By the end of this lesson, I can…
- Only the auxiliary verb changes
- Movement verbs often use sein
- Usage, exceptions and scope
Simple explanation
The Perfekt tense is the most common way to talk about past events in spoken German. It is formed with haben or sein and the Partizip II form of a verb. This lesson explains when to use each auxiliary verb and how to build simple past sentences correctly.
Only the auxiliary verb changes
In Perfekt, only haben or sein changes according to the subject. The Partizip II form stays the same. Example: Ich habe gelernt. Wir haben gelernt.
Partizip II usually comes at the end
In an ordinary statement, the auxiliary verb is in position two and the Partizip II is placed at the end.
Movement verbs often use sein
Verbs such as gehen, kommen, and fahren usually form Perfekt with sein.
Usage, exceptions and scope
Perfekt combines a conjugated haben/sein with an unchanged participle. Many verbs take haben; a change of place or state and verbs such as sein/bleiben commonly take sein: Ich bin gegangen/geblieben. Not every physical movement requires sein; learn the verb and intended meaning. Common participle patterns include regular ge-…-t, -ieren without ge-, separable verbs with internal ge-, and many inseparable prefixes without ge-: gelernt, telefoniert, eingekauft, besucht. Learn irregular gesehen separately.
Patterns at a glance
These are construction models; translated examples follow below. Practice and test use separate question contexts.
| Rule | Model sentence |
|---|---|
| Only the auxiliary verb changes | Ich habe gestern gearbeitet. |
| Only the auxiliary verb changes | Anna hat einen Film gesehen. |
| Movement verbs often use sein | Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren. |
| Movement verbs often use sein | Wir sind nach Bonn gefahren. |
| Usage, exceptions and scope | Ich habe Deutsch gelernt. |
| Usage, exceptions and scope | Ich habe gestern telefoniert. |
Grammar formula
Positive Perfekt sentence
Subjekt + haben/sein + ... + Partizip IIIch habe ein Buch gelesen.
Negative Perfekt sentence
Subjekt + haben/sein + nicht + ... + Partizip IIIch habe nicht gearbeitet.
Perfekt question
Haben/Sein + Subjekt + ... + Partizip II?Hast du Deutsch gelernt?
Core rules
- 1
Only the auxiliary verb changes
In Perfekt, only haben or sein changes according to the subject. The Partizip II form stays the same. Example: Ich habe gelernt. Wir haben gelernt.
- 2
Partizip II usually comes at the end
In an ordinary statement, the auxiliary verb is in position two and the Partizip II is placed at the end.
- 3
Movement verbs often use sein
Verbs such as gehen, kommen, and fahren usually form Perfekt with sein.
- 4
Usage, exceptions and scope
Perfekt combines a conjugated haben/sein with an unchanged participle. Many verbs take haben; a change of place or state and verbs such as sein/bleiben commonly take sein: Ich bin gegangen/geblieben. Not every physical movement requires sein; learn the verb and intended meaning. Common participle patterns include regular ge-…-t, -ieren without ge-, separable verbs with internal ge-, and many inseparable prefixes without ge-: gelernt, telefoniert, eingekauft, besucht. Learn irregular gesehen separately.
Useful examples
Ich habe Deutsch gelernt.
I have learned German.
Lernen is a normal activity verb and uses haben.
Wir haben einen Film gesehen.
We have watched a movie.
Sehen has the Partizip II form gesehen.
Sie hat gestern gearbeitet.
She worked yesterday.
Arbeiten uses haben because it describes an activity.
Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren.
I went to Berlin.
Here fahren describes travel to Berlin, so this Perfekt construction uses sein.
Er ist früh gekommen.
He came early.
Kommen is a movement verb and uses sein.
Wir sind im Park spazieren gegangen.
We went for a walk in the park.
Gehen is a movement verb and uses sein.
Hast du die Hausaufgaben gemacht?
Have you done the homework?
In questions, the auxiliary verb comes first.
Ich habe das Buch nicht gelesen.
I have not read the book.
Nicht is used to make the sentence negative.
Meine Eltern haben ein neues Auto gekauft.
My parents have bought a new car.
Kaufen is a regular verb with haben.
Bist du nach Hause gegangen?
Have you gone home?
Gehen uses sein because it describes movement.
Common mistakes
- ❌ Ich bin gestern gearbeitet. ✅ Ich habe gestern gearbeitet.
- ❌ Anna ist einen Film gesehen. ✅ Anna hat einen Film gesehen.
- ❌ Ich habe nach Berlin gefahren. ✅ Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren.
- ❌ Wir haben nach Bonn gefahren. ✅ Wir sind nach Bonn gefahren.
- ❌ Ich habe Deutsch gelernen. ✅ Ich habe Deutsch gelernt.
- ❌ Ich habe gestern getelefoniert. ✅ Ich habe gestern telefoniert.
Learning tips
- Read the context and word roles before choosing an option.
- After feedback, read the reason and make a new sentence.
- After practising, take the test without the table; test mastery is recorded separately from reading.
Use it in your own sentences
Adapt the names, times or places in the models to write six sentences about your own life. Keep the target construction and check that the meaning fits the rule. This is a self-assessment activity; the multiple-choice test has a separate score.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 1.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 2.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 3.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 4.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 5.
- Write a new sentence using table pattern 6.
Show the model
Ich habe gestern gearbeitet. Anna hat einen Film gesehen. Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren. Wir sind nach Bonn gefahren. Ich habe Deutsch gelernt. Ich habe gestern telefoniert.
Check your own work
- I identified the subject, verb and target construction in every sentence.
- I adapted the context instead of only copying the model.
- I checked my choices against this lesson’s rules and exceptions.
Put it into practice
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Related grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
What should I check for “Only the auxiliary verb changes”?
In Perfekt, only haben or sein changes according to the subject. The Partizip II form stays the same. Example: Ich habe gelernt. Wir haben gelernt.
What should I check for “Partizip II usually comes at the end”?
In an ordinary statement, the auxiliary verb is in position two and the Partizip II is placed at the end.
What should I check for “Movement verbs often use sein”?
Verbs such as gehen, kommen, and fahren usually form Perfekt with sein.
What should I check for “Usage, exceptions and scope”?
Perfekt combines a conjugated haben/sein with an unchanged participle. Many verbs take haben; a change of place or state and verbs such as sein/bleiben commonly take sein: Ich bin gegangen/geblieben. Not every physical movement requires sein; learn the verb and intended meaning. Common participle patterns include regular ge-…-t, -ieren without ge-, separable verbs with internal ge-, and many inseparable prefixes without ge-: gelernt, telefoniert, eingekauft, besucht. Learn irregular gesehen separately.
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