In German, some verbs are called strong verbs (starke Verben). These verbs undergo a change in their vowel stem when conjugated, particularly in the present tense (second and third person singular) and in the past tenses (preterite and past participle). This guide will focus on the vowel changes in the present tense.
1. What Are Vowel-Changing Verbs?
Vowel-changing verbs have stem vowel alternations in the second-person singular (du) and third-person singular (er/sie/es) forms in the present tense.
Common Vowel Changes in Present Tense
2. Types of Vowel Changes in Present Tense
a. e → i
| Infinitive |
Stem Change |
Example Sentence |
| essen (to eat) |
e → i |
Du isst ein Brot. (You eat a bread.) |
| geben (to give) |
e → i |
Er gibt mir das Buch. (He gives me the book.) |
| sprechen (to speak) |
e → i |
Du sprichst Deutsch. (You speak German.) |
| nehmen (to take) |
e → i |
Sie nimmt das Glas. (She takes the glass.) |
b. e → ie
| Infinitive |
Stem Change |
Example Sentence |
| sehen (to see) |
e → ie |
Du siehst den Baum. (You see the tree.) |
| lesen (to read) |
e → ie |
Er liest ein Buch. (He reads a book.) |
c. a → ä
| Infinitive |
Stem Change |
Example Sentence |
| fahren (to drive/go) |
a → ä |
Du fährst mit dem Auto. (You drive the car.) |
| schlafen (to sleep) |
a → ä |
Sie schläft lange. (She sleeps a lot.) |
| tragen (to carry/wear) |
a → ä |
Er trägt eine Jacke. (He wears a jacket.) |
3. Conjugation Examples