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Verbs: forms
Some otherwise regular verbs diverge slightly from this pattern, often in order to avoid series of consonants that are difficult to pronounce – try saying [es regnt] or [du faxst]! The main variations in verb conjugation are:
infinitive/stem
finite forms/past participle example
stem ends in: -d or -t -n or -m after consonant (other than ‘l’ or ‘r’)
before endings -st, -t, and past-tense ending -te: adds -e-
finden warten regnen atmen
infinitive ends in: -eln or -ern
in some forms: drops -e- of stem/ending
klingeln → ich klingle wandern → ich wand(e)re
stem ends in: -s, -ß, -x or -z
in the du form of the present: ending -t (not -st)
lesen grüßen faxen sitzen
→ du liest → du grüßt → du faxt → du sitzt
strong verbs with: -e- in stem
du and es form of the present and imperative singular: vowel change to -i- or -ie-
lesen geben helfen
→ du liest, es liest, lies! → du gibst, es gibt, gib! → du hilfst, es hilft, hilf!
strong verbs with: -a- or -au- in stem
du and es form of the present: Umlaut
fahren laufen
→ du fährst, es fährt → du läufst, es läuft
infinitive ends in: -ieren
past participle: omits ge-
studieren → er hat studiert trainieren → es wurde trainiert
→ du findest, sie findet → du wartest, es wartete → es regnet → er atmet (but: er filmt)
6.4 Separable and inseparable verbs Whereas English has a wide variety of phrasal verbs like ‘get up’ or ‘go out’, German forms new verbs by adding prefixes. These can be ‘inseparable’ or ‘separable’, with a few prefixes being variable (see chapter 11).
Inseparable verbs Verbs with the following prefixes are known as inseparable verbs because their prefixes always remain attached to the verb:
be-, ent-/emp-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, zer-. They do not add ge- in the past participle:
infinitive
past tense
past participle
bestellen
(order)
bestellte
bestellt
gefallen
(please, like)
gefiel
gefallen
verlieren
(lose)
verlor
verloren