Werden can describe a change or combine with an infinitive to form a future construction. Distinguish these uses before learning more advanced patterns.
The idea
In Es wird kalt, werden means becoming: it is getting cold. In Wir werden morgen kommen, it is an auxiliary followed by the infinitive kommen. Present forms are werde, wirst, wird, werden, werdet and werden. German also often uses the present tense with a future time expression, so a future meaning does not always require werden.
| Person | Präsens |
|---|---|
| ich | werde |
| du | wirst |
| er / sie / es | wird |
| wir | werden |
| ihr | werdet |
| sie / Sie | werden |
Examples
- Es wird kalt.
- Ich werde müde.
- Du wirst Arzt.
- Wir werden morgen kommen.
- Ihr werdet den Zug sehen.
- Sie werden bald anrufen.
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Watch out
Do not add an infinitive to a simple change-of-state sentence. Es wird dunkel is complete. Passive uses of werden are a separate later topic.
Try it yourself
Es ___ dunkel.
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wird
The subject es takes wird.
Du ___ morgen kommen.
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wirst
The subject du takes wirst.
Wir werden Deutsch ___. (lernen)
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lernen
After the future auxiliary, the lexical verb remains the infinitive lernen.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Es ___ dunkel.
Du ___ morgen kommen.
Wir werden Deutsch ___. (lernen)
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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Describe a change in the weather or light, then make one plan with werden plus an infinitive. Compare it with a present-tense plan for tomorrow.