A recent study found that up to 78% of German language learners think past tenses are some of the most difficult parts of German grammar.
Some even said it’s the hardest tense in German to learn!
And so I thought I’d make the ultimate, one-stop-shop guide to German past tenses!
We’ll cover the different German past tenses: Präteritum (simple past), Perfekt (present perfect), and Plusquamperfekt (past perfect), as well as when and how they’re used.
Knowing how to use these different German past tense forms correctly is essential for accurate communication. This guide, along with consistent practice and exposure to real-life German, will get you one step closer to native-like German fluency!
Table of Contents
- Overview of German Past Tenses
- Präteritum (Simple Past)
- Perfekt (Present Perfect)
- Plusquamperfekt (Past Perfect)
- Nuances in German Past Tense Usage
- Common Challenges and Mistakes
- Advanced Concepts in German Past Tense
- Modal Verbs in Past Tense
- Temporal Expressions and Past Tense
- Strategies for Mastering German Past Tenses
Overview of the German Past Tense
Verbs in the past tense express actions performed in the past.
There are three forms of the past tense in German:
Präteritum
Präteritum is the German simple past tense. It’s typically used in formal or professional German communication.
Ich ging gestern in den Park.
I went to the park yesterday
Perfekt
In everyday casual speech, the present perfect tense is the most common way to refer to the past in German.
In fact, some southern regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland will still use the Perfekt tense even in more formal situations.
Ich bin gestern in den Park gegangen.
I went to the park yesterday.
Plusquamperfekt
The past perfect tense. This is used for actions that occurred before another past event discussed in the same conversation.
Ich war gestern in den Park gegangen, bevor es anfing zu regnen.
I had gone to the park before it started raining.
Präteritum (Simple Past)
Simple past tense in German is called Präteritum or sometimes Imperfekt. Often used in formal settings, you’ll typically see it in texts like official documents or used verbally in news reports.
The German simple past is conjugated by adding specific verb endings to the verb stem, depending if the verb is a regular verb or an irregular verb.
Regular verbs have a consistent and predictable conjugation pattern while irregular verbs often change the very stem vowel.
Regular Verbs in Präteritum
For regular verbs, simply maintain the verb stem and add -te.
After -te, another ending may be added depending on the subject pronoun.
- Spielen (to play)
- Ich/er/sie/es spielte (I/he/she/it played)
- Du spieltest (you played)
Irregular Verbs in Präteritum
On the other hand, it’s a bit trickier to form irregular verbs like:
- sein (to be)
- haben (to have)
- gehen (to go)
Conjugating them requires changing the stem vowel. They may even have completely new forms, depending on the subject pronoun—meaning that you’ll have to memorize each.
Sein becomes war or warst:
- Ich war (I was)
- Du warst (You were)
- Er/sie/es war (He/she/it was)
Haben becomes:
- Ich hatte (I had)
- Du hattest (You had)
- Er/sie/es hatte (He/she/it had)
- Wir hatten (We had)
- Ihr hattet (You all had)
- Sie hatten (They/you formal had)
Gehen becomes ging or ginst:
- Ich ging (I went)
- Du gingst (You went)
- Er/sie/es ging (He/she/it went)
Let’s try using them in sentences:
Ich ging gestern ins Kino.
-I went to the cinema yesterday.
Er ging früh schlafen.
-He went to bed early.
Wir gingen zusammen spazieren.
-We went for a walk together.
Perfekt (Present Perfect)
Perfekt tense is the most commonly used form of past tense in German speech. It usually refers to actions performed in the recent past.
To form it, combine an auxiliary verb (haben or sein) with the past participle of the main verb.
- Ich + habe + gegessen
- Subject + auxiliary + main verb
- I + have + eaten
While most verbs will use haben, verbs that indicate motion/movement or a change of state use sein.
The past participle of the main verb is usually formed by adding ge- to the beginning of the verb stem and have -t for regular verbs or -en for irregular verbs at the end.
However, there are exceptions that we’ll discuss below.
Auxiliary Verbs: Haben vs. Sein
It’s crucial to use the correct auxiliary verb for the verb you’re using.
Most verbs use haben, whle verbs of motion or those that refer to a change of state use sein.
However, some verbs can use either haben or sein depending on the context. Here are some Perfekt verbs sentences:
Essen (to eat)
Ich habe gegessen
-I have eaten
Fahren (to drive)
Ich bin gefahren
-I have driven
Forming Past Participles
Regular verbs add ge- to the beginning and -t to the end of the verb stem.
spielen > gespielt
Ich habe gespielt
-I have played
Irregular verbs also add ge- to the beginning, but add -en at the end. The verb itself stem may also change forms.
gehen > gegangen
Ich bin gegangen
-I went
However, verbs with inseparable prefixes (be-, er-, ver-, etc.) do not add ge- at the start.
verstehen > verstanden
Ich habe verstanden
-I have understood
Here’s a table for quick reference:
Plusquamperfekt (Past Perfect)
Plusquamperfekt verbs, or past perfect verbs, refer to actions performed before another past event. It’s used to show a specific sequence of events.
It’s formed by combining the Präteritum of the auxiliary verb (hatte or war) with the past participle of the main verb.
As you can see, it follows the same rules as Perfekt. It just uses the Präteritum of the auxiliary verb instead. However, the past participle formation is the same.
Plusquamperfekt Example:
Nachdem ich mein Frühstück gegessen hatte (Plusquamperfekt), ging ich zur Arbeit (Präteritum).
-After I had eaten my breakfast, I went to work.
Nuances in German Past Tense Usage
It’s important to note that the three past tense forms are actually used differently in different contexts. Understanding the nuances of past tense usage will get you even closer to the level of a native speaker.
For example, spoken and written German tend to use different past tenses. For example, if you are reading a book in German, which you should, you will encounter Präteritum. The level of formality may also change the tense used. And past tense usage can even vary across the different German-speaking regions!
Past Tense in Spoken vs. Written German
To put it simply, spoken German will use Perfekt most of the time.
Written German—especially formal or literary texts—will use Präteritum.
Formal presentations, such as news reports or business presentations, typically use a mix of Präteritum and Perfekt.
And, as with any language, colloquial speech may even further simplify past tense usage.
So if you’re planning to go to Germany, remember these! Know which past tense to use in each situation. Or else you might get raised eyebrows when you use Präteritum when speaking!
Past Tense in Colloquial German
Native German speakers may further simplify verbs in colloquial speech.
Like in English, speakers may just use the present tense with time markers ("yesterday", "last month etc)" when referring to past actions. For example:
Gestern gehe ich ins Kino
-Yesterday, I go to the cinema
Or they may even use Perfekt for verbs or in situations that typically call for Präteritum.
Different dialects from different German-speaking regions may also have varying tense forms.
For example, some regions sometimes drop the auxiliary verb when using the Perfekt tense. In fact, some regions even have completely unique past tense formations compared to standard German!
Be aware of these so you won’t be confused when you hear them in Germany!
Past Tense in Literary and Formal German
As with most, if not all languages, written German follows grammar rules and conventions more strictly.
Literary writing and formal documents usually use Präteritum. However, Plusquamperfekt can also be used when establishing or clarifying a sequence of events.
On the other hand, academic writing will have some mix of Präteritum and Perfekt.
Remember these when reading or writing in German—or if you’re taking a test like the TestDaF, which focuses on academic writing.
Another tip: Don’t make my mistake and use Perfekt for a business report!
Common Mistakes with German Past Tenses
German is hard. German verb forms, specifically, can be very hard.
To help with that, here are a few of the most common mistakes when learning about the German past tenses. Be aware of these so you can avoid them more easily.
Verb Conjugation Errors
Verb conjugation is one of the trickiest parts of learning any language, including German.
Here are a few common struggles with German verb conjugations:
- Confusion with strong verbs
- Choosing the right auxiliary verb
- Tense agreement in complex sentences
Confusion with Strong/irregular Verbs
Strong verbs is another term for irregular verbs (the ones that take "-en" at the end: gehen > gegangen). They are a thorn in the side of many German learners.
Because most strong verbs (not all) change their stem vowel in the past tense, it can be difficult to memorize all the specific changes.
To add, some of them even have specific past participle forms too.
What makes it even more difficult is that some strong verbs can have different meanings depending on their conjugation!
So this makes memorizing the conjugations of strong verb forms absolutely essential, even if it is difficult.
Choosing the Right Auxiliary Verb
Choosing the wrong auxiliary verb for Perfekt forms (haben or sein) and Plusquamperfekt forms (hatte or war) is a common mistake.
Here are a few rules of thumb to help you remember which auxiliary verb to choose:
- Transitive verbs (verbs that require a direct object) always use haben. In fact, most verbs use haben.
- Most verbs of motion use sein, with exceptions
- Some verbs can use either haben or sein, depending on the sentence’s context
Tense Agreement in Complex Sentences
Keeping tense consistent in complex sentences can be tricky. In sentences with multiple parts (like clauses and conditions) or time references (like past, present, future), it’s essential to choose tenses that make the sequence of events clear and logical.
It’s about making sure each part of the sentence matches in time and fits the context, so the timeline flows smoothly for the reader or listener.
For example, both parts of this sentence remains in the past tense:
Als ich nach Hause kam (Präteritum), hatte meine Schwester schon das Abendessen vorbereitet (Plusquamperfekt).
-When I came home, my sister had already prepared dinner.
Advanced Usages of German Past Tense
As you get better at German, you’ll eventually encounter more sophisticated German speech and texts.
These will of course also apply more advanced concepts in the usage of the past tense, like:
- Subjunctive past tense forms used in hypothetical situations
- Past tense forms in the passive voice (frequently used in formal and academic writing—crucial if you wish to study or work in Germany)
- Reported speech with regular shifts in tense
Subjunctive Forms in Past Tense
Expressing hypothetical situations in the past, wishes, or indirect speech will require the use of the subjunctive forms of past tense verbs.
Subjunctive forms are divided into Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II.
Kojunktiv II
Konjunctiv II forms are similar to Präteritum forms but have umlauts and different endings.
You have probably used it if you have ordered a coffee:
Ich hätte gerne..
-I would like...
Alternatively, one can use Würde + infinitive form of a verb.
Ich würde gerne...
I would like...
Konjunktiv I
Konjunctiv I is used to express indirect speech in formal writing:
Er sagt, er habe Zeit.
-He says he has time
Passive Voice in Past Tense
Often used in academic and formal writing, a past tense verb in the passive voice shifts the focus of the sentence to the action rather than the actor.
It is formed by using werden + the past participle of the verb in the appropriate tense.
For the three past tenses, the passive voice is formed as such:
Präteritum passive:
wurde + past participle
Das Buch wurde gelesen.
-The book was read
Perfekt passive:
ist + past participle + worden
Das Buch ist gelesen worden
-The book has been read.
Plusquamperfekt passive:
war + past participle + worden
Das Buch war gelesen worden.
-The book had been read.
Reported Speech in Past Tense
Because reported speech involves conveying information from other sources about past events, tense backshifting and mood shifts are necessary. One must be careful to maintain tense agreement.
Direct speech:
Peter: „Ich bin gestern ins Kino gegangen.“
Peter: "I went to the cinema yesterday."
Reported speech (Indirect - Konjunktiv II):
Peter sagte, er wäre gestern ins Kino gegangen.
-Peter said he had gone to the cinema yesterday.
Don’t forget to adjust time expressions and pronouns accordingly as well. E.g., in reported/indirect speech you could also say:
Peter sagte, er wäre am Vortag ins Kino gegangen.
-Peter said he had gone to the cinema the day before.
Modal Verbs in Past Tense
Modal verbs (haben, müssen etc) in the past tense are used for nuanced expression regarding ability, permission, or obligation in past contexts.
While vital for creative or accurate expression, using them can be challenging for a learner due to their more unique forms.
In the simple past (Präteritum), modal verbs change form irregularly. In the present perfect (Perfekt), they use a "double infinitive" structure.
Präteritum Forms of Modal Verbs
Used in both spoken and written German, modal verbs in Präteritum involve changing the verb’s vowel stem. Even more memorization—sorry.
However, their endings are at least consistent throughout all persons. Some modal verbs even have the same exact form for both first and third-person singular.
Here are a few examples:
Präteritum Modal Verbs Usage
Modal verbs in Präteritum are used to express an array of things, such as:
- Past abilities
- Missed opportunities
- Assumptions about past events
- Past rules or obligations
- Explain past obligations
- To set the scene in literature or narratives
Modal Verbs in Perfekt
Used to express past modalities, modal verbs in the Perfekt tense are formed with a double infinitive.
Instead of the past participle form of the verb, the modal verb is used as an infinitive instead and is paired with the auxiliary verb haben. The main verb is then added, also as an infinitive.
Here are a few examples of modal verbs in Perfekt:
Ich habe nicht kommen können.
- I wasn't able to come.
Sie hat früh aufstehen müssen.
- She had to get up early.
Temporal Expressions and the Past Tense
People often use temporal expressions (yesterday, last year etc.) with past tense verbs. In German, these time markers interact with verbs in rather complex ways.
For example, certain time expressions are often only used with a specific past tense.
A temporal expression’s meaning can even change based on the verb’s tense.
Using adverbs of time can even affect the correct word order of a sentence.
Understanding these nuances will allow you to talk about past events more precisely and more creatively.
Time Markers and Tense Selection
Different time markers are often only used with specific tenses.
For example, markers that refer to a specific time like gestern (yesterday) or letzte Woche (last week) are usually a Präteritum or Perfekt conjugation.
Meanwhile, markers of relative time such as gerade (just) or schon (already) are typically only used with Perfekt.
Time expressions that indicate completed past actions will often use Plusquamperfekt.
Other time markers can be used with different tenses—which actually shifts the nuance and meaning of the statement.
Adverbs of Time in Past Tense Sentences
Including adverbs of time can provide important temporal context for a past tense sentence. However, it’s crucial to know that doing so may shift the word order, depending on where you place the adverb.
If used at the beginning of a sentence, an adverb of time triggers an inversion (it is now "laufe ich", not "ich laufe"):
Schnell laufe ich zur Arbeit.
- Quickly, I walk to work.
If used in the middle of a sentence, the time adverb usually comes right after the verb:
Ich laufe schnell zur Arbeit.
- I walk quickly to work.
You may place a time adverb in different positions for emphasis or other expressional intents.
However, certain adverbs can only be placed in certain positions based on the other elements in the sentence.
Strategies for Mastering German Past Tenses
Getting German past tenses down needs a lot of memorization and practice—but also exposure to actual real-life German use.
Make sure to practice both speaking and writing with verbs. After all, as discussed before, spoken and written German employ different past tenses.
You can also use other learning and memorization strategies. A lot of my students find mnemonics to be particularly useful, for example! You can also try some online games.
Mnemonic Devices for Irregular Verbs
Mnemonic devices can be particularly effective. By associating something difficult and relatively insignificant on its own (like verbs) with something memorable or meaningful to you makes that difficult object memorable as well.
For example, you can group irregular verbs together. Irregular verbs like finden (to find) and singen (to sing) both change to fand and sang in the Präteritum past tense, which are similar sounds. A mnemonic like "Finding songs" can help link them.
Or pair rhyming irregular verbs together, like gehen (ging) and sehen (sah), and create a memorable rhyme: “I saw (sah) him go(ging)” to remember them.
I vividly remember a younger student of mine even developing rhymes! The fun musicality of her rhymes cemented the verbs in her head.
Contextual Language Exposure
As with anything about learning a language, isolated grammar and vocabulary exercises are not going to cut it. Real-life immersion with authentic language use is a must to develop fluency.
Expose yourself to a wide array of both spoken and written German to see how German verbs are used in past tense:
- Read German news articles
- Read German literature (you can read children’s stories if you’re more of a beginner!)
- Watch German newscasts
- Listen to German podcasts
- Watch German films and TV shows
- Ask for feedback from native speakers
Immersive Techniques
Making German a part of your daily life is one of the quickest ways to learn the language. Don’t just absorb it from external sources either—use it yourself!
Do things like:
- Keep a journal written in German, and narrate things with past tense verbs
- Enroll in German language classes, exchange programs, and conversation groups like Deutsch Gym
- Practice telling stories in German to force yourself to use past-tense verbs
- Use past tense verbs to think about past events to yourself
Learnings Recap
German past tenses can be difficult to learn. There are a lot of nuances involved in its usage—all in addition to the memorization of different forms and rule exceptions.
But through constant use of past tense verbs and exposure to authentic German, you’ll gradually absorb all the rules (and exceptions!) and understand the nuances of their usage.
Then, in no time, you’ll find that you’re accurately using the correct past tense forms as naturally as a native would!
After all, with the German language having such varied use of the past tense, it’s important to get it down to a tee if you want to be a competent speaker.
It can be daunting—some of my students even actively avoid using past tense verbs at first due to a lack of confidence—but the more you use it, the more confident you’ll be. So take it slow, remember that language learning can be a long and winding road!
If you’re looking for a place to actually apply everything you’ve learned, give Deutsch Gym a try. Here, we provide a platform where members can have regular conversations with native speakers and other learners.
We hold daily sessions where people talk about all sorts of topics, from their past or their childhood to restaurant recommendations in Berlin to the concept of forgiveness!
You’ll have countless opportunities to refine your past tense usage and real-life German skills as a whole.
Ready to put those struggles with past tenses in the past? Join Deutsch Gym’s warm community today and take your German conversational skills to exciting new heights!
We have daily conversation classes with native speakers and other learners.
