GE2101 - Grammar - Verbs

Types of verbs:

• irregular (stark) - deviate from the normal patterns in all iterations
• regular (schwach) - follow the normal pattern in all iterations
• mixed (gemischt) - contain both regular and irregular elements

Verbs conjugated with haben:

• most transitive verbs
• no motion or change of state - e.g. sitzen, stehen, arbeiten - or actions that have no definitive beginning or ending
• reflexive verbs
• modal verbs
• intransitive verbs that indicate a state

Verbs conjugated with sein:

• intransitive verbs that express motion* e.g. fahren, laufen, gehen, reiten/change of state - e.g. sterben, einschlafen, aufwachen
• sein, werden, bleiben
• verbs that express happening, success, failure  - e.g. geschehen, passieren, gelingen (not used for successes of people. 'Ich bin gelungen' does not work!)

Transitive verb - takes a direct object, won't make sense without it.
Intransitive verb - does not take a direct object

*some verbs of motion can become transitive when they take a direct object. E.g. - 'Ich reite' is intransitive but 'ich reite das Pferd' is transitive. 'Das Pferd' has become the object.

The present participle, i.e. the 'ing' form does not exist in German. Instead, the present and an adverb/time phrase is used. E.g. 'ich koche gerade das Essen.' - I am making the meal.