Irregulars in Simple Past/Imperfect Tense

Question 1

Irregular Verbs:

Answer 1

Irregular verbs have a different stem for the past tense and add different endings than those of the regular verbs. You will have to memorize these stems, as they can be unpredictable (and unlike the past participles). Remember the simple past forms given below are just the stems; you must add different irregular endings depending on the subject.

Question 2

begin

Answer 2

Infinitive: anfangen
Simple Past: fing … an
Past Participle: angefangen

Question 3

get up

Answer 3

Infinitive: aufstehen
Simple Past: aufgestanden
Past Participle: aufgestanden

Question 4

order, command

Answer 4

Infinitive: befehlen
Simple Past: befehlen
Past Participle: befohlen

Question 5

begin

Answer 5

Infinitive: beginnen
Simple Past: begann
Past Participle: begonnen

Question 6

bite

Answer 6

Infinitive: beissen
Simple Past: biss
Past Participle: gebissen

Question 7

comprehend

Answer 7

Infinitive: begreifen
Simple Past: begriff
Past Participle: begriffen

Question 8

get, receive

Answer 8

Infinitive: bekommen
Simple Past: bekam
Past Participle: bekommen

Question 9

apply

Answer 9

Infinitive: bewerben
Simple Past: bewarb
Past Participle: beworben

Question 10

tie

Answer 10

Infinitive: binden
Simple Past: band
Past Participle: gebunden

Question 11

turn, bend

Answer 11

Infinitive: biegen
Simple Past: bog
Past Participle: gebogen

Question 12

offer

Answer 12

Infinitive: bieten
Simple Past: bot
Past Participle: geboten

Question 13

ask

Answer 13

Infinitive: bitten
Simple Past: bat
Past Participle: gebeten

Question 14

blow

Answer 14

Infinitive: blasen
Simple Past: blies
Past Participle: geblasen

Question 15

remain

Answer 15

Infinitive: bleiben
Simple Past: blieb
Past Participle: ist geblieben

Question 16

break

Answer 16

Infinitive: brechen
Simple Past: brach
Past Participle: gebrochen

Question 17

invite

Answer 17

Infinitive: einladen
Simple Past: lud … ein
Past Participle: eingeladen

Question 18

decide

Answer 18

Infinitive: entscheiden
Simple Past: entschied
Past Participle: entschieden

Question 19

recommend

Answer 19

Infinitive: empfehlen
Simple Past: empfahl
Past Participle: empfohlen

Question 20

appear

Answer 20

Infinitive: erscheinen
Simple Past: erschien
Past Participle: ist erschienen

Question 21

drown

Answer 21

Infinitive: ertrinken
Simple Past: ertrank
Past Participle: ist ertrunken

Question 22

eat

Answer 22

Infinitive: essen
Simple Past: aß
Past Participle: gegessen

Question 23

drive, go, travel

Answer 23

Infinitive: fahren
Simple Past: fuhr
Past Participle: ist gefahren

Question 24

fall

Answer 24

Infinitive: fallen
Simple Past: fiel
Past Participle: ist gefallen

Question 25

catch

Answer 25

Infinitive: fangen Simple Past: fing Past Participle: gefangen

Question 26

find

Answer 26

Infinitive: finden Simple Past: fand Past Participle: gefunden

Question 27

fly

Answer 27

Infinitive: fliegen Simple Past: flog Past Participle: ist geflogen

Question 28

eat (of animals)

Answer 28

Infinitive: fressen Simple Past: fraß Past Participle: gefressen

Question 29

freeze

Answer 29

Infinitive: frieren Simple Past: fror Past Participle: gefroren

Question 30

give

Answer 30

Infinitive: geben Simple Past: gab Past Participle: gegeben

Question 31

be born

Answer 31

Infinitive: gebören Simple Past: gebar Past Participle: ist geboren

Question 32

go

Answer 32

Infinitive: gehen Simple Past: ging Past Participle: ist gegangen

Question 33

succeed

Answer 33

Infinitive: gelingen Simple Past: gelang Past Participle: ist gelungen

Question 34

happen

Answer 34

Infinitive: geschehen Simple Past: geschah Past Participle: ist geschehen

Question 35

win

Answer 35

Infinitive: gewinnen Simple Past: gewann Past Participle: gewonnen

Question 36

pour, water

Answer 36

Infinitive: gießen Simple Past: goss Past Participle: gegossen

Question 37

reach

Answer 37

Infinitive: greifen Simple Past: griff Past Participle: gegriffen

Question 38

hold

Answer 38

Infinitive: halten Simple Past: hielt Past Participle: gehalten

Question 39

hang, suspend

Answer 39

Infinitive: hangen Simple Past: hing Past Participle: gehangen

Question 40

lift

Answer 40

Infinitive: heben Simple Past: hob Past Participle: gehoben

Question 41

be called

Answer 41

Infinitive: heißen Simple Past: hieß Past Participle: geheißen

Question 42

help

Answer 42

Infinitive: helfen Simple Past: half Past Participle: geholfen

Question 43

sound

Answer 43

Infinitive: klingen Simple Past: klang Past Participle: geklungen

Question 44

come

Answer 44

Infinitive: kommen Simple Past: kam Past Participle: ist gekommen

Question 45

creep

Answer 45

Infinitive: kriechen Simple Past: kroch Past Participle: ist gekrochen

Question 46

let, allow

Answer 46

Infinitive: lassen Simple Past: liess Past Participle: gelassen

Question 47

run

Answer 47

Infinitive: laufen Simple Past: lief Past Participle: ist gelaufen

Question 48

suffer

Answer 48

Infinitive: leiden Simple Past: litt Past Participle: gelitten

Question 49

lend

Answer 49

Infinitive: leihen Simple Past: lieh Past Participle: geliehen

Question 50

read

Answer 50

Infinitive: lesen Simple Past: las Past Participle: gelesen

Question 51

recline

Answer 51

Infinitive: liegen Simple Past: lag Past Participle: gelegen

Question 52

lie, fib

Answer 52

Infinitive: lügen Simple Past: log Past Participle: gelogen

Question 53

take

Answer 53

Infinitive: nehmen Simple Past: nahm Past Participle: genommen

Question 54

whistle

Answer 54

Infinitive: pfeifen Simple Past: pfiff Past Participle: gepfiffen

Question 55

advise

Answer 55

Infinitive: raten Simple Past: riet Past Participle: geraten

Question 56

tear

Answer 56

Infinitive: reissen Simple Past: riss Past Participle: gerissen

Question 57

ride (horseback)

Answer 57

Infinitive: reiten Simple Past: ritt Past Participle: ist geritten

Question 58

smell

Answer 58

Infinitive: riechen Simple Past: roch Past Participle: gerochen

Question 59

call

Answer 59

Infinitive: rufen Simple Past: rief Past Participle: gerufen

Question 60

shine

Answer 60

Infinitive: scheinen Simple Past: schien Past Participle: geschienen

Question 61

push

Answer 61

Infinitive: schieben Simple Past: schob Past Participle: geschoben

Question 62

shoot

Answer 62

Infinitive: schiessen Simple Past: schoss Past Participle: geschossen

Question 63

sleep

Answer 63

Infinitive: schlafen Simple Past: schlief Past Participle: geschlafen

Question 64

hit

Answer 64

Infinitive: schlagen Simple Past: schlug Past Participle: geschlagen

Question 65

shut

Answer 65

Infinitive: schließen Simple Past: schloss Past Participle: geschlossen

Question 66

cut

Answer 66

Infinitive: schneiden Simple Past: schnitt Past Participle: geschnitten

Question 67

write

Answer 67

Infinitive: schreiben Simple Past: schrieb Past Participle: geschrieben

Question 68

cry

Answer 68

Infinitive: schreien Simple Past: schrie Past Participle: geschrieen

Question 69

be silent

Answer 69

Infinitive: schweigen Simple Past: schwieg Past Participle: geschwiegen

Question 70

swim

Answer 70

Infinitive: schwimmen Simple Past: schwamm Past Participle: ist geschwommen

Question 71

swing

Answer 71

Infinitive: schwingen Simple Past: schwang Past Participle: geschwungen

Question 72

see

Answer 72

Infinitive: sehen Simple Past: sah Past Participle: gesehen

Question 73

be

Answer 73

Infinitive: sein Simple Past: war Past Participle: ist gewesen

Question 74

sing

Answer 74

Infinitive: singen Simple Past: sang Past Participle: gesungen

Question 75

sink

Answer 75

Infinitive: sinken Simple Past: sank Past Participle: ist gesunken

Question 76

sit

Answer 76

Infinitive: sitzen Simple Past: saß Past Participle: gesessen

Question 77

spin

Answer 77

Infinitive: spinnen Simple Past: span Past Participle: gesponnen

Question 78

speak

Answer 78

Infinitive: sprechen Simple Past: sprach Past Participle: gesprochen

Question 79

jump

Answer 79

Infinitive: springen Simple Past: sprang Past Participle: ist gesprungen

Question 80

stand

Answer 80

Infinitive: stehen Simple Past: stand Past Participle: gestanden

Question 81

steal

Answer 81

Infinitive: stehlen Simple Past: stahl Past Participle: gestohlen

Question 82

climb

Answer 82

Infinitive: steigen Simple Past: stieg Past Participle: ist gestiegen

Question 83

die

Answer 83

Infinitive: sterben Simple Past: starb Past Participle: ist gestorben

Question 84

quarrel

Answer 84

Infinitive: streiten Simple Past: stritt Past Participle: gestritten

Question 85

wear

Answer 85

Infinitive: tragen Simple Past: trug Past Participle: getragen

Question 86

meet

Answer 86

Infinitive: treffen Simple Past: traf Past Participle: getroffen

Question 87

play sports

Answer 87

Infinitive: treiben Simple Past: trieb Past Participle: getrieben

Question 88

step

Answer 88

Infinitive: treten Simple Past: trat Past Participle: ist getreten

Question 89

drink

Answer 89

Infinitive: trinken Simple Past: trank Past Participle: getrunken

Question 90

do

Answer 90

Infinitive: tun Simple Past: tat Past Participle: getan

Question 91

forbid

Answer 91

Infinitive: verbieten Simple Past: verbot Past Participle: verboten

Question 92

forget

Answer 92

Infinitive: vergessen Simple Past: vergaß Past Participle: vergessen

Question 93

compare

Answer 93

Infinitive: vergleichen Simple Past: verglich Past Participle: verglichen

Question 94

leave

Answer 94

Infinitive: verlassen Simple Past: verliess Past Participle: verlassen

Question 95

lose

Answer 95

Infinitive: verlieren Simple Past: verlor Past Participle: verloren

Question 96

promise

Answer 96

Infinitive: versprechen Simple Past: versprach Past Participle: versprochen

Question 97

understand

Answer 97

Infinitive: verstehen Simple Past: verstand Past Participle: verstanden

Question 98

forgive

Answer 98

Infinitive: verzeihen Simple Past: verzieh Past Participle: verziehen

Question 99

suggest

Answer 99

Infinitive: vorschlagen Simple Past: schlug ... vor Past Participle: vorgeschlagen

Question 100

grow

Answer 100

Infinitive: wachsen Simple Past: wuchs Past Participle: ist gewachsen

Question 101

wash

Answer 101

Infinitive: waschen Simple Past: wusch Past Participle: gewaschen

Question 102

throw

Answer 102

Infinitive: werfen Simple Past: warf Past Participle: geworfen

Question 103

pull

Answer 103

Infinitive: ziehen Simple Past: zog Past Participle: gezogen

Question 104

Irregular Endings:

Answer 104

``` - -en -st -t - -en ``` There are no endings for the 1st and 3rd person singular.  If the verb stem ends in an s sound (such as aß-), the du form ending becomes -est (du aßest.)  If the verb stem ends in -t or -d, the ihr form ending becomes -et while the du form ending sometimes becomes -est. Most verb stems do add -est in the du form, but some do not. For example, finden is conjugated without the -e- (du fandst) while sich befinden is conjugatedwith the -e- (du befandest dich.) Similarly, stehen is conjugated without the -e- (du standst) whileverstehen is conjugated with the -e- (du verstandest.)  The other main verbs that are conjugated without the -e- are braten (brietst; to roast), erfinden (erfandst, to invent), laden (ludst, to invite), leiden (littst, to suffer), and schneiden (schnittst, to cut).