Präteritum (Simple Past Tense)
The Präteritum, also known as the simple past, is used to describe actions or events that were completed in the past. It is commonly used in written German, especially in literature, news reports, and formal writing.
Mood:
The Präteritum is used with the indicative mood, which expresses facts, certainty, and reality about past actions or events.
- Mood: Indicative (expresses past facts and certainty)
Usage:
- To describe completed actions or events in the past: Ich ging in die Schule. (I went to school.)
- To narrate past events or tell stories: Er las ein Buch. (He read a book.)
- Commonly used in written German, while spoken German tends to prefer the Perfekt (present perfect) for past actions.
Conjugation:
The Präteritum conjugation varies between regular (weak) and irregular (strong) verbs. Here’s how each is formed.
Regular Verb Conjugation (e.g., "spielen" - to play):
| Person | Verb: spielen (to play) |
|---|---|
| Ich | spielte |
| Du | spieltest |
| Er/Sie/Es | spielte |
| Wir | spielten |
| Ihr | spieltet |
| Sie/sie | spielten |
Irregular Verb Conjugation (e.g., "sehen" - to see):
| Person | Verb: sehen (to see) |
|---|---|
| Ich | sah |
| Du | sahst |
| Er/Sie/Es | sah |
| Wir | sahen |
| Ihr | saht |
| Sie/sie | sahen |
Common Time Expressions:
- Gestern (yesterday)
- Letzte Woche (last week)
- Früher (earlier)
Examples:
- Ich spielte Fußball. (I played soccer.)
- Er las die Zeitung. (He read the newspaper.)
