Präsens (Present Tense)
The Präsens is used to describe actions that are currently happening, habitual actions, or general truths. It is one of the most commonly used tenses in the German language.
Mood:
The Präsens in German is used with the indicative mood, which expresses facts, certainty, and reality. It conveys actions that are happening now or are habitual, as well as general truths or future events when the context is clear.
- Mood: Indicative (expresses facts and certainty)
Usage:
- To describe ongoing actions: Ich lese ein Buch. (I am reading a book.)
- To express habitual actions: Ich gehe jeden Tag ins Fitnessstudio. (I go to the gym every day.)
- To state general truths: Die Erde dreht sich um die Sonne. (The Earth revolves around the sun.)
- To express future events when the context is clear: Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin. (Tomorrow, I am going to Berlin.)
Conjugation:
German verbs are categorized into regular and irregular verbs. The present tense conjugation depends on the verb type.
Regular Verb Conjugation (e.g., "spielen" - to play):
| Person | Verb: spielen (to play) |
|---|---|
| Ich | spiele |
| Du | spielst |
| Er/Sie/Es | spielt |
| Wir | spielen |
| Ihr | spielt |
| Sie/sie | spielen |
Irregular Verb Conjugation (e.g., "sehen" - to see):
| Person | Verb: sehen (to see) |
|---|---|
| Ich | sehe |
| Du | siehst |
| Er/Sie/Es | sieht |
| Wir | sehen |
| Ihr | seht |
| Sie/sie | sehen |
Common Time Expressions:
- Jetzt (now)
- Heute (today)
- Oft (often)
- Immer (always)
Examples:
- Ich esse ein Sandwich. (I am eating a sandwich.)
- Er arbeitet im Büro. (He works in the office.)
