The idea
Present tense: ich empfange, du empfängst, er/sie/es empfängt, wir empfangen, ihr empfangt, sie/Sie empfangen. Learn the sentence pattern jemanden empfangen; ein Signal empfangen together with the principal parts.
| Form | Deutsch |
|---|---|
| ich | empfange |
| du | empfängst |
| er/sie/es | empfängt |
| wir | empfangen |
| ihr | empfangt |
| sie/Sie | empfangen |
| Präteritum | empfing |
| Perfekt | hat empfangen |
| Imperativ (du) | Empfange! |
| Muster | jemanden empfangen; ein Signal empfangen |
Meaning and sentence pattern
Empfangen can mean welcoming guests or receiving signals. Its inseparable prefix prevents ge in the participle.
Learn this pattern as a unit: jemanden empfangen; ein Signal empfangen. The six situations below show the verb with concrete objects, complements or circumstances.
Form check
Er empfangt die Gäste.Er empfängt die Gäste.The singular er form changes a to ä; empfangt belongs to ihr.
Examples
- Ich empfange die Gäste am Seiteneingang.I welcome the guests at the side entrance.
- Du empfängst hier nur wenige Radiosender.You receive only a few radio stations here.
- Das Gerät empfängt ein schwaches Signal.The device receives a weak signal.
- Die Bürgermeisterin empfing die Delegation im Rathaus.The mayor welcomed the delegation at the town hall.
- Wir haben eure Nachricht rechtzeitig empfangen.We received your message in time.
- Empfange die Besucher bitte im Besprechungsraum.Please welcome the visitors in the meeting room.
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Watch out
The singular er form changes a to ä; empfangt belongs to ihr.
Try it yourself
du ___ (empfangen, Präsens)
Show answer or example answer
empfängst
empfängst: this is the second-person singular present form.
er/sie ___ (empfangen, Präteritum)
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empfing
empfing: this is the third-person singular simple past.
Perfekt: er/sie hat ___
Show answer or example answer
empfangen
empfangen: in this use the perfect tense is hat empfangen.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
du ___ (empfangen, Präsens)
er/sie ___ (empfangen, Präteritum)
Perfekt: er/sie hat ___
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Read the six situations aloud, compare the verb forms, and complete the present, past and participle checks. Then write a new sentence that follows jemanden empfangen; ein Signal empfangen.