The perfection is one of the most common times in German. As a rule, it is used in colloquial speech along with preterite. To use the perfection correctly, you must remember the basic rules for its application.
Using this time
A perfect in German is used regardless of whether the action is complete or incomplete, unlike, for example, the Past Perfect time in English. As a rule, this time is used in colloquial speech. This is another significant detail that should be remembered by schoolchildren and students. The narrative uses not perfect, but preter. Perfect in German is always formed using one of the auxiliary verbs: haben or sein. The Partizip II form of the main verb is also used. It must be remembered that in conjugation only the auxiliary verb changes, while the main one remains unchanged.
How is Partizip II formed?
It is impossible to master the perfection in German without the ability to form the Partizip II semantic verb. This form in weak verbs is formed by adding the characteristic prefix ge- , as well as the ending - (e) t to the main part. For example: kaufen - gekauft, lieben - geliebt. As for strong verbs, Partizip II for this group must be remembered.
However, in the formation of the Partizip II form, there are some features that should also be remembered. If the verb stem ends with the following letters: t, d, m or n, add the letter e between the main part of the word and the ending. For example: antworten - geantwortet. If the Partizip II form of those verbs that do not belong to the strong group and which have detachable prefixes is necessary, then a certain order in word formation is required. First, the prefix is written, then the particle ge- , then the stem of the verb, and only after that the ending t . For example: mitspielen - mitgespielt.
If the verb does not belong to the group of strengths and has an inseparable prefix, then Partizip II is formed without ge- . For example: entdecken - entdeckt. In addition, Partizip II for those verbs that have the ending -ieren : studieren - studiert is also constructed without ge- .
Perfect in German: rules for choosing an auxiliary verb
The choice of one or another auxiliary verb always depends on the lexical meaning of the main one, which is indicated in the form of Partizip II. In most cases, haben is used.
Firstly, this verb is used with all transitive forms. They, as you know, require additions without pretext in accusative even if this addition is absent in the statement. For instance:
Sie hat mich fotografiert. - She took a picture of me.
The following verbs are an exception:
- loswerden (in the meaning of "free", "get rid", and in colloquial speech - "lose");
- eingehen (make a commitment, make a promise);
- durchgehen (meaning "pass through material, view").
For instance:
Er hat sein Brief losgeworden. - He lost his letter.
Secondly, haben is used with intransitive verbs that indicate an action, state or process. Moreover, this process does not provide for a clear moment of completion; there is no limit to its course. Verbs of this type are called unsaturated or dural:
- arbeiten;
- hängen;
- lachen;
- leben;
- liegen;
- schlafen;
- sitzen;
- stehen;
- wachen;
- wohnen.
For instance:
Er hat gestern gearbeitet. - Yesterday he worked.
Exceptions are the verbs bleiben and sein. For instance:
Sie ist den ganzen tag hier geblieben. “She stayed here all day.”
Also haben is used with transitive verbs. For instance:
Sie hat sich nicht ausgeruht. - She did not rest.
With impersonal verbs it is necessary to use haben.
Es hat gedämmert. - It was getting light.
When to use sein
This auxiliary verb in the formation of a perfect in German is used in the following cases:
- If you use intransitive verbs denoting movement in any direction ( gehen, fahren, kommen and others). For example: Er ist gegangen. - He came.
- If in the sentence the semantic verb is intransitive and denotes a change in state ( aufwachen, einschlafen, sterben). For example: Er ist eingeschlagen - He fell asleep.
- With exception verbs bleiben, sein, werden, geschehen . For example: Was ist hier geschehen? - What happened here?
Word order
Also, when forming a sentence, you must remember the word order. In the narrative in second place, the auxiliary verb haben or sein is used, and the semantic verb is at the very end. Consider a few sentences with examples of perfection in German:
Ich habe ihn nicht gefragt. - I did not ask him.
Sie hat das gemacht. - She did it.
Die Studentin ist geblieben. - The student stayed.
As for interrogative sentences, here the interrogative word is put on the first place. In this case, the following examples of perfection in German can be given:
Wie hast du das gemacht? - How did you do that?
Wer hat auf ihn gewartet? - Who was waiting for him?
In sentences of a negative character, the nicht particle should stand before the semantic verb.
Ich habe sie nicht gesehen.- I have not seen her.
Territorial features
It should also be noted that the speech of residents of the southern and northern regions of Germany has significant differences. For example, in the northern territories of the country, even in colloquial speech, one can often hear preterite in those cases where, it would seem, it is necessary to apply the perfect. And in southern Germany, perfection is preferred. It is believed that preterite always gives speech a certain shade of elevation, therefore this form is more like a book. If you use this time in colloquial speech, then to a German speaker such speech may seem unnatural.