Depending of their function, verbs may be found in different forms : Personalform, Konjunktivform, Infinitiv, Partizip, or in different verbal tenses. In a sentence, the verbs usually have the role of the predicate, however they can take any other role (direct object, subject, indirect object, attributes).
Die Blumen blühen.
Diese Ausführungen sind überzeugend.
Leben heißt kämpfen.
Er lernt schwimmen.
Er blieb erschrocken stehen.
Das war eine gelungene Veranstaltung.
The already big set of verbs is complemented with new words formed with different methods of word formation (derivation with prefixes, suffixes, compounding etc.). Additionally, many words from different word classes can be used as verbs (a process called conversion)(examples: frühstücken, landen, übernachten, langweilen). The forms of verbs
When considering the conjugation of a verb we have to differentiate between two groups of verbs: weak verbs and strong verbs.- the stem of a weak verb does not change: sagen - er sagt , er sagte, gesagt
- while strong verbs do change their stem: nehmen - er nimmt, er nahm, genommen
Overview of the verb endings
| Pronoun | Present tense | Präteritum (past simple) | Konjunktiv I and II | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| weak and strong verbs | weak | strong | weak and strong verbs | |
| ich | -e | -t-e- - | - | -e |
| du | -(e)st | -t-e-st | -(e)st | -est |
| er/sie/es | -(e)t | -t-e | - | -e |
| wir | -en | -t-e-n | -en | -en |
| ihr | -(e)t | -t-e-t | -(e)t | -et |
| sie/Sie | -en | -t-e-n | -en | -en |
