Learn How to Conjugate 501 German Verbs in All Tenses and Moods with This Easy-to-Use Book
501 German Verbs (Barron's Foreign Language Guides) Henry Strutz
If you are learning German, you probably know that verbs are one of the most important parts of the language. Verbs express actions, states, conditions, and relations. They also determine the structure, mood, tense, aspect, voice, person, number, gender, and case of a sentence. In other words, verbs are essential for communicating effectively in German.
501 German Verbs (Barron's Foreign Language Guides) Henry Strutz
But learning German verbs can also be challenging. There are many different types of verbs, each with its own rules and exceptions. There are regular and irregular verbs, modal verbs, reflexive verbs, separable and inseparable verbs, passive voice, and more. There are also hundreds of verb phrases and idioms that enrich the language and add nuance to your expressions.
That's why you need a reliable and comprehensive guide to help you master German verbs. And that's exactly what 501 German Verbs (Barron's Foreign Language Guides) by Henry Strutz offers. This book is a classic reference for learners of German at all levels. It provides you with 501 fully conjugated verbs, an alphabetical index of over 2000 verbs, useful appendixes, clear explanations, examples, exercises, quizzes, and more.
In this article, we will review the book and its features, explain how to use it effectively, summarize some common German verb patterns and rules, list some common German verb phrases and idioms, discuss some challenges and pitfalls of learning German verbs, and answer some frequently asked questions about the book and German verbs. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of German verbs and how to master them with this book.
Why learn German verbs?
Verbs are essential for any language, but especially for German. German is a highly inflected language, which means that words change their form depending on their function in a sentence. Verbs are one of the most inflected parts of speech in German. They change their form according to many factors, such as tense (present, past, future), mood (indicative, subjunctive, imperative), aspect (perfective, imperfective), voice (active, passive), person (first, second, third), number (singular, plural), gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), and case (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive).
These changes affect not only the verb itself, but also the other words in the sentence, such as the subject, the object, the adverb, the preposition, and the article. For example, look at these two sentences:
Ich lese ein Buch. (I read a book.)
Er liest ein Buch. (He reads a book.)
In the first sentence, the subject is ich (I), which is first person singular nominative. The verb is lese, which is the present tense indicative of lesen (to read) for the first person singular. The object is ein Buch (a book), which is neuter singular accusative. The indefinite article is ein, which agrees with the object in gender, number, and case.
In the second sentence, the subject is er (he), which is third person singular nominative. The verb is liest, which is the present tense indicative of lesen for the third person singular. The object is still ein Buch, which is still neuter singular accusative. The indefinite article is still ein, which still agrees with the object in gender, number, and case.
As you can see, changing the subject from ich to er changes the form of the verb from lese to liest. This also affects the pronunciation and spelling of the verb. However, changing the subject does not affect the form of the object or the article, because they are still in the same gender, number, and case.
Now look at these two sentences:
Ich lese ein Buch. (I read a book.)
Ich lese eine Zeitung. (I read a newspaper.)
In both sentences, the subject is ich (I), which is still first person singular nominative. The verb is lese, which is still present tense indicative of lesen for the first person singular. However, the object changes from ein Buch to eine Zeitung. Buch is neuter singular accusative, while Zeitung is feminine singular accusative. This means that the indefinite article also changes from ein to eine, to agree with the object in gender, number, and case.
As you can see, changing the object from ein Buch to eine Zeitung changes the form of the article from ein to eine. This also affects the pronunciation and spelling of the article. However, changing the object does not affect the form of the subject or the verb, because they are still in the same person, number, and case.
These examples show how verbs affect and are affected by other words in a sentence. They also show how important it is to know the gender, number, and case of nouns and articles in German. If you make a mistake with one of these elements, you may change the meaning or grammaticality of your sentence.
Therefore, learning German verbs means learning not only their forms and meanings, but also their functions and interactions with other words in a sentence. This will help you communicate more accurately and effectively in German.
How to use the book effectively
501 German Verbs (Barron's Foreign Language Guides) by Henry Strutz is a great resource for learning German verbs. It has many features that make it easy to use and helpful for learners of all levels. Here are some tips and strategies on how to make the most of this book and its features:
The verb tables
The main part of the book consists of 501 verb tables that show you how to conjugate each verb in all its forms and tenses. Each table includes:
The infinitive of the verb
The English translation of the verb
The past participle of the verb
The auxiliary verb used with the past participle (haben or sein)
The present tense indicative forms for all persons and numbers
The simple past tense indicative forms for all persons and numbers
The past perfect tense indicative forms for all persons and numbers
The future tense indicative forms for all persons and numbers
The future perfect tense indicative forms for all persons and numbers
The present tense subjunctive forms for all persons and numbers
The past tense subjunctive forms for all persons and numbers
The present tense imperative forms for all persons and numbers
The present participle of the verb
A sample sentence using the verb in context
To use the verb tables effectively, you should:
Choose a verb that you want to learn or review
Look up the verb in the alphabetical index at the back of the book
Find the corresponding verb table in the main part of the book
Study the verb table carefully and pay attention to the patterns and exceptions
Practice conjugating the verb aloud or in writing
Use the sample sentence as a model for creating your own sentences with the verb
Repeat the process with other verbs that interest you or that you need to learn
The index
The index at the back of the book is a handy tool for finding the verb you need quickly and easily. It lists over 2000 verbs in alphabetical order, along with their English translations and their corresponding verb table numbers. The index also indicates whether a verb is regular or irregular, and whether it is separable or inseparable.
To use the index effectively, you should:
Think of a verb that you want to look up in English or in German
Find the verb in the index and note its translation and verb table number
Go to the verb table number in the main part of the book and study the verb
If you can't find a verb in the index, try looking for a related verb that has a similar meaning or form
If you still can't find a verb in the index, try using an online dictionary or a translator to find it
The appendixes
The appendixes at the end of the book provide additional resources and information that can help you learn German verbs more effectively. They include:
A list of strong and irregular verbs with their principal parts and meanings
A list of verbs with prepositions and their meanings
A list of verbs followed by the genitive case and their meanings
A list of verbs followed by the dative case and their meanings
A list of verbs followed by the accusative case and their meanings
A list of verbs followed by either the dative or accusative case and their meanings
A list of reflexive verbs and their meanings
A list of modal auxiliaries and their meanings
A list of common idiomatic expressions with verbs and their meanings
A summary of German grammar rules related to verbs, such as word order, negation, subordination, etc.
A glossary of grammatical terms used in the book
An answer key for the exercises and quizzes in the book
To use the appendixes effectively, you should:
Refer to them whenever you encounter a new or unfamiliar verb or grammatical concept in the book or elsewhere
Review them regularly to reinforce your knowledge and understanding of German verbs and grammar
Use them as a reference for your own writing and speaking practice in German
Test yourself with the exercises and quizzes in the book and check your answers with the answer key
Some common German verb patterns and rules
In this section, we will summarize some of the most frequent and useful verb patterns and rules in German. These are not exhaustive or definitive, but rather general guidelines that can help you learn and use German verbs more effectively. For more details and examples, you should consult the book and other sources.
Regular and irregular verbs
Regular verbs are verbs that follow a predictable pattern when they are conjugated. They usually add -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en to their stem in the present tense indicative, and -te, -test, -te, -ten, -tet, -ten to their stem in the simple past tense indicative. For example:
InfinitivePresent tense indicativeSimple past tense indicative
machen (to make)mache, machst, macht, machen, macht, machenmachte, machtest, machte, machten, machtet, machten
spielen (to play)spiele, spielst, spielt, spielen, spielt, spielenspielte, spieltest, spielte, spielten, spieltet, spielten
Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow a predictable pattern when they are conjugated. They usually change their stem vowel or add other endings in the present tense indicative, and change their stem vowel and add -en, -est, -en, -en, -et, -en to their stem in the simple past tense indicative. For example:
InfinitivePresent tense indicativeSimple past tense indicative
sehen (to see)sehe, siehst, sieht, sehen, seht, sehensah, sahst, sah, sahen, saht, sahen
nehmen (to take)nehme, nimmst, nimmt, nehmen, nehmt, nehmennahm, nahmst, nahm, nahmen, nahmt, nahmen
The book provides a list of strong and irregular verbs with their principal parts and meanings in the appendix. You should memorize these verbs and practice conjugating them regularly.
Modal verbs
Modal verbs are verbs that express modality, such as ability, possibility, necessity, permission, obligation, etc. They are usually used with another verb in the infinitive form. The most common modal verbs in German are:
können (can, to be able to)
müssen (must, to have to)
wollen (want, to want to)
sollen (should, to be supposed to)
dürfen (may, to be allowed to)
mögen (may, to like to)
Modal verbs are conjugated irregularly in the present tense indicative and the simple past tense indicative. They also have different forms in the present tense subjunctive and the past tense subjunctive. For example:
InfinitivePresent tense indicativeSimple past tense indicativePresent tense subjunctivePast tense subjunctive
können (can)kann, kannst, kann, können, könnt, könnenkonnte, konntest, konnte, konnten, konntet, konntenkönne, könnest, könne, können, könnet, könnenkönnte, könntest, könnte, könnten, könntet, an? (Do you call me?)Verstehst du mich? (Do you understand me?)
Command sentenceRuf mich an! (Call me!)Versteh mich! (Understand me!)
To use separable and inseparable verbs effectively, you should:
Learn their meanings and conjugations in different tenses and moods
Identify whether a verb is separable or inseparable by its prefix or by looking it up in the book or a dictionary
Move the prefix of a separable verb to the end of the sentence or clause when conjugating it in the present tense indicative, the simple past tense indicative, the present tense subjunctive, or the imperative
Keep the prefix of an inseparable verb attached to the stem when conjugating it in any tense or mood
Practice using separable and inseparable verbs in different contexts and situations to express different actions and meanings
Passive voice
Passive voice is a way of expressing an action without specifying who or what performs it. It focuses on the object or the result of the action rather than the subject or the agent. Passive voice is formed by using the auxiliary verb werden (to become) and the past participle of the main verb. For example:
Active voicePassive voice
Der Lehrer erklärt die Grammatik. (The teacher explains the grammar.)Die Grammatik wird vom Lehrer erklärt. (The grammar is explained by the teacher.)
Die Schüler haben die Hausaufgaben gemacht. (The students did the homework.)Die Hausaufgaben wurden von den Schülern gemacht. (The homework was done by the students.)
To use passive voice effectively, you should:
Learn how to form passive voice with different tenses and moods by using werden and the past participle of the main verb
Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the object or the result of an action rather than who or what performs it
Use passive voice when you don't know or don't want to mention who or what performs an action
Use passive voice when you want to avoid responsibility or blame for an action
Add a prepositional phrase with von (by) to indicate who or what performs an action in passive voice if necessary or relevant
Avoid using passive voice too much as it can make your sentences longer, more complicated, and less direct than active voice
Practice using passive voice in different contexts and situations to express different perspectives and meanings
Some common German verb phrases and idioms
the language and add nuance to your expressions. Verb phrases are combinations of verbs with other words, such as prepositions, adverbs, nouns, or pronouns. Idioms are fixed expressions that have a figurative meaning that is different from their literal meaning. For example:
Verb phraseEnglish translation
aufstehen (to get up)Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf. (I get up at 7 o'clock.)
fernsehen (to watch TV)Er sieht jeden Abend fern. (He watches TV every evening.)
mitkommen (to come along)Kommst du mit ins Kino? (Are you coming along to the cinema?)
nachdenken (to think about)Sie denkt über ihre Zukunft nach. (She thinks about her future.)
zurückkommen (to come back)Er kommt morgen zurück. (He comes back tomorrow.)
IdiomEnglish translation
ins Gras beißen (to bite the grass)Er hat ins Gras gebissen. (He bit the dust.)
jemandem auf den Keks gehen (to go on someone's cookie)Du gehst mir auf den Keks. (You get on my nerves.)
sich die Finger verbrennen (to burn one's fingers)Er hat sich die Finger verbrannt. (He got burned.)
sich etwas aus den Fingern saugen (to suck something out of one's fingers)Sie hat sich das aus den Fingern gesaugt. (She made that up.)
sich in die Haare kriegen (to get into one's hair)Sie haben sich in die Haare gekriegt. (They had a fight.)
To use verb phrases and idioms effectively, you should:
Learn their meanings and conjugations in different tenses and moods
Use them in appropriate contexts and situations to express your thoughts and feelings more vividly and naturally
Pay attention to the word order and punctuation when using verb phrases and idioms in questions or subordinate clauses
Avoid using verb phrases and idioms too much as they can make your sentences less clear and more informal than individual verbs
Practice using verb phrases and idioms in different contexts and situations to enrich your vocabulary and expressions
Some challenges and pitfalls of learning German verbs
Learning German verbs can be rewarding and fun, but it can also be challenging and frustrating. There are many difficulties and mistakes that learners of German verbs may encounter, such as:
Mixing up regular and irregular verbs or their conjugations
Mixing up modal verbs or their meanings or uses
Mixing up reflexive verbs or their pronouns or cases
Mixing up separable and inseparable verbs or their prefixes or word order
Mixing up active and passive voice or their forms or meanings or uses
Mixing up verb phrases and idioms or their meanings or uses
Making errors with gender, number, case, or agreement of nouns, articles, pronouns, or adjectives related to verbs
Making errors with word order, punctuation, negation, subordination, or coordination related to verbs
Using verbs that are too formal or too informal for the situation or the audience
Using verbs that are outdated, regional, slang, or dialectal
Using verbs that are incorrect, inappropriate, or offensive
To overcome these challenges and pitfalls, you should:
Review the verb patterns and rules regularly and practice them with exercises and quizzes
Use the book and other sources as references and guides when you encounter a new or unfamiliar verb or grammatical concept
Learn from your mistakes and ask for feedback or correction from native speakers or teachers
Expose yourself to authentic and varied sources of German language, such as books, newspapers, magazines, websites, podcasts, videos, movies, songs, etc.
Communicate with native speakers or other learners of German as much as possible and use verbs in real-life situations
Have fun and enjoy learning German verbs and the language as a whole
Conclusion
In this article, we have reviewed the book 501 German Verbs (Barron's Foreign Language Guides) by Henry Strutz and its features, explained how to use it effectively, summarized s