Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to conjugate regular German verbs in the indicative mood at the A1 level. This lesson explains the standard verb endings for each pronoun, highlights special cases like verbs ending with -d, -t and sibilant sounds, and provides practical examples such as kaufen and arbeiten. Understand key differences between German and English verb conjugation for better language mastery.

Regelmäßige Verben (Regular verbs)

Ich kaufeWir kaufen
Du kaufstIhr kauft
Er/Sie/Es kauftSie kaufen

Exceptions!

  1. Verbs ending in -d or -t (e.g. arbeiten): → In the cases of „du“, „er/sie/es“ and „ihr“, an -e- is inserted to make pronunciation easier -> du arbeitest, er arbeitet, ihr arbeitet
  2. Verbs ending in -s, -ß, -x, -z (e.g. heißen): → In the case of „du“ the additional -s in the ending is dropped: du heißt (not heißst)

Exercise 1: Konjugation der regelmäßigen Verben im Indikativ

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

sagt, kommen, heiße, verstehen, heißt, zählt, sagst, versteht

1. Heißen:
: Deine Tochter ... Juliette.
(Your daughter is called Juliette.)
2. Verstehen:
: Wir ... deine Eltern nicht.
(We do not understand your parents.)
3. Kommen:
: Wir ... aus Frankreich.
(We come from France.)
4. Zählen:
: Ihr ... von 1 bis 100.
(You count from 1 to 100.)
5. Sagen:
: Du ... etwas auf Deutsch.
(You say something in German.)
6. Verstehen:
: Ihr Bruder ... den Satz nicht.
(Her brother does not understand the sentence.)
7. Heißen:
: Ich ... Johanna.
(My name is Johanna.)
8. Sagen:
: Ihr ... etwas Interessantes.
(You say something interesting.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___ Vater ist Ingenieur und arbeitet in einem Büro.

(___ father is an engineer and works in an office.)

2. ___ Schwester kauft oft frisches Obst auf dem Markt.

(___ sister often buys fresh fruit at the market.)

3. ___ Hund heißt Max und ist sehr freundlich.

(___ dog is called Max and is very friendly.)

4. Er kauft ___ Zeitung immer morgens an der Ecke.

(He buys ___ newspaper always in the morning on the corner.)

5. Ich besuche morgen ___ Großeltern in Berlin.

(I will visit ___ grandparents in Berlin tomorrow.)

6. ___ Kind spielt gerne im Park neben dem Haus.

(___ child likes to play in the park next to the house.)

Conjugation of Regular Verbs in the Indicative Mood

This lesson focuses on conjugating regular German verbs in the indicative tense, a fundamental skill for all learners at the A1 beginners' level. You'll learn how verbs ending in typical patterns change with each pronoun.

Basic Conjugation Patterns

Regular verbs in German follow predictable endings depending on the subject. For example, consider the verb kaufen (to buy):

  • Ich kaufe
  • Du kaufst
  • Er/Sie/Es kauft
  • Wir kaufen
  • Ihr kauft
  • Sie kaufen

Special Cases

Some verbs require an additional -e- for easier pronunciation, especially those ending with -d or -t like arbeiten (to work). This results in forms like du arbeitest or er arbeitet.

Verbs ending with -s, -ß, -x, -z, such as heißen (to be called), have a slight change: the usual -st ending for “du” loses the -s, leading to du heißt, not heißst.

Important Notes for English Speakers

Unlike English verbs which often just add -s for third person singular, German verbs change endings for each pronoun. The use of an extra -e- for smooth pronunciation is unique and has no direct English equivalent. Examples like “du arbeitest” show this added vowel sound for ease.

Useful German phrases:

  • Ich kaufe – I buy
  • Du arbeitest – You work
  • Er heißt – He is called

Mastering these patterns is essential to forming correct sentences and communicating effectively in German.

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Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

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Last Updated:

Monday, 14/07/2025 21:43