German has six tenses to express actions in different time frames. The first two are simple tenses that use only the verb itself. The other four are compound tenses that use auxiliary verbs. Most of the time you will only need two or three of these tenses (Präsens, Perfekt, Futur I).

You can find complete explanations of each tense by following the links below. Here is a quick introduction to all the tenses.

1. Präsens (Present)

Formation: Verb stem + endings (-e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en)
Example: ich lerne - I learn/am learning

When to use: Current actions, habits, general truths, and often for future events with time markers.
→ See full explanation

2. Präteritum (Simple Past)

Formation: Verb stem + -te + endings (regular) or stem change (irregular)
Example: du lerntest - I learned

When to use: Written narratives, formal reports, and commonly with sein/haben/modal verbs even in speech.
→ See full explanation

3. Perfekt (Present Perfect)

Formation: haben/sein (present) + past participle
Example: ich habe gelernt - I have learned/learned

When to use: Past events in spoken German, completed actions, and life experiences.
→ See full explanation

4. Plusquamperfekt (Past Perfect)

Formation: hatte/war + past participle
Example: ich hatte gelernt - I had learned

When to use: Actions that happened before another past action, reported speech in the past.
→ See full explanation

5. Futur I (Future)

Formation: werden (present) + infinitive
Example: ich werde lernen - I will learn

When to use: Future actions, assumptions about the present, promises and intentions.
→ See full explanation

6. Futur II (Future Perfect)

Formation: werden (present) + past participle + haben/sein
Example: ich werde gelernt haben - I will have learned

When to use: Actions completed by a future point, assumptions about past events.
→ See full explanation