Past tense in narration
B2 · Upper-Intermediate · Style & Precision
The rule
Präteritum for written narration, Perfekt for speaking.
How it works
In written narration, German uses the simple past (Präteritum) for the main action. In spoken German the perfect is the norm, so a story told aloud usually uses the perfect. Novels, news reports and formal essays use the simple past, and mixing the two styles in one text can sound unnatural.
When to use it
Choose between the simple past (written narration) and the perfect (speech) when telling a story.
Use cases
- Writing a short story: Es war einmal ein kleines Dorf
- Writing a news report: Die Feuerwehr löschte den Brand
- Telling a story aloud: Gestern haben wir einen Ausflug gemacht
Examples
- Es war einmal ein König – Once upon a time there was a king
- Sie lief schnell durch den Wald. – She ran quickly through the forest.
- Gestern bin ich ins Kino gegangen. – Yesterday I went to the cinema.
- Der Präsident kündigte die Reform an. – The president announced the reform.
Common mistake
Using the simple past in everyday speech, which sounds formal, or the perfect in written stories.
Memory tip
Speak in the perfect, write in the simple past (Präteritum) for novels and reports.
Read the wider picture in our guide: German Verbs and Word Order: Tenses, Modals and Sentence Structure.