Present tense

The Present is definitely the most frequently used German tense. You use it for talking about actions that happen while the moment of speaking or when you want retell past happenings. Therefore, I suggest keeping an eye to the Present.

1. Please give me the salt?
(Could you pass me the salt, please?)

2. The boss gives instructions all day.
(The boss issues instructions all day long.)

3. We do not provide information about internal matters.
(We don’t provide information about internal affairs.)

4. Martin and Robert give lessons in German.
(Martin and Robert give lessons in German.)

Imperative – imperative

Imperative sentences or commands are used for making somebody do something. You only can use this type of sentence when you speak directly with another person or to yourself, for example, to motivate yourself.

1. [Your name], give yourself the chance to use this opportunity
([Your name], give yourself the chance to use this opportunity.)

2. Please give me the book.
(Please, give me the book.)

2. Give him the documents.
(Give him the documents.)

3. Give me some time.
(Give me some time.)

4. Let’s give them some time.
(Let’s give them some time.)

Preterite – preterit (equals simple past)

The preterite equals the English past tense. However, in spoken language the preterite is number-two choice because Germans rather opt for the Perfect, the perfect tense, when they talk about the past. I even find that sentences sometimes sound archaic too poetic when you form them in the preterit tense. Nevertheless, the preterite is still an important German tense, which deserves attention.

1. He gave me the keys yesterday.
(He gave me keys yesterday.)

2. They did not answer our question.
(They didn’t give an answer to our question.)

3. I gave him all my love.
(I gave him all my love.)

4. We did our best.
(We gave our best.)

Future I – future I

In English there are three grammatical future forms: the will-future with its simple and progressive form, and the going-to-future. Future I is THE German future tense when you would like to talk about any of its English equivalent situations. You can use it either for the near future, when you make a prompt decision, or the remote future, when you planning something carefully.

1. I will give you my sweater.
(I will give you my sweater.)

2. You will have a party next week.
(They are having a party next week.)

3. Mr. Krüger will give you the money.
(Mr. Krüger will give you / them the money.)

4. You will give your word.
(You will give her your word.)

Perfect – perfect

Germans cannot live without the Perfect. It is the number-one tense when it comes to talk about the past. Hence, you should consider the perfect tense in detail. When you come across a new German verb find out whether you use it with the auxiliary to have (to have) or his (to be) in the perfect tense, and find out the correct past participle of the full verb.

1. Did you give him advice?
(Have you given him a piece of advice?)

2. We gave her the things when she was here.
(We gave her the things when she was here.)

3. She didn’t give me her homework,
(She hasn’t given me her homework.)

4. How much money did you give him??
(How much money have you given him.)

Plusquamperfekt – pluperfect (equals past perfect)

When you would like to talk about the remote future you use the past continuous. Forming it is as simple as the perfect tense. You need to know whether you form the pluperfect with to have (to have) or his (to be). Additionally, you need to know the past participle form of the full verb, just like in the perfect tense.

1. Did you give me the tickets before we left the house?
(Had you given me the tickets before we left the house?)

2. Had he given you a sign before approaching you?
(Had he given you a sign before he came up to you?)

3. The comforting words had given her strength when her husband died.
(The comforting words had given strength to her when her husband died.)

4. After three hours they had finally given up.
(After three hours they had finally calmed down.)

Future II – future II

The Future II is seldom used in written or spoken German. You only need it when you would like to speak about the distant future. That is, when something will have already been happening or done.

1. I will have given him all the details by next Monday.
(I will have given him the details by next Monday.)

2. I will have sent all invitations by Thursday.
(I will have send all invitations by Thursday.)

When forming a sentence in the future II tense is too difficult for you can also form a sentence in the future I tense.

3. I will give him all information by next Monday.
(I will give him all the details by next Monday.)

4. I will send all invitations by Thursday.
(I will send all invitations by Thursday.)

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