1. A SIMPLE TENSE – ADD ENDINGS TO A STEM
THE IMPERFECT TENSE
A SIMPLE TENSE – ADD ENDINGS TO A STEM

2. WEAK VERBS
The same STEM is used as for the Present Tense, but obviously the ENDINGS are different

3. SPIELEN - to play Ich spielTE wir spielTEN Du spielTEST ihr spielTET
Er spielTE sie spielTEN

4. STRONG VERBS
These verbs have a special strong stem AND a different set of endings
If you look carefully at the endings, they may seem familiar!

5. GEHEN - to go Ich ging wir gingEN Du gingST ihr gingT
Er ging sie gingEN
NB: There is NO ending added to the ‘ich’ and the ‘er’ parts of the verb
Have you spotted why the endings look familiar?

6. The endings added to the strong stem to form the Imperfect are the same as the endings added to the usual stem to form the Present!
That should HELP you, not confuse you!
Less endings to learn must be a good plan!