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What is the Perfect Tense? (Perfekt)
In German, there are two different tenses we can use to talk about the past: the Simple Past Tense and the Perfect Tense.
Both of them are used to express that something happened in the past and is completed. So how should we decide which one to use?
In informal language (spoken and written), we almost always use the perfect tense (there are a few exceptions, which I'll explain below). In formal writing we use the simple past.
Examples:
- „Der Junge hat Fußball gespielt.“
- „Er hat Urlaub gemacht.“
- „Wir sind heute mit dem Zug gefahren.“
How to Form the Perfect Tense:
The perfect tense is made with „haben“ or „sein“ (conjugated) as a helping verb and the past participle. Whether we use „haben“ or „sein“ depends on the main verb. Some verbs require you to use „haben“ while others require „sein“.
When do we use „sein“ as the helping verb?
For movement/change of location (of the subject):
- fahren ⇒ „Ich bin Bus gefahren.“
- gehen ⇒ „Du bist nach Hause gegangen.“
There must be movement from point A to point B.
For a change of condition or state (of the subject):
- sterben ⇒ „Er ist vor 3 Jahren gestorben.“
= changing from alive to dead - einschlafen ⇒ „Du bist zeitig eingeschlafen.“
= changing from awake to asleep
Note: for both of these use cases, it depends on if the subject moves / changes. If I throw a ball, the ball changes it's location but I (the subject) do not. So it doesn't fit these criteria for using „sein“.
With specific verbs:
The verbs „sein“, „werden“ and „bleiben“ always use the helping verb „sein“.
- „Ich bin in Deutschland gewesen.“
- „Wir sind zu Hause geblieben.“
When do we use „haben“ as the auxiliary verb?
We use „haben" to form the perfect for all verbs that don't use „sein“.
And for ALL reflexive verbs, even if they involve a condition, status, or location change
- „Sie hat Essen gekocht.“
- „Er hat sich auf den Film gefreut.“
- „Max hat sich in Anna verliebt.“
The Past Participle (Partizip 2)
Regular Verbs (In the Present Tense conjugation)
ge + Verb stem + -(e)t
Example:
- machen ⇒ gemacht
- arbeiten ⇒ gearbeitet (Verb stem on d/t)
Exception:
Verb stem on –ieren do not get a „ge“
- organisieren ⇒ organisiert
Irregular/Strong Verbs (Present Tense conjugation)
ge + Verb stem + -en
Example:
- fahren ⇒ gefahren
- schlafen ⇒ geschlafen
The categorization regular and irregular verbs refers to the conjugation of the verb in the Present Tense. The formation of the participle 2 is 100% regular in these two forms.
Recommendation: Formation of the Past Participle (Partizip 2)
If you're still having trouble forming the participle 2, here's another entire lesson just on that topic. I explain in detail when to use the ending „-t“ and when to use „-en“, which Verbs are irregular, and what happens with Separable and Inseparable verbs: The Past Participle (Partizip 2)
Word Order with Perfect
The helping verb is conjugated and therefore goes in position 2 if it's a main clause (or position 1 for a yes/no-question). The past participle of the main verb goes at the end of the sentence.
For subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb goes last, and the past participle goes second-to-last.
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When Do We Use Perfect?
For actions in the past that have been completed, we use either the perfect or the simple past. The meaning is the same, but we use them in different situations.
Spoken Language: We always use the perfect when speaking, except for modal verbs (wollen, möchten, können, müssen, dürfen), "sein" and "haben."
Written Language: For formal written language (literature, official letters, etc.), we always use the simple past.
On Facebook & other social media: When communicating with our friends and family on Facebook or other social media, we use the perfect tense, because it's kind of like having a conversation.
There are some regional differences with their use as well. In general, the farther north you go, the more the simple past is used. But even in the north, that's changing - they are using the perfect tense more and more.
And in Swiss German, the simple past doesn't even exist! But don't try avoiding the simple past completely - it's possible to use modal verbs and subordinate clauses in the perfect tense, but it's super difficult and confusing!
Interesting Fact:
Whether more or less perfect tense is used also depends on the region. Basically, the further north, the more Past Tense is used. But this is also decreasing! The perfect tense is becoming more and more prevalent in the north as well.
In Swiss German, for example, the Past Tense (Präteritum) does not exist at all! But you shouldn't take this as an example, because if you don't use the Modal Verbs „sein“ (to be) and „haben“ (to have) in the Past Tense, you only make your life unnecessarily difficult in Subordinate clauses!
Related Topic:
Entire lesson in German only: Perfekt
Some verbs you have to separate when you conjugate them - Trennbare Verben (Separable Verbs).
More lessons about Tenses:
- Präsens (Present Tense)
- Präteritum (Past Tense)
- Plusquamperfekt (Past Perfect Tense)
- Futur 1 (Future 1)
- Futur 2 (Future 2)
What is the general German word order? - Satzbau (Sentence Structure).
You can find an overview of all topics under German Grammar.
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