Past Tense
Learn both German past tenses: the Perfekt (conversational past) and Präteritum (simple past). Understand when to use each tense and how to form them with regular and irregular verbs.
1Perfekt vs. Präteritum Overview
German has two main past tenses. The Perfekt (present perfect) is used in everyday spoken German and informal writing. The Präteritum (simple past) is mainly used in written narratives, formal texts, and with a few common verbs. In spoken German, you'll almost always use Perfekt. "Ich habe gegessen" (I have eaten/I ate) is much more common than "Ich aß" (I ate). However, certain verbs like sein, haben, and modal verbs typically use Präteritum even in speech.
Examples
Ich habe gestern Fußball gespielt.
I played football yesterday.
Perfekt - common in spoken German
Ich spielte gestern Fußball.
I played football yesterday.
Präteritum - same meaning, more formal/written
Ich war müde.
I was tired.
Präteritum of 'sein' - common even in speech
Ich hatte keine Zeit.
I had no time.
Präteritum of 'haben' - common even in speech
2Forming the Perfekt
The Perfekt is formed with an auxiliary verb (haben or sein) plus the past participle (Partizip II). Most verbs use "haben" as the auxiliary. Verbs of motion or change of state typically use "sein". The past participle of regular verbs follows the pattern: ge- + stem + -t (e.g., spielen → gespielt). For irregular verbs, you must memorize the forms as they often have vowel changes and end in -en.
Examples
Ich habe das Buch gelesen.
I have read the book. / I read the book.
haben + Partizip II (gelesen is irregular)
Sie hat gut gekocht.
She cooked well.
kochen → gekocht (regular: ge- + koch + -t)
Wir sind nach Berlin gefahren.
We drove to Berlin.
sein + Partizip II (motion verb)
Er ist gestern angekommen.
He arrived yesterday.
sein with ankommen (arrival = change of location)
3Haben vs. Sein as Auxiliary
Choosing between haben and sein is crucial for correct Perfekt formation. Use "sein" with verbs of motion (gehen, fahren, fliegen), verbs of change of state (werden, aufwachen), and the verbs sein, bleiben, and passieren. Use "haben" for all other verbs, including transitive verbs (verbs with direct objects), reflexive verbs, and most regular verbs describing activities.
Examples
Ich bin gelaufen.
I ran / I walked.
sein - movement verb
Das Kind ist eingeschlafen.
The child fell asleep.
sein - change of state
Ich habe den Film gesehen.
I saw the film.
haben - transitive verb (has direct object)
Sie hat sich gefreut.
She was happy. / She rejoiced.
haben - reflexive verb
4Präteritum of Common Verbs
While Perfekt dominates spoken German, the Präteritum of sein, haben, and modal verbs is preferred even in conversation. These forms are short and easy to use, making them more natural than their Perfekt alternatives. The Präteritum endings are: ich -∅/-te, du -st/-test, er/sie/es -∅/-te, wir -en/-ten, ihr -t/-tet, sie/Sie -en/-ten. Irregular verbs have no ending in ich and er/sie/es forms.
Examples
Ich war in Berlin.
I was in Berlin.
war = Präteritum of sein (ich war, du warst, er war...)
Wir hatten viel Spaß.
We had a lot of fun.
hatten = Präteritum of haben
Er konnte nicht kommen.
He couldn't come.
konnte = Präteritum of können
Ich musste arbeiten.
I had to work.
musste = Präteritum of müssen
5Irregular Past Participles
Many common German verbs have irregular past participles that must be memorized. These often involve vowel changes (called Ablaut) and end in -en instead of -t. A strong foundation in these forms is essential for fluent German. Common patterns include: ei→ie→ie (schreiben, schrieb, geschrieben), i→a→u (finden, fand, gefunden), and e→a→o (sprechen, sprach, gesprochen).
Examples
Ich habe einen Brief geschrieben.
I wrote a letter.
schreiben → geschrieben (ei → ie)
Sie hat ihr Handy gefunden.
She found her phone.
finden → gefunden (i → u)
Wir haben Deutsch gesprochen.
We spoke German.
sprechen → gesprochen (e → o)
Er hat viel gegessen.
He ate a lot.
essen → gegessen (irregular)