Mastering German Verb Conjugations in the Present Tense: Regular and Irregular Verbs Unveiled

One of the first challenges you’ll face when learning German is mastering verb conjugation. Verbs are the backbone of any language, and in German, both regular and irregular verbs follow specific patterns when conjugated in different tenses. While regular verbs are relatively straightforward, irregular verbs can sometimes feel unpredictable. Understanding how to conjugate both types will give you the foundation to express yourself clearly and accurately in German. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps for conjugating regular and irregular verbs in the present tense. I’ll also cover some common irregular verbs and tips to help you memorise and practice them.

German Verb Conjugations Explained

Verbs represent the action in a sentence that is performed by the subject. When you look up a verb in a dictionary, you'll find it there in the so-called "infinitive" form, which is the original form of the verb. Most infinitives in German end in -en. So, unlike Romance languages, which have several different infinitives, there is just one in German. If you remove the -en at the end, you’re left with the stem or root of the verb, eg.

spielen (infinitive)- en= spiel (stem), so infinitive- en= stem/root of the verb

You should always concentrate on the stem or root of the verb to identify whether the verb is regular or irregular. If the stem stays the same, it is, by definition, a regular verb. If the stem changes, it is an irregular verb.

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs maintain the same stem throughout, with endings that align with specific personal pronouns, which are listed below. To conjugate a regular verb, follow these steps:

1. Start with the infinitive form of the verb (e.g., spielen – to play).

2. Remove the -en ending to find the stem of the verb (e.g., spiel-).

3. Add the appropriate ending based on the subject pronoun (ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie).

Here is the present tense conjugation for spielen (to play):

Pronoun	Ending	Example
ich	-e	spiele
du	-st	spielst
er/sie/es	-t	spielt
wir	-en	spielen
ihr	-t	spielt
sie/Sie	-en	spielen

Examples:

• Ich spiele Fußball. (I play soccer.)

• Er spielt Gitarre. (He plays the guitar.)

• Wir spielen im Park. (We play in the park.)

The endings for regular verbs in the present tense are always -e, -st, -t, -en, and -t, so once you memorise these, you can apply them to any regular verb.

As you can see from the above, there are only two endings exclusive to their personal pronouns, -e for "ich" and -st for "du". The third-person singular pronouns "er", "sie", and "es" share the -t ending with the second-person plural "ihr". First- and third-person plurals "wir" and "sie/Sie" go back to the infinitive form and are in -en.

When meeting an adult for the first time and in a formal setting, such as a business context or working environment, use "Sie" (our formal you). Use "du" (our informal you) only for people you know well, like friends and family and when native speakers offer you to drop the "Sie" and use the "du" instead. For a more detailed explanation and examples on the difference between "du", "sie" and "ihr", check out my separate blog post.

When applied to the verb “spielen” (to play), the conjugation is as follows:

ich spiele	I play
du spielst	you (informal) play
er, sie, es spielt	he, she, it plays
wir spielen	we play
ihr spielt	you all (informal) play
sie, Sie spielen	they, you (formal) play

Other examples of regular verbs would be

Kommen (to come) Wohnen (to live, to reside)

ich komme ich wohne

du kommst du wohnst

er/sie/es kommt er/sie/es wohnt

wir kommen wir wohnen

ihr kommt ihr wohnt

sie/Sie kommen sie/Sie wohnen

Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs in German don’t always follow the same predictable patterns as regular verbs, especially in the present and past tenses (For more information on German tenses, check out my designed post). They have a different stem in the singular form but revert to the original stem in the plural. In the verb fahren (to drive/go by mode of transport), for instance, the original stem has an “a”, whereas the “du/er/sie/es” have an “ä”, which we call "umlaut" and is a letter in its own right in the German alphabet. That is the stem change of the verb. This vowel change from a to ä in the du and er/sie/es forms is common with irregular verbs. The endings are the same as in regular verbs.

ich fahre	I drive/go by mode of transport
du fährst	you (informal) drive/go by mode of transport
er, sie, es fährt	he, she, it drives/goes by mode of transport
wir fahren	we drive/go by mode of transport
ihr fahrt	you all (informal) drive/go by mode of transport
sie, Sie fahren	they, you (formal) drive/go by mode of transport

Other examples of irregular verbs are

Lesen (to read) Sprechen (to speak)

ich lese ich spreche

du liest du sprichst

er/sie/es liest er/sie/es spricht

wir lesen wir sprechen

ihr lest ihr sprecht

sie/Sie lesen sie/Sie sprechen

Examples:

• Ich lese ein Buch. (I am reading a book.)

• Er liest die Zeitung. (He is reading the newspaper.)

There are some patterns for identifying irregular verbs in German, but it's best to memorise them as you progress through your German course.

The only irregular verb that doesn’t follow any pattern and which you need to memorise is “sein” (to be)

ich bin	I am
du bist	you (informal) are
er, sie, es ist	he, she, it is
wir sind	we are
ihr seid	you all (informal) are
sie, Sie sind	they, you (formal) are

Tips for Mastering Verb Conjugation

Learning German verb conjugation can initially seem daunting, but with the right strategies, you can master it efficiently.

1. Practice With Conjugation Tables

Using conjugation tables is one of the best ways to practice and memorise verb forms. Write out regular and irregular verbs in different tenses and drill yourself until you feel comfortable with their patterns.

2. Focus on High-Frequency Verbs

Start by focusing on the most commonly used verbs in German, like sein, haben, gehen, and machen. Once you’re confident with these, you can gradually move on to less common verbs.

3. Use Language Apps

Apps like DuoLingo, Babbel, and Anki offer interactive exercises that help reinforce verb conjugation through repetition and real-life examples. These platforms also incorporate spaced repetition to ensure you retain what you’ve learned over time.

4. Speak as Much as Possible

The more you practice speaking, the quicker verb conjugation will become second nature. Use the verbs you’re learning in conversations with language partners, in writing exercises, or even by speaking aloud to yourself. The more you use them, the better you'll remember them.

5. Identify Patterns in Irregular Verbs

While irregular verbs don’t follow a strict pattern, many share similar vowel changes or stem modifications (such as e → ie in lesen or a → ä in fahren). Identifying these common changes will make it easier to remember how to conjugate them.

Conclusion

Mastering regular and irregular verb conjugation in German is an essential step toward fluency. While regular verbs follow consistent patterns, irregular verbs require more attention due to their stem changes and unique past participles. With regular practice and exposure, you’ll soon be able to conjugate both types of verbs with confidence. By focusing on frequently used verbs, practising frequently, and engaging in conversations, you’ll steadily build the foundation you need to communicate effectively in German. Keep practising, and soon verb conjugation will become second nature!

Grammar terms can be quite intimidating when learning a new language. So, I have compiled an A-Z explanation of the most important grammar terms with examples in both English and German.

German Courses in London and Online

On our German language blog "Auf Deutsch, bitte!", you will also find posts on how to introduce yourself in German, how to say "please" and "thank you" German, and the ten most useful verbs in German. We also have an article on the most common phrases in German and one that explains the difference between language levels a1, a2, b1 etc.

You might also be interested in my Ultimate Guide to Learning German. Check it out to learn how to learn German fast.