Welcome to the backbone of German verbs: regular verb conjugation! Luckily for learners, a large number of German verbs follow a predictable pattern in the present tense (Präsens). These are often called "weak verbs" (schwache Verben).

Understanding this basic conjugation pattern is fundamental to forming correct German sentences. Let's break down how easy it can be!

What is Verb Conjugation?

Verb conjugation simply means changing the ending of a verb to match the subject (who or what is doing the action) and the tense (when the action happens). In German, like in many languages, the verb form changes depending on whether the subject is ich (I), du (you), er/sie/es (he/she/it), wir (we), ihr (you plural), or sie/Sie (they/formal you).

Regular (Weak) Verbs: The Predictable Pattern

Regular verbs are your friends in German because they follow a consistent rule for conjugation in the present tense:

Core Rule: Verb Stem + Present Tense Ending

• Verb Stem: This is found by taking the infinitive form (the dictionary form, usually ending in -en, like machen) and removing the -en ending. (e.g., Stem of machen is mach-).
• Present Tense Ending: A specific ending is added to this stem depending on the subject pronoun.
• No Vowel Change: Crucially, the vowel in the stem of regular verbs does not change during present tense conjugation (unlike irregular/strong verbs or modal verbs).

The Standard Present Tense Endings for Regular Verbs

These are the endings you need to memorize. They attach directly to the verb stem:

Notice that the wir and sie/Sie forms often look identical to the infinitive!

How to Conjugate Regular Verbs: Step-by-Step & Examples

1. Identify the Infinitive: Find the base form of the verb (e.g., lernen - to learn).
2. Find the Stem: Remove the -en ending (e.g., lernen -> lern-).
3. Add the Correct Ending: Attach the appropriate present tense ending from the table above based on the subject, applying spelling adjustments if needed (see below).

Consolidated Conjugation Examples (Present Tense)

Let's apply this to common regular verbs, including those with spelling adjustments (explained further below). Note the bold letters indicating added vowels or simplified endings:

Important Spelling Adjustments Explained

While the pattern is regular, German spelling rules require minor adjustments for certain verb stems to make pronunciation easier, as shown in the table above:

1. Stems ending in -d or -t

If the verb stem ends in -d (like reden -> red-) or -t (like arbeiten -> arbeit-), an extra -e- is inserted before the -st (du) and -t (er/sie/es, ihr) endings.

Rule: Stem + e + st / Stem + e + t

Examples from table: arbeitest, arbeitet, redest, redet.

Other examples: warten (to wait), baden (to bathe), finden (to find - *note: strong verb in past tense*).

2. Stems ending in -s, -ß, -x, or -z

If the verb stem ends in an 's-sound' like -s (reisen -> reis-), -ß (heißen -> heiß-), -x (mixen -> mix-), or -z (tanzen -> tanz-), the du form ending is just -t (instead of -st), because the 's' sound is already present in the stem.

Rule: Stem + t (for du form)

Examples from table: reist, heißt.

Other examples: sitzen (to sit), küssen (to kiss), tanzen (to dance) -> du tanzt.

Regular Verbs in Sentences (Word Order)

Remember the fundamental rule for simple German main clauses (Hauptsätze): the conjugated verb usually sits in the second position.

Pattern: Subject + Conjugated Verb (Position 2) + ... (Rest of sentence).

• Ich lerne Deutsch. (I learn German.)
• Du wohnst in Berlin. (You live in Berlin.)
• Er arbeitet heute nicht. (He isn't working today.)
• Wir spielen gern Fußball. (We like playing football.)
• Ihr tanzt gut! (You [plural] dance well!)
• Sie machen eine Pause. (They are taking a break.)

Building Your German Foundation: Regular Verbs and Beyond

Mastering the conjugation of regular German verbs in the present tense is a fundamental and rewarding step. Their predictability provides a solid foundation upon which you can build more complex sentences and confidently tackle German grammar. Understanding these patterns means you can already conjugate thousands of verbs!

Consistent practice is vital to make these endings second nature. While self-study is valuable, structured learning can significantly accelerate your progress. Our flexible online German courses are designed to systematically guide you through foundational concepts like regular verb conjugation within a comprehensive curriculum. We place a strong emphasis on practical speaking skills, ensuring you can immediately apply what you learn.

For those preferring an in-person experience in Tamil Nadu, Sprachlingua also offers immersive German language classes in Chennai. Our classroom setting provides direct interaction and focused learning, covering essential grammar right from the start as detailed in our Chennai course curriculum. Discover the unique classroom features that help learners build confidence with core German concepts quickly.

Keep practicing these regular patterns, and soon they'll feel effortless! Whether online or in Chennai, Sprachlingua is here to support your German learning journey. For more tips and insights on tackling German grammar and improving your fluency, explore the resources on our German Learning Blog.

Weiter so! (Keep it up!)