German Weak Verbs: Learn Regular Verbs with Examples in All Tenses

Introduction

German weak (regular) verbs are the foundation of everyday communication. Unlike strong (irregular) verbs, these verbs maintain a stable stem when forming different tenses.

Learning how they work simplifies your grammar study and ensures accuracy. This guide covers their key traits, conjugation patterns, and special cases so you can use them confidently in all major tenses. For an overview of all German tenses, see German Tenses: Easily Explained.

What Are German Regular Verbs?

Key Characteristics

German weak verbs share common patterns:

• Stable Stem: The verb stem does not change.
• -t Ending: The simple past (Präteritum) and past participle end with -t (e.g., machen → machte → gemacht).
• Examples: machen (to do), spielen (to play), lernen (to learn).

Why Are They Called “Weak”?

These verbs are “weak” because their stems do not undergo vowel shifts. Strong (irregular) verbs change their stem (e.g., fahren → fuhr → gefahren), while weak verbs only add consistent endings.

Conjugation Patterns

Below are the main tenses: present, perfect, simple past, past perfect, future I, and future II. Each section includes structure and examples. Visit:

• Present Tense
• Perfect Tense
• Simple Past
• Past Perfect
• Future 1
• Future 2

Present Tense

Structure

• Subject + verb stem + personal ending

Example Sentences

German	English
Ich lerne Deutsch.	I learn German.
Du machst das Essen.	You make the food.
Er spielt Gitarre.	He plays the guitar.
Wir arbeiten jeden Tag.	We work every day.

Present Perfect Tense

Structure

• Subject + haben or sein + past participle (stem + -t)

Example Sentences

German	English
Ich habe das Auto gewaschen.	I have washed the car.
Wir haben gestern gelernt.	We studied yesterday.
Sie hat den Kuchen gemacht.	She made the cake.
Habt ihr Musik gehört?	Did you (plural) listen to music?

Simple Past (Präteritum)

Structure

• Subject + stem + -te

Example Sentences

German	English
Ich lernte viel.	I studied a lot.
Sie machte das Fenster auf.	She opened the window.
Er spielte den ganzen Tag.	He played all day.
Wir warteten lange.	We waited for a long time.

Past Perfect (Plusquamperfekt)

Structure

• Subject + hatte/war + past participle (stem + -t)

Example Sentences

German	English
Ich hatte alles gelernt.	I had studied everything.
Sie hatte das Essen schon gemacht.	She had already made the meal.
Wir hatten Musik gehört.	We had listened to music when he arrived.
Du hattest viel gearbeitet.	You had worked a lot.

Future I

Structure

• Subject + werden + other elements + verb infinitive.

Example Sentences

German	English
Ich werde morgen Deutsch lernen.	I will study German tomorrow.
Tom wird das Abendessen machen.	Tom will make dinner.
Wir werden bald Tennis spielen.	We will play tennis soon.
Du wirst ein Buch lesen.	You will read a book.

Future II

Structure

• Subject + werden + other elements + past participle + haben/sein (infinitive).

Example Sentences

German	English
Ich werde alles gelernt haben.	I will have learned everything.
Sie wird das Essen gemacht haben.	She will have made the meal.
Wir werden Musik gehört haben.	We will have listened to music.
Er wird im Bus gesessen haben.	He will have sat on the bus.

Special Cases and Exceptions

Verb Stem Ending in -t or -d

If the stem ends in -t or -d, add an extra “e” when conjugating to ease pronunciation:

• arbeiten → “du arbeitest,” “er arbeitet” in present tense
• warten → “wir warten,” “ihr wartet”

Verb Stem Ending with s, ss, ß, z

In the present tense, du-form and er/sie/es-form match because the extra -s is not added:

• tanzen → “du tanzt,” “er tanzt”
• küssen → “du küsst,” “sie küsst”

New German Verbs Often Follow Regular Patterns

Modern, borrowed, or newly created verbs like googeln  usually behave as weak verbs:

• ich google – du googelst – er googelt
• ich googelte – ich habe gegoogelt

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Missing the “E” in Conjugations

Learners often drop the extra “e,” causing errors like “ich arbeitet” instead of “ich arbeitete” in past forms.

Confusing Weak and Mixed Verbs

Some verbs appear regular but have partial vowel changes (mixed verbs). For instance, denken → dachte → gedacht is not purely weak.

Conclusion

German weak (regular) verbs share stable stems and predictable endings. Recognizing their patterns in present, perfect, simple past, past perfect, and future tenses allows you to speak and write confidently. Look out for special cases like stems in -t or -d that require an extra “e.” With consistent practice, these fundamental verbs become second nature, helping you communicate effectively in German.

FAQ

Are weak verbs always the same in the simple past and perfect?

They share the -t ending. For example, “machen” → “machte” (simple past) and “gemacht” (past participle).

Do all new German verbs follow weak patterns?

Most newly introduced or borrowed verbs act as weak verbs.

Do I have to memorize vowel changes for weak verbs?

No. Weak verbs do not have stem vowel changes, unlike strong or mixed verbs.

Why does “du tanzt” match “er tanzt” in present tense?

Stems ending in s, ss, ß, or z cause “du” and “er/sie/es” forms to look the same, removing the extra “-s.”