Question 1

What is the difference between regular and irregular verbs in German?

Accepted Answer

Regular verbs (also called weak verbs) follow a predictable pattern when conjugated: you remove the -en ending and add endings like -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en. Irregular verbs (strong verbs) change their stem vowel in the du and er/sie/es forms, and often have a different past participle. For example, 'fahren' (to drive) becomes 'du fährst' and 'er fährt' (vowel change from a to ä). You need to memorise the most common irregular verbs for GCSE.

Question 2

How do I use separable prefix verbs in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

Separable prefix verbs have a prefix (like auf-, an-, aus-) that separates from the main verb in a main clause. The conjugated verb goes in second position, and the prefix goes to the very end of the sentence. For example, 'Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.' (I get up at 7 o'clock). In subordinate clauses (with 'weil', 'dass', etc.), the prefix stays attached and the whole verb goes to the end: '...weil ich um 7 Uhr aufstehe.'

Question 3

When do I use 'sein' instead of 'haben' in the perfect tense?

Accepted Answer

You use 'sein' as the auxiliary verb in the perfect tense for verbs that describe a change of location (e.g., gehen, kommen, fahren, reisen) or a change of state (e.g., aufwachen, sterben, werden). Also, the verbs 'sein' and 'bleiben' take 'sein'. For all other verbs, use 'haben'. For example: 'Ich bin nach Hause gegangen.' (I went home) but 'Ich habe gegessen.' (I ate).

Question 4

What are modal verbs and how do I use them?

Accepted Answer

Modal verbs (können, müssen, dürfen, sollen, wollen, mögen) express ability, necessity, permission, obligation, desire, or liking. They are conjugated irregularly (e.g., ich kann, du kannst, er kann) and are followed by an infinitive verb at the end of the sentence. For example: 'Ich kann gut schwimmen.' (I can swim well). In a main clause, the modal verb is in second position and the infinitive goes to the end.

Question 5

What is the verb second rule in German?

Accepted Answer

In a main clause (a simple statement or question), the conjugated verb must be the second 'idea' (not necessarily the second word). The first idea can be the subject, an adverb, or a phrase. For example: 'Heute spiele ich Fußball.' (Today I play football) – 'Heute' is first idea, 'spiele' is second. If you start with the subject: 'Ich spiele heute Fußball.' – 'Ich' is first, 'spiele' is second. This rule is crucial for correct word order.

Question 6

How do I conjugate regular verbs in the present tense?

Accepted Answer

To conjugate a regular verb like 'spielen' (to play), remove the -en ending to get the stem 'spiel-'. Then add the following endings: ich spiele, du spielst, er/sie/es spielt, wir spielen, ihr spielt, sie/Sie spielen. Note that the endings for wir, sie, and Sie are the same as the infinitive. For verbs ending in -d or -t (e.g., 'arbeiten'), insert an -e- before the -st and -t endings for pronunciation: du arbeitest, er arbeitet.

Grammar (Foundation): Verbs

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How to Revise Grammar (Foundation): Verbs — AQA GCSE German

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Common Mistakes in Grammar (Foundation): Verbs

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