Regular verb conjugation
A1 · Beginner · Basics
The rule
Remove -en, add -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en.
How it works
Regular verbs keep the same stem and add a set of endings for each person: ich lerne, du lernst, er lernt, wir lernen, ihr lernt, sie lernen. Verb stems that end in -d or -t, such as arbeiten or warten, add an extra -e before -st and -t, so du arbeitest and er wartet. This pattern covers most verbs in German.
When to use it
Conjugate regular verbs (lernen, machen, spielen) by adding endings to the stem for each person.
Use cases
- Describing daily routines in the present tense
- Talking about jobs and hobbies
- Making simple statements about yourself and others
Examples
- ich lerne – I learn
- du lernst – you learn
- er lernt – he learns
- Ich wohne in München. – I live in Munich.
- Du arbeitest sehr viel. – You work a lot.
- Wir spielen gern Tennis. – We like playing tennis.
Common mistake
Forgetting the extra -e in verbs whose stem ends in -d or -t, so "arbeiten" becomes "du arbeitst" instead of "du arbeitest".
Memory tip
Take the stem (lern-) and add -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en. If the stem ends in d or t, add -e before the -st or -t.