geben
to give
The present singular changes e→i. A common pattern is someone giving a thing in accusative to a recipient in dative.
| Person | PresentPräsens | Simple pastPräteritum | PerfectPerfekt |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | gebe | gab | habe gegeben |
| du | gibst | gabst | hast gegeben |
| er / sie / es | gibt | gab | hat gegeben |
| wir | geben | gaben | haben gegeben |
| ihr | gebt | gabt | habt gegeben |
| sie / Sie | geben | gaben | haben gegeben |
On a small screen, swipe the table sideways. Tap or focus a German form for its meaning.
Learn these together
geben · ich gab · ich habe gegeben
Using the table
The rows cover the six person/number patterns. Formal Sie uses the same verb form as plural sie, with its capital letter retained in a sentence. German Perfekt often translates naturally as an English simple past, so choose the meaning from context.
These are ordinary main-clause forms. A separable prefix stays joined with its verb in a verb-final subordinate clause. Modal verbs with another governed infinitive use the separate double-infinitive pattern rather than mechanically keeping the standalone perfect forms above.