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 |
- When making an offer; an announcement or promising to do something:
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. |