In German, the present perfect tense is used much like the simple past tense (Präteritum). The present perfect is used to describe events that took place in the past. In today's article Vogel will explore the present perfect tense - Perfekt - with you.

- The present perfect is mainly used in spoken language and everyday activities. The simple past, on the other hand, is usually used in written language and formal texts.

1. Formation:

• The present perfect is formed by combining the auxiliary verb haben/sein with the past participle (Partizip II), where the past participle always stands at the end of the sentence

haben/sein + Partizip II

Example:

Ich habe eine Pizza gegessen.

(I ate a pizza.)

Ich habe das Licht im Keller ausgemacht.

(I turned off the light in the basement.)

Seid ihr auch schon mal in der Schweiz gewesen?

(Have you ever been to Switzerland?)

!!! Note: the auxiliary verb sein is used with verbs that express movement (gehen, fahren, rennen, ….), verbs that express a change of state (sterben, einschlafen, verwelken,...) and with special verbs (sein, werden, bleiben). The auxiliary verb haben is used with all other verbs.

Ich bin gestern schnell eingeschlafen.

(I fell asleep quickly yesterday.)

Ich bin gestern zuhause geblieben.

(I stayed at home yesterday.)

Das hat er mir gar nicht erzählt.

(He didn't even tell me that.)

1. Perfekt mit Modalverben (modal verbs)

• When a modal verb acts as the main verb in the sentence, the present perfect is formed with the formula: haben + Partizip II

Example:

Das hast du nicht gedurft.

(You were not allowed to do this.)

• When another verb acts as the main verb in the sentence, the present perfect is formed with the formula: haben + Vollverb (im Infinitiv) + Modalverb (im Infinitiv)

Example:

Viele Studenten haben diese Aufgaben lösen können.

(Many students were able to solve these exercises.)

1. Special case:

• When a sentence contains two verbs, one of which is sehen, hören or lassen, the present perfect is formed with the formula: haben + Verb (im Infinitiv) + sehen/hören/lassen (im Infinitiv)

Example:

Ich habe sie winken sehen.

(I saw her waving.)