German conjugation explanation

German auxiliary verbs (SEIN and HABEN)

<p><strong>Most German verbs use <span style="font-style: italic;">haben</span></strong> as auxiliary verb in compound <span style="font-style: italic">Perfekt</span> tenses:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Sie <span class="green_emphasis">hat</span> nicht einmal danke <span class="green_emphasis">gesagt</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She didn't even say thanks.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Die ganze Woche über <span class="green_emphasis">haben</span> wir nichts <span class="green_emphasis">getan</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We haven't done a thing all week.</span>)</div>

<p>Most of the verbs that use <span style="font-style: italic;">sein</span> instead of <span style="font-style: italic;">haben</span> are <strong>intransitive</strong> verbs (=they don't have an object) and express a <strong>change of place or condition</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Sie <span class="green_emphasis">ist</span> bereits <span class="green_emphasis">heimgegangen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">She has already gone home.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(change of place)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Aus Ihnen <span class="green_emphasis">ist</span> eine wunderschöne Frau <span class="green_emphasis">geworden</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You've become a very beautiful woman.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(change of condition)</div>

<p>Some common verbs that do not fulfill these requirements (e.g. <strong style="font-style: italic;">sein, bleiben</strong>) also use the <span style="font-style: italic;">sein</span> auxiliary verb:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Wie <span class="green_emphasis">ist</span> das Wetter gestern <span class="green_emphasis">gewesen</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">How was the weather yesterday?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Warum <span class="green_emphasis">ist</span> sie in Deutschland <span class="green_emphasis">geblieben</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did she remain in Germany?</span>)</div>

<p>Some verbs can take either <span style="font-style: italic;">haben</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">sein</span> depending on the context:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>SEIN + FAHREN:</strong> to go by vehicle, to travel</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Er <span class="green_emphasis">ist</span> über Paris nach London <span class="green_emphasis">gefahren</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He went to London via Paris.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>HABEN + FAHREN:</strong> to take (someone somewhere by vehicle), to drive, to transport</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Hast</span> du sie gestern Abend nach Hause <span class="green_emphasis">gefahren</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Did you drive her home last night?</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>SEIN + FOLGEN:</strong> to follow (on the same path or in a sequence)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ein weißes Auto <span class="green_emphasis">ist</span> mir die letzten zwei Meilen <span class="green_emphasis">gefolgt</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">A white car has been tailing me for the last two miles.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>HABEN + FOLGEN:</strong> to obey (rules, the law), to follow (instructions, advice)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Maria <span class="green_emphasis">hat</span> nur dem Rezept <span class="green_emphasis">gefolgt</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maria just followed the recipe.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>SEIN + ZIEHEN:</strong> to move, to migrate</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich <span class="green_emphasis">bin</span> vor drei Jahren hierher <span class="green_emphasis">gezogen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I moved here three years ago.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>HABEN + ZIEHEN:</strong> to pull, to drag</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Meine Schwester <span class="green_emphasis">hat</span> mich an den Haaren <span class="green_emphasis">gezogen</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">My sister pulled my hair.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>