Das Perfekt
We’re finally going to learn to talk about past events in
German! You’re about to learn what’s called the
‘present perfect’ tense in English, or Das Perfekt in
German. (Don’t be confused by the word ‘present’ -this is a past tense that talks about past events -- it’s
the English terminology that’s confusing.) Although
there are two different past tenses in German (as in
English), the Perfekt that you are learning is used
most often in conversational (spoken) German.
http://www.nthuleen.com/teach/grammar/perfektexpl.html
How is Perfekt formed?
sein / haben
+
past participle
Ich habe ein Auto gekauft.
How is the Past Participle formed?
Past Participles are formed differently
depending on whether a verb is
regular or irregular. For both
groups, however, the ge- prefix most
commonly characterizes the Past
Participle.
Past Participle: irregular verbs
ge + stem + en (or, rarely, in –n)
Exception:


The prefix ge- is left out, when the verb already begins with an
inseparable prefix
The past participle of strong verbs often changes the vowel in the
stem, and occasionally some of the consonants! There is no way to
predict the past participle of strong verbs in German.You have to
memorize them. (List page 14)
Past Participle: regular verbs
ge + stem + t
Exceptions:
The prefix ge- is left out, when:


the verb already begins with a prefix
the verb ends with –ieren. (studieren: studiert)
if stem of verb ends in –d/ -t:

always add suffix –et
Übung: Past Participle regular
verbs
VERB
PAST PARTICIPLE
ENGLISH
wohnen
to live
tanzen
to dance
kaufen
to buy
lieben
to love
verkaufen
to sell
spielen
to play
arbeiten
to work
kochen
to cook