Conjugating 'sein' in the present tense in German
Sein — Present Tense
The verb sein means to be and is one of the most important and irregular verbs in German. You use it all the time to talk about yourself, others, and things. Unlike regular verbs, sein changes a lot depending on who is doing the action.
Here's the full table for sein in the present tense:
| Person | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich | bin | I am |
| du | bist | you are (sing., informal) |
| er/sie/es | ist | he/she/it is |
| wir | sind | we are |
| ihr | seid | you are (pl., informal) |
| sie | sind | they are |
| Sie | sind | you are (formal) |
Notice how bin, bist, and ist are all different, and the plural forms use sind or seid. This is very different from regular verbs, which usually follow a pattern.
Example sentences
- Ich bin müde. (I am tired.)
- Du bist freundlich. (You are friendly.)
- Wir sind hier. (We are here.)
The verb sein comes from old Germanic roots and is related to the English word "is". It's used in many expressions and is essential for basic conversation.
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