1. PRESENT TENSE
A verb is a doing word (plays, laughing, jump). A sentence cannot exist without a verb in it.
Therefore the most important bit of grammar in any language is verbs.
We begin by learning about the
PRESENT TENSE. (WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW)

2. To make the present tense:
1.We take the infinitive of a verb. This is the form always found in the dictionary, and it means to …
2. In German, this ends in ‘en’
e.g spielen – to play

3. We chop off the –en ending to get the stem
spielen The stem is: spiel
Then we add the following endings to the pronouns.

4. First let’s just check we totally understand what all the pronouns mean!

5. ich ihr du wir er sie sie Sie es I You friendly (plural) You friendly
(singular)
wir We er He
sie
They
sie
She
Sie
You polite es It

6. ihr
ich
spiel e
spiel t
wir
spiel en du
spiel st
spiel en er
sie
spiel t
sie
Sie en es
spiel

7. Recap: To use a regular verb you need:
subject
stem +
ending +
- e
- st t
- t
- en en
ich (I)
du (you friendly)
er/sie/es (he/she/it)
ihr (you friendly plural)
wir (we)
sie (they)
Sie (you polite)
Chop the –en
off the infinitive
For example:
spielen
stem = spiel + +

8. A way to remember these endings:
Elephants STir Tetley Tea
ENthusiastically!
NOTE:
‘Ich spiele’ means - I play/I am playing.
Therefore it is always WRONG to say
ich bin….spiele.