The idea
Present tense: ich koche, du kochst, er/sie/es kocht, wir kochen, ihr kocht, sie/Sie kochen. Learn the sentence pattern etwas kochen; für jemanden kochen together with the principal parts.
| Form | Deutsch |
|---|---|
| ich | koche |
| du | kochst |
| er/sie/es | kocht |
| wir | kochen |
| ihr | kocht |
| sie/Sie | kochen |
| Präteritum | kochte |
| Perfekt | hat gekocht |
| Imperativ (du) | Koch! |
| Muster | etwas kochen; für jemanden kochen |
Meaning and sentence pattern
Kochen can mean preparing food or boiling: Ich koche Reis, but Das Wasser kocht. The subject and object distinguish the uses.
Learn this pattern as a unit: etwas kochen; für jemanden kochen. The six situations below show the verb with concrete objects, complements or circumstances.
Form check
Das Wasser ist gekocht.Das Wasser hat gekocht.For the active perfect of kochen use haben; ist gekocht can instead describe a resulting state of food.
Examples
- Ich koche heute für unsere Lerngruppe.I cook for our study group today.
- Du kochst den Reis in einem kleinen Topf.You cook the rice in a small pot.
- Das Wasser kocht schon seit einer Minute.The water has been boiling for a minute already.
- Meine Tante kochte früher oft für zwanzig Gäste.My aunt used to cook for twenty guests often.
- Wir haben aus den Resten eine Suppe gekocht.We made a soup from the leftovers.
- Koch die Nudeln nicht zu weich.Do not overcook the pasta.
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Watch out
For the active perfect of kochen use haben; ist gekocht can instead describe a resulting state of food.
Try it yourself
du ___ (kochen, Präsens)
Show answer or example answer
kochst
kochst: this is the second-person singular present form.
er/sie ___ (kochen, Präteritum)
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kochte
kochte: this is the third-person singular simple past.
Perfekt: er/sie hat ___
Show answer or example answer
gekocht
gekocht: in this use the perfect tense is hat gekocht.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
du ___ (kochen, Präsens)
er/sie ___ (kochen, 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 etwas kochen; für jemanden kochen.