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Learn the distinction between Perfekt and Präteritum for expressing past actions in German, with examples like 'habe eröffnet' and 'lernte'. Master usage for spoken and written past narration.
  1. Perfect tense: Conversations about the recent past (especially spoken)
  2. Perfect tense: actions related to the present
  3. Simple past: written language, narratives, short sequence of events in the past
Zeitform (Tense)Beispiel (Example)
Perfekt (Perfect)Diese Woche habe ich ein Konto eröffnet. (This week I have opened an account.)
Perfekt (Perfect)Heute hast du deine EC-Karte benutzt. (Today you have used your debit card.)
Präteritum (simple past)Gestern lernte ich für den Test. (Yesterday I learnt for the test.)
Präteritum (simple past)Er kam in die Klasse und erklärte sofort den Stoff. (He came into the class and explained the material immediately.)

 

Exercise 1: Perfekt vs. Präteritum: Gebrauch

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

vergessen, haben, habe, war, gelernt, waren, gelesen, erklärte, gehört

1. Lesen:
Wir ... im Unterricht heute viele Texte ....
(Wir haben im Unterricht heute viele Texte gelesen.)
2. Hören:
Wir ... den Wetterbericht im Radio ....
(Wir haben den Wetterbericht im Radio gehört.)
3. Lernen:
Ich ... heute etwas neues ....
(Ich habe heute etwas neues gelernt.)
4. Vergessen:
Ich ... gestern meinen Stundenplan ...
(Ich habe gestern meinen Stundenplan vergessen)
5. Erklären:
Meine Lehrerin in der fünften Klasse ... uns Mathe sehr geduldig.
(Meine Lehrerin in der fünften Klasse erklärte uns Mathe sehr geduldig.)
6. Sein:
Die Gesamtschule ... für viele Schüler spannend.
(Die Gesamtschule war für viele Schüler spannend.)
7. Sein:
Im Sommer ... die Ferien immer sehr schön.
(Im Sommer waren die Ferien immer sehr schön.)
8. Sein:
In der Grundschule ... ich sehr neugierig.
(In der Grundschule war ich sehr neugierig.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct and correctly uses the perfect tense and simple past according to their usage.

1.
The simple past is correct but is more suitable for written reports or narratives; it is not typically used in spoken German for this situation.
Incorrect tense mixing; after 'have' the past participle must follow, not the simple past form.
2.
The simple past is more common in written reports or narratives but less frequently used in everyday spoken language.
The past participle is used incorrectly here; 'bought' in this structure is not correct.
3.
The simple past form 'used' is outdated and is rarely used in everyday spoken German.
'Useded' is not a correct past participle form.
4.
This mix of perfect forms in a short sequence of events sounds unnatural in written narratives.
Combining simple past and perfect tense in a short sequence is unusual and not idiomatic.

Perfect vs. Simple Past in German: Usage Guide

This lesson covers two common past tenses in German: Perfekt (Perfect) and Präteritum (Simple Past). Both express actions that happened in the past but are used in different contexts and types of communication.

When to Use Perfekt

  • In everyday spoken German to talk about past experiences or events.
  • For actions connected to the present moment.

Examples include:
Diese Woche habe ich ein Konto eröffnet.
Heute hast du deine EC-Karte benutzt.

When to Use Präteritum

  • Mostly found in written language, such as stories, reports, and narratives.
  • Used for describing a sequence of events in the past.

Examples include:
Gestern lernte ich für den Test.
Er kam in die Klasse und erklärte sofort den Stoff.

Key Differences

While both tenses describe past events, Perfekt focuses on spoken communication and relevance to the present, whereas Präteritum is preferred for formal writing and storytelling. Understanding when to use each helps improve both comprehension and expression in German.

Important Vocabulary and Phrases

  • eröffnen — to open (e.g., an account)
  • benutzen — to use
  • lernen — to learn, to study
  • kommen — to come
  • erklären — to explain

Notes on Differences Between English and German Past Tenses

English primarily uses the simple past ("I learned") for both spoken and written past actions. German separates these functions: Perfekt is more conversational, while Präteritum is typical in writing. Knowing this distinction can help English speakers avoid common pitfalls. For example, the phrase "I studied yesterday" corresponds to either "Ich habe gestern gelernt" (spoken) or "Ich lernte gestern" (written), but the latter sounds more formal.

To express recent past with a link to the present, use Perfekt:
Heute hast du deine EC-Karte benutzt.
To tell a story or narrate past events, use Präteritum:
Er kam in die Klasse und erklärte sofort den Stoff.

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Louis Fernando Hess

Bachelor of Science - Intercultural Business Psychology

Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences

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Germany


Last Updated:

Wednesday, 03/12/2025 04:45