A1Tenses

German Present Tense (Präsens)

The present tense in German is used for current actions, habits, and future events. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns.

Key Rules

  • 1Remove -en from infinitive to get the stem
  • 2Add endings: -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en
  • 3Used for present actions, habits, and near future
  • 4Stem-vowel changes in some strong verbs (e→i, a→ä)

Examples

Ich spiele Fußball.

I play football.

💡 Regular verb: spiel- (stem) + -e (ich ending).

Du sprichst Deutsch.

You speak German.

💡 Stem vowel change: e→i (sprechen → sprichst).

Related Grammar Topics

Tenses
German Simple Past Tense (Präteritum)
B1
Tenses
German Perfect Tense (Perfekt)
A2

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