In German, verbs play a central role in sentence structure. They need to be conjugated to match the subject of the sentence and sometimes reflect tense, mood, or voice. This section will explain verb conjugation, focusing on regular and irregular verbs, and provide a detailed explanation of the verb "sein" (to be).

1. The Infinitive Form (Der Infinitiv)

The infinitive is the base form of the verb, equivalent to "to do" or "to speak" in English.

• Examples of infinitives in German:
  • sprechen (to speak)
  • gehen (to go)
  • sein (to be)

Most infinitive verbs in German end with -en or -n.

2. Regular Verbs (Regelmäßige Verben)

Regular verbs follow a consistent pattern in their conjugation.

How to Conjugate Regular Verbs in the Present Tense

1. Remove the en or n ending from the infinitive to find the stem.
   • Example: machen (to do, to make) → mach- (stem).
2. Add the appropriate endings based on the subject:

Examples of Regular Verbs:

1. spielen (to play):
   • Ich spiele Fußball. (I play soccer.)
   • Sie spielt Klavier. (She plays piano.)
2. arbeiten (to work):
   • Wir arbeiten in Berlin. (We work in Berlin.)

3. Irregular Verbs (Unregelmäßige Verben)

Irregular verbs deviate from regular conjugation patterns, especially in their stem changes.

Examples of Irregular Verbs in the Present Tense: