Present Tense Foundations: Infinitives, Verb Stems, and Personal Endings

Why the present tense matters for building correct verb forms

In German, the present tense (Prsens) is the workhorse tense for everyday communication. It is used not only for what is happening now, but also very often for habits, general truths, and near-future plans. To form it correctly, you need three building blocks: the infinitive (the dictionary form), the verb stem (what remains after removing the infinitive ending), and the personal endings (the endings that match the subject: ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie). This chapter focuses on how to reliably move from the infinitive to a correct present-tense verb form, step by step, and how to handle the most common spelling and sound changes that appear in regular patterns.

1) The infinitive: your starting point

The infinitive is the form you find in dictionaries and vocabulary lists. In German, most infinitives end in -en (lernen, machen, wohnen) and some end in -n (wandern, sammeln, handeln). When you learn a verb, learn it in the infinitive because it lets you derive the stem and attach endings.

Common infinitive endings

• -en: machen, spielen, fragen, kaufen
• -n (often after -el or -er): sammeln, wandern, ffnen (rare), handeln

In this chapter, we treat verbs as either (a) regular in the present tense (predictable stem + endings) or (b) regular with a predictable spelling/sound adjustment (still systematic). Fully irregular verbs exist, but the foundations you build here will still help you recognize what is changing and what stays the same.

2) The verb stem: how to find it

The stem is the core of the verb that carries the lexical meaning. For present tense conjugation, you usually get the stem by removing the infinitive ending:

• For verbs ending in -en, remove -en: machen d2 mach-
• For verbs ending in -n, remove -n: wandern d2 wander-

Step-by-step: derive the stem

Use this simple procedure:

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• Step 1: Identify the infinitive ending: -en or -n.
• Step 2: Remove that ending.
• Step 3: Check whether the stem ends in letters/sounds that trigger adjustments (explained below).
• Step 4: Add the personal ending for the subject.

Examples:

• lernen d2 lern-
• arbeiten d2 arbeit-
• wandern d2 wander-
• sammeln d2 sammel-

3) Personal endings: the present tense pattern

Once you have the stem, you attach personal endings. For a standard regular verb, the endings are:

• ich d2 -e
• du d2 -st
• er/sie/es d2 -t
• wir d2 -en
• ihr d2 -t
• sie/Sie d2 -en

Think of this as a template: stem + ending. The subject determines the ending, not the object or the rest of the sentence.

Example: machen (mach-)

ich mache  | du machst  | er/sie/es macht  | wir machen  | ihr macht  | sie/Sie machen

Example: lernen (lern-)

ich lerne  | du lernst  | er/sie/es lernt  | wir lernen  | ihr lernt  | sie/Sie lernen

Notice the symmetry: wir and sie/Sie look like the infinitive for most verbs (lernen d2 wir lernen). That is a helpful memory anchor, but you should still understand it as stem + -en.

4) Building present tense forms: a practical routine

To make conjugation automatic, use a repeatable routine. Here is a practical method you can apply to any new verb you learn.

Routine: from infinitive to six forms

• Step 1: Write the infinitive. Example: spielen
• Step 2: Remove -en to get the stem. spiel-
• Step 3: Add endings in order: ich -e, du -st, er/sie/es -t, wir -en, ihr -t, sie/Sie -en
• Step 4: Read the forms aloud. This helps you notice pronunciation issues (especially with stems ending in -t/-d or s-sounds).
• Step 5: Put each form into a short sentence. This connects the form to meaning and usage.

Applied to spielen:

ich spiele | du spielst | er/sie/es spielt | wir spielen | ihr spielt | sie/Sie spielen

Mini-sentences (one per person):

• Ich spiele heute.
• Du spielst gern.
• Er spielt Fudfball.
• Wir spielen zusammen.
• Ihr spielt sehr gut.
• Sie spielen am Wochenende. / Spielen Sie am Wochenende?

5) Spelling and sound adjustments you must know

Many verbs are still considered regular in the present tense, but German spelling and pronunciation rules can slightly modify the expected ending. These changes are not random; they follow patterns that make the forms easier to pronounce.

5.1 Stems ending in -t or -d: add an extra -e- before -st and -t

If the stem ends in -t or -d, German often inserts an -e- before endings that start with a consonant cluster, especially -st and -t. This avoids hard-to-pronounce combinations.

Common examples: arbeiten (arbeit-), warten (wart-), reden (red-), finden (find- sometimes behaves similarly in speech, but the standard rule is strongest with -t/-d).

Example: arbeiten (arbeit-)

ich arbeite | du arbeitest | er/sie/es arbeitet | wir arbeiten | ihr arbeitet | sie/Sie arbeiten

Notice: du arbeitest (not *arbeitst), er arbeitet (not *arbeitt).

Example: reden (red-)

ich rede | du redest | er/sie/es redet | wir reden | ihr redet | sie/Sie reden

Practice checklist

• Does the stem end in -t or -d? If yes, expect -est for du and -et for er/sie/es and ihr.
• Write the du and er/sie/es forms first; they show the change most clearly.

5.2 Stems ending in -m or -n after certain consonants: often insert -e-

Some stems ending in -m or -n also insert an -e- before -st and -t, especially when the stem ends in a difficult consonant cluster (for example after b, d, f, g, k, p, t). This is about pronunciation comfort.

Examples: atmen (atm-), f6ffnen (f6ffn-), regnen (regn-).

Example: atmen (atm-)

ich atme | du atmest | er/sie/es atmet | wir atmen | ihr atmet | sie/Sie atmen

Here the -e- appears in du and er/sie/es (and ihr), making the forms easier to say.

5.3 Stems ending in s-sounds: du loses the extra s

If the stem ends in a s-sound such as -s, -ss, -df, -z, or -x, the du ending is usually -t instead of -st. This avoids a double s sound (like *du heidfstst).

Examples: heidfen (heidf-), tanzen (tanz-), reisen (reis-), sitzen (sitz-).

Example: heidfen (heidf-)

ich heidfe | du heidft | er/sie/es heidft | wir heidfen | ihr heidft | sie/Sie heidfen

Example: tanzen (tanz-)

ich tanze | du tanzt | er/sie/es tanzt | wir tanzen | ihr tanzt | sie/Sie tanzen

Tip: When you see a stem ending in -z or -df, your eyes might expect -st for du, but your mouth will prefer -t. Trust the pattern.

5.4 Verbs ending in -eln and -ern: small stem behavior differences

Verbs with infinitives ending in -eln and -ern are common and mostly regular, but they have a characteristic look in the ich-form.

-eln verbs: ich often drops the e in the stem

For many -eln verbs, the ich form often uses a shortened stem: the e before -l can drop. Both variants may be heard, but the shortened form is very common in standard usage.

Example: sammeln

Infinitive: sammeln  (stem: sammel-)

ich sammle | du sammelst | er/sie/es sammelt | wir sammeln | ihr sammelt | sie/Sie sammeln

Notice: ich sammle (not *ich sammele in typical modern usage).

-ern verbs: usually straightforward

Verbs ending in -ern generally behave regularly without the same dropping pattern.

Example: wandern

ich wandere | du wanderst | er/sie/es wandert | wir wandern | ihr wandert | sie/Sie wandern

6) Personal endings in action: accuracy with each subject

It is easy to memorize the endings as a list, but accuracy improves when you connect each ending to a subject pronoun and a sound pattern.

ich: -e (often the clearest form)

The ich-form is usually stem + -e. It is a good place to check your stem.

• ich mache
• ich lerne
• ich arbeite
• ich heidfe

du: -st (or -t after s-sounds; or -est after -t/-d stems)

The du-form is the one most likely to show a spelling/sound adjustment.

• du machst
• du arbeitest
• du heidft
• du atmest

er/sie/es: -t (or -et after -t/-d stems; often also after difficult -m/-n clusters)

• er macht
• sie arbeitet
• es atmet

wir: -en (often identical to the infinitive)

This form is stable and rarely causes spelling issues.

• wir machen
• wir arbeiten
• wir heidfen

ihr: -t (or -et after -t/-d stems; sometimes after difficult clusters)

• ihr macht
• ihr arbeitet
• ihr heidft

sie/Sie: -en (same as wir)

Remember that sie (they) and Sie (formal you) share the same verb form in the present tense.

• sie machen / Sie machen
• sie arbeiten / Sie arbeiten

7) A focused practice set: derive, conjugate, use

To internalize the foundations, practice in three phases: derive the stem, conjugate the verb, then use it in short sentences. Below is a guided practice set with representative verbs.

Practice A: regular verbs without adjustments

1) kaufen (kauf-)

ich kaufe | du kaufst | er/sie/es kauft | wir kaufen | ihr kauft | sie/Sie kaufen

2) fragen (frag-)

ich frage | du fragst | er/sie/es fragt | wir fragen | ihr fragt | sie/Sie fragen

Use them:

• Ich kaufe Brot.
• Du kaufst Kaffee.
• Er fragt nach dem Weg.
• Wir fragen den Lehrer.

Practice B: stems ending in -t/-d (extra -e-)

1) warten (wart-)

ich warte | du wartest | er/sie/es wartet | wir warten | ihr wartet | sie/Sie warten

2) antworten (antwort-)

ich antworte | du antwortest | er/sie/es antwortet | wir antworten | ihr antwortet | sie/Sie antworten

Use them:

• Ich warte hier.
• Du wartest schon lange.
• Sie antwortet schnell.
• Wir antworten per E-Mail.

Practice C: stems ending in s-sounds (du = -t)

1) reisen (reis-)

ich reise | du reist | er/sie/es reist | wir reisen | ihr reist | sie/Sie reisen

2) sitzen (sitz-)

ich sitze | du sitzt | er/sie/es sitzt | wir sitzen | ihr sitzt | sie/Sie sitzen

Use them:

• Ich reise morgen.
• Du reist oft.
• Er sitzt am Fenster.
• Wir sitzen zusammen.

Practice D: -eln and -ern verbs

1) sammeln

ich sammle | du sammelst | er/sie/es sammelt | wir sammeln | ihr sammelt | sie/Sie sammeln

2) wandern

ich wandere | du wanderst | er/sie/es wandert | wir wandern | ihr wandert | sie/Sie wandern

Use them:

• Ich sammle Informationen.
• Du sammelst Punkte.
• Wir wandern im Wald.
• Sie wandern gern.

8) Common learner errors and how to fix them

Error 1: keeping the infinitive ending and adding endings on top

Incorrect patterns often look like: *ich machen, *du machenst. The fix is always the same: remove -en/-n first, then add the ending.

• machen d2 mach- d2 ich mache, du machst

Error 2: forgetting the extra -e- with -t/-d stems

Forms like *du arbeitst or *er redt are common mistakes. Train your eye to spot stems ending in -t/-d and automatically insert -e- before -st and -t.

• arbeit- d2 du arbeitest, er arbeitet
• red- d2 du redest, er redet

Error 3: using -st after s-sounds in the du-form

Forms like *du heidfst are incorrect in standard German; it must be du heidft. If the stem ends in -s/-df/-z/-x, the du-form ends in -t.

• heidf- d2 du heidft
• tanz- d2 du tanzt

Error 4: mixing up ihr and sie/Sie endings

Because both can refer to more than one person, learners sometimes swap endings. Remember: ihr ends in -t, while sie/Sie ends in -en.

• ihr macht
• sie machen / Sie machen

9) Quick reference: the present tense formation algorithm

Use this as a compact mental checklist whenever you meet a new verb.

1) Start with the infinitive (dictionary form): spielen / arbeiten / heidfen / sammeln / wandern. 2) Remove -en or -n to get the stem: spiel- / arbeit- / heidf- / sammel- / wander-. 3) Choose the ending by subject: ich -e, du -st, er/sie/es -t, wir -en, ihr -t, sie/Sie -en. 4) Apply adjustments if needed: -t/-d stems: add -e- (du -est, er -et, ihr -et). s-sound stems: du ends in -t (not -st). -eln verbs: ich often drops the extra e (ich sammle). 5) Say it aloud and write a short sentence to lock it in.

10) Targeted mini-drills (do them out loud)

These drills are designed to strengthen the exact skills you need: stem extraction, ending selection, and adjustment recognition.

Drill 1: stem extraction (say the stem)

• kaufen d2 kauf-
• lernen d2 lern-
• arbeiten d2 arbeit-
• heidfen d2 heidf-
• sammeln d2 sammel-
• wandern d2 wander-

Drill 2: du-forms (the most sensitive form)

Produce only the du-form:

• machen d2 du machst
• arbeiten d2 du arbeitest
• heidfen d2 du heidft
• tanzen d2 du tanzt
• atmen d2 du atmest
• warten d2 du wartest

Drill 3: wir vs. ihr vs. sie/Sie (endings contrast)

Use the same verb and switch subjects quickly:

• machen: wir machen d2 ihr macht d2 sie/Sie machen
• arbeiten: wir arbeiten d2 ihr arbeitet d2 sie/Sie arbeiten
• reisen: wir reisen d2 ihr reist d2 sie/Sie reisen

Drill 4: sentence frames (swap the verb)

Keep the sentence frame and swap in different verbs to practice automatic conjugation.

• Ich ____ heute. (arbeite / lerne / reise / warte)
• Du ____ sehr gut. (spielst / lernst / wartest / tanzt)
• Er ____ im Park. (wartet / arbeitet / sitzt / wandert)
• Wir ____ zusammen. (lernen / arbeiten / spielen / reisen)
• Ihr ____ jetzt. (arbeitet / wartet / reist / spielt)
• Sie/Sie ____ am Wochenende. (kaufen / lernen / arbeiten / wandern)