geheil[e]t haben	würde geheil[e]t haben
		du	wirst    "          "	werdest    "          "	würdest    "          "
		er/sie/es	wird    "          "	werde    "          "	würde    "          "
	Plural	wir	werden    "          "	werden    "          "	würden    "          "
		ihr	werdet    "          "	werdet    "          "	würden    "          "
		sie	werden    "          "	werden    "          "	würden    "          "
infinite Formen:
Infinitiv	Präsens	heilen
	Futur I	heilen werden
	Futur II	geheil[e]t haben werden
	Perfekt	geheil[e]t haben
Partizip	Präsens	heilend
	Perfekt	geheil[e]t
Imperativ	Singular	heile!
	Plural	heil[e]t!
[e] = e-Erweiterung (e-augmentation) see comment below! Note: There is no e-Erweiterung in heilen!
Fields with bright color across are the ones that share identically the same form. Indikativ form is assumed by default. Else, change to a different Konjunktiv form.

Comments
e-Erweiterung: Certain regular verbs have an e inserted between word stem and ending, in the inflection forms so indicated in the tables. The rule is simple. People don't snap their tongue in pronouncing German. So, insert an e between word stem and ending when it mitigates the pronounciation.

Following are the details, usually unimportant and not applicable in the straightforward inflections, when the verb stem ends with ß, x, or z, or the infinitive ends with eln, ern, or ien. See Verb Definitions and basic conjugations..

The verbs subject to e-Erweiterung are all those whose word stem

• either ends with d or t,
• or ends with a fricative or explosive consonant, followed by m or n

All consonants, with the exception of l, r, w, or x are either fricatives or explosives.

Examples:
gründen: du gründest; reden: er redet; atmen: ihr atmet; rechnen: wir rechneten; wappnen: du wappnest.

Haben versus Sein Association: There are, in Genus Aktiv, many verbs that form their compound tenses (i.e. Perfekt, Plusquamperfekt, and Futur II), in all Modi, with the auxiliary verb sein, and not with haben as in the above table with heilen. To judge which of the two auxiliaries is the correct one to use, follow these rules: All transitive verbs, and most reflexive verbs, associate with haben, as in the above table. Only some intransitive verbs associate with sein. Following are the instances for sein association of intransitive verbs.

• A completed change in status or location: Die Rose ist verblueht. Er ist angekommen. (By elimination, it follows that an incomplete change in status or location gets to be conjugated with haben: Wir haben gut geschlafen; die Rose hat nur kurz geblüht.)
• The motion verbs gehen, reisen, laufen, springen, for which current usage definitely prefers sein association. Examples:
  Ich bin heimgegangen. Ich bin nach Amerika gereist. Ich bin Hürden gelaufen.
• The motion verbs tanzen, reiten, segeln, paddeln, fahren, fliegen, bummeln, flattern, rudern. These are also being conjugated with sein, unless one wants to stress that the motion was incomplete or interrupted, in which case one chooses haben association. Examples for both, haben and sein:
  • Ich habe als junger Mensch viel getanzt. (That was terminated, some time back)
  • Ich bin durch den ganzen Saal getanzt. (Motion at its best)
  • Heut früh bin ich ans andere Ufer hinüber gerudert (yes, I've done it!)
  • Heut früh hab ich gerudert (until I had to attend to other business).

The grammar is thus specific on the conjugated verb, whether it is formed with haben or sein. Similarly as in English, it behooves to know whether a verb is transient or intransient, else to consult the dictionary. A useful example is the verb heilen in our Konjugationsmuster-Tafeln, which is defined both, a transitive verb and an intransitive verb. That is

• transitive (tr): heilen = to cure: der Arzt hat den Kranken geheilt;
• intransitive (itr): heilen = to return to health, become sound: die Wunde ist langsam geheilt (i.e. completed change of status).

Superficially, one may use the verb heal in the English translation. However, heal, like heilen, is transitive and intransitive. Whereas English offers only different words for better clarity, German mandates here its grammatical clarity, in addition to some alternative verb choices, such as (aus)kurieren (tr) and vergehen (itr).

Some of these rules are another good example of nuances that may be important, yet would seem to often be ignored, thus potentially producing some slant in the translated text. Indeed, sometimes the need for an additional clause or phrase may indicated.

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Genus Passiv

The Passiv is formed in German quite the same as in Spanish. It is defined by one of two auxiliary verbs:

• With sein + Partizip Perfekt, similarly as in Spanish with estar + participio - El coche está vendido = Der Wagen ist verkauft = The car is sold. That is the status passive form, which is being stationary, or the result of an action.
• With werden + Partizip Perfekt, similarly as in Spanish with ser + participio - Se construyen hoteles = Hotels werden gebaut = hotels are being built. That is the activity passive form, i.e. action still going on.

Because the inflection of the auxiliary verbs sein and werden is tabulated elsewhere and easy to memorize, we show mostly just the 1.Person Singular in the following table.

Konjugation im werden -Passiv

Tempus	Indikativ	Konjunktiv I	Konjunktiv II
Präsens	ich werde geheil[e]t	ich werde geheil[e]t
Präterium	ich wurde geheil[e]t		ich würde geheil[e]t werden
Perfekt	ich bin geheil[e]t worden	ich sei geheil[e]t worden
Plusquamperfekt	ich war geheil[e]t worden		ich wäre geheil[e]t worden
Futur I	ich werde geheil[e]t werden er wird geheil[e]t werden	ich werde geheil[e]t werden er werde geheil[e]t werden	ich würde geheil[e]t werden
Futur II	ich werde geheil[e]t worden sein er wird geheil[e]t worden sein	ich werde geheil[e]t worden sein er werde geheil[e]t worden sein	ich würde geheil[e]t worden sein
infinite Formen
Infinitiv	Präsens	geheil[e]t werden
	Perfekt	geheil[e]t worden sein
Imperativ	Singular	werde geheil[e]t!
	Plural	werdet geheil[e]t!
[e] = e-Erweiterung (e-augmentation) see comment above! Note: There is no e-Erweiterung in heilen!

Konjugation im sein -Passiv

Tempus	Indikativ	Konjunktiv I	Konjunktiv II
Präsens	ich bin geheil[e]t	ich sei geheil[e]t
Präterium	ich war geheil[e]t		ich wäre geheil[e]t
Perfekt	ich bin geheil[e]t gewesen er ist geheil[e]t gewesen	ich sei geheil[e]t gewesen er sei geheil[e]t gewesen
Plusquamperfekt	ich war geheil[e]t gewesen		ich wäre geheil[e]t gewesen
Futur I	ich werde geheil[e]t sein er wird geheil[e]t sein	ich werde geheil[e]t sein er werde geheil[e]t sein	ich würde geheil[e]t sein
Futur II	ich werde geheil[e]t gewesen sein er wird geheil[e]t gewesen sein	ich werde geheil[e]t gewesen sein er werde geheil[e]t gewesen sein	ich würde geheil[e]t worden sein
infinite Formen
Infinitiv	Präsens	geheil[e]t sein
	Perfekt	geheil[e]t gewesen sein
Imperativ	Singular	sei geheil[e]t!
	Plural	seid geheil[e]t!
[e] = e-Erweiterung (e-augmentation) see comment above! Note: There is no e-Erweiterung in heilen!

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Created: 13.04.98
Last modified: 14.04.98
Author: H.Vogel email: hvogel@travlang.com
Site maintained by: H.Vogel

Copyright (c)H.Vogel at The Travlang Company, 1998.

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