The verb that shape-shifts
'To be' — sein — twists into bin, bist, ist depending on who's speaking, just like English am/are/is. Mastering these common verbs is what lets you finally say what people actually do.
Sein und alltägliche Verben
The verb sein (to be) is irregular: ich bin (I am), du bist (you are), er/sie ist (he/she is), wir sind (we are). Everyday verbs include haben (to have), gehen (to go), and machen (to do/make). In a normal German sentence, the verb comes in second position.
Verb goes second
Whatever starts the sentence, the conjugated verb is the second element: 'Heute gehe ich' (Today go I) — the verb 'gehe' stays in slot two.
Simulation · Vocabulary flashcards
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Drill the forms of sein and a few common verbs.