The Present Tense

Tenses & Mood

Verbs Present tense

1. Things that happen all the time, or things that you do as a habit

Hier regnet es viel.	It rains a lot here.
Samstags spielen sie Fußball.	They play football on Saturdays.

2. Things that are happening now

Es regnet.	It’s raining.
Sie spielen Fußball.	They’re playing football.

To emphasize that something is happening now, there are three ways.

present tense + an adverb	Er kocht gerade das Abendessen.	He’s cooking dinner.
beim + an infinitive used as a noun	Ich bin beim Bügeln.	I am ironing
eben/gerade dabei sein (to be in the process of) zu + an infinitive	Sie ist gerade dabei, eine E-Mail zu schreiben.	She is just writing an email.

3. Use seit or seitdem

to describe an action which began in the past and is continuing in the present.

The present tense is used in German, where in English a verb form with have or has is used.

Ich wohne seit drei Jahren hier.	I have been living here for three years.
Seitdem sie am Gymnasium ist, hat sie kaum mehr Zeit.	Since she went to the high school, she’s hardly had any time.

4. Use present tense to describe a future event.

When something is planned, arranged, or expected in the near future ("I’m going to play tennis tomorrow.")

Morgen spiele ich Tennis.	I’m going to play tennis tomorrow.
Wir nehmen den Zug um zehn Uhr.	We’re getting the ten o’clock train.
Meine Freundin besucht* mich nächstes Wochenende.*	My girlfriend is visiting* (going to visit) me next weekend.*
Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben schon/noch.	I’m going to do my homework later

*Ich zahle* es dir morgen zurück.	*I’ll pay* you back tomorrow.
*Ich hole* dir eine Jacke.	*I’ll get* you a jacket.
Ich mache* meine Hausaufgaben später*	“I’ll do my homework later

when referring to an action that will take place according to a fixed schedule or timetable ("The train departs in ten minutes.)

Der Zug fährt in 10 Minuten ab.

The train departs in ten minutes.