The idea
Present tense: ich vergesse, du vergisst, er/sie/es vergisst, wir vergessen, ihr vergesst, sie/Sie vergessen. Learn the sentence pattern etwas vergessen; vergessen, etwas zu tun together with the principal parts.
| Form | Deutsch |
|---|---|
| ich | vergesse |
| du | vergisst |
| er/sie/es | vergisst |
| wir | vergessen |
| ihr | vergesst |
| sie/Sie | vergessen |
| Präteritum | vergaß |
| Perfekt | hat vergessen |
| Imperativ (du) | Vergiss! |
| Muster | etwas vergessen; vergessen, etwas zu tun |
Meaning and sentence pattern
Vergessen changes e to i in the singular and forms the imperative vergiss. A zu infinitive names an action left undone.
Learn this pattern as a unit: etwas vergessen; vergessen, etwas zu tun. The six situations below show the verb with concrete objects, complements or circumstances.
Form check
Du vergesst den Termin.Du vergisst den Termin.Use vergisst for du; vergesst is the ihr form.
Examples
- Ich vergesse ohne Liste leicht die kleinen Besorgungen.Without a list I easily forget the small errands.
- Du vergisst manchmal, deine Karte einzustecken.You sometimes forget to take your card.
- Er vergisst beim Erzählen die Zeit.He loses track of time while telling stories.
- Wir vergaßen die Decke auf der Wiese.We forgot the blanket on the lawn.
- Hast du den vereinbarten Treffpunkt vergessen?Have you forgotten the agreed meeting point?
- Vergiss nicht, das Licht im Keller auszuschalten.Do not forget to switch off the cellar light.
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Watch out
Use vergisst for du; vergesst is the ihr form.
Try it yourself
du ___ (vergessen, Präsens)
Show answer or example answer
vergisst
vergisst: this is the second-person singular present form.
er/sie ___ (vergessen, Präteritum)
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vergaß
vergaß: this is the third-person singular simple past.
Perfekt: er/sie hat ___
Show answer or example answer
vergessen
vergessen: in this use the perfect tense is hat vergessen.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
du ___ (vergessen, Präsens)
er/sie ___ (vergessen, 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 vergessen; vergessen, etwas zu tun.