The Complete Guide to the Conjugation Chart of 'Sein' in German
May 21st, 2023 - Vera
The German verb “sein,” meaning “to be,” is one of the most essential and frequently used verbs in the German language. It is a highly irregular verb with unique conjugation forms across different tenses and persons. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the conjugation of “sein” in detail, providing example sentences to illustrate its usage in context.
Present Tense Conjugation
In the present tense, “sein” has irregular conjugation forms:
| Person |
Conjugation |
| ich (I) |
bin |
| du (you) |
bist |
| er/sie/es (he/she/it) |
ist |
| wir (we) |
sind |
| ihr (you all) |
seid |
| sie/Sie (they/you formal) |
sind |
Example sentences:
- Ich bin müde. (I am tired.)
- Bist du bereit? (Are you ready?)
- Er ist ein Arzt. (He is a doctor.)
- Wir sind gute Freunde. (We are good friends.)
- Seid ihr Geschwister? (Are you siblings?)
- Sie sind meine Nachbarn. (They are my neighbors.)
Preterite (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation
In the preterite tense, used to express completed actions in the past, “sein” has irregular conjugation forms:
| Person |
Conjugation |
| ich (I) |
war |
| du (you) |
warst |
| er/sie/es (he/she/it) |
war |
| wir (we) |
waren |
| ihr (you all) |
wart |
| sie/Sie (they/you formal) |
waren |
Example sentences:
- Ich war gestern in Berlin. (I was in Berlin yesterday.)
- Warst du schon einmal in Frankreich? (Have you ever been to France?)
- Er war sehr glücklich. (He was very happy.)
- Wir waren beste Freunde in der Schule. (We were best friends in school.)
- Ihr wart letzte Woche im Kino. (You all were at the cinema last week.)
- Sie waren unsere Gastgeber. (They were our hosts.)
Imperfect (Imperfekt) Tense Conjugation
In the imperfect tense, used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, “sein” has irregular conjugation forms:
| Person |
Conjugation |
| ich (I) |
war |
| du (you) |
warst |
| er/sie/es (he/she/it) |
war |
| wir (we) |
waren |
| ihr (you all) |
wart |
| sie/Sie (they/you formal) |
waren |
Example sentences:
- Als Kind war ich sehr neugierig. (As a child, I was very curious.)
- Warst du früher ein guter Schüler? (Were you a good student in the past?)
- Sie war immer fleißig in der Schule. (She was always hardworking in school.)
- Wir waren oft im Park. (We used to be often in the park.)
- Wart ihr damals schon verheiratet? (Were you all married back then?)
- Sie waren meine besten Freunde. (They were my best friends.)
Future Tense Conjugation
In the future tense, used to express actions that will happen in the future, “sein” has irregular conjugation forms:
| Person |
Conjugation |
| ich (I) |
werde |
| du (you) |
wirst |
| er/sie/es (he/she/it) |
wird |
| wir (we) |
werden |
| ihr (you all) |
werdet |
| sie/Sie (they/you formal) |
werden |
Example sentences:
- Ich werde morgen früh aufstehen. (I will get up early tomorrow.)
- Wirst du heute Abend zuhause sein? (Will you be at home tonight?)
- Er wird ein berühmter Schriftsteller werden. (He will become a famous writer.)
- Wir werden bald heiraten. (We will marry soon.)
- Werdet ihr am Wochenende verreisen? (Will you all travel on the weekend?)
- Sie werden ihre Ziele erreichen. (They will achieve their goals.)
Conditional Tense Conjugation
In the conditional tense, used to express actions that would occur under certain conditions, “sein” has irregular conjugation forms:
| Person |
Conjugation |
| ich (I) |
wäre |
| du (you) |
wärst |
| er/sie/es (he/she/it) |
wäre |
| wir (we) |
wären |
| ihr (you all) |
wärt |
| sie/Sie (they/you formal) |
wären |
Example sentences:
- Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich um die Welt reisen. (If I were rich, I would travel around the world.)
- Wärst du so freundlich, mir zu helfen? (Would you be so kind as to help me?)
- Er wäre gerne ein berühmter Schauspieler geworden. (He would have liked to become a famous actor.)
- Wir wären pünktlich gekommen, wenn es nicht geregnet hätte. (We would have come on time if it hadn’t rained.)
- Wärt ihr mitgekommen, wenn ihr eingeladen worden wärt? (Would you all have come if you had been invited?)
- Sie wären glücklicher, wenn sie mehr Zeit hätten. (They would be happier if they had more time.)
Subjunctive Mood Conjugation
In the subjunctive mood, used to express wishes, possibilities, or hypothetical situations, “sein” has irregular conjugation forms:
| Person |
Conjugation |
| ich (I) |
sei |
| du (you) |
seiest |
| er/sie/es (he/she/it) |
sei |
| wir (we) |
seien |
| ihr (you all) |
seiet |
| sie/Sie (they/you formal) |
seien |
Example sentences:
- Es ist wichtig, dass ich pünktlich sei. (It is important that I be punctual.)
- Wenn du nur dabei seiest, könnten wir den Wettbewerb gewinnen. (If only you were there, we could win the competition.)
- Es wäre schön, wenn es morgen sonnig sei. (It would be nice if it were sunny tomorrow.)
- Es ist anzunehmen, dass sie wohlhabend seien. (It is assumed that they are wealthy.)
- Wenn ihr fleißig seiet, könntet ihr gute Noten bekommen. (If you all were diligent, you could get good grades.)
- Es ist gut, dass sie fröhlich seien. (It is good that they are cheerful.)
Conclusion
The verb “sein” plays a fundamental role in the German language, serving as a building block for constructing sentences and expressing various states and conditions. By understanding and practicing the conjugation forms of “sein” across different tenses and moods, you will significantly improve your ability to communicate effectively in German. Remember to familiarize yourself with example sentences to grasp the contextual usage of the verb. Happy learning!
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