Verbs: Present Perfect / Past Perfect Tenses
The perfect tenses are compound tenses, meaning there are two parts to the verb: auxiliary verb + past participle. Most verbs use avoir or haben, but some use être or sein as the auxiliary verb. This tense translates literally as has/have + past participle for the present perfect and had + past participle for the past perfect, though it can also be translated with the simple past tense. The perfect tenses are common in conversation in French and German, while the simple past is slightly more common in writing. For the present perfect tense, you will need to use the present tense forms of the auxiliary verbs; and for the past perfect tense, you will need to use the simple past forms of the auxiliary verbs.
Forming Past Participles
|
French
|
infinitive - past part.
|
German
|
infinitive - past part.
|
|
-er verbs
|
stem + é
|
aimer - aimé
|
regular verbs
|
ge + stem + t
|
machen - gemacht
|
|
-ir verbs
|
stem + i
|
choisir - choisi
|
ending in -ieren
|
stem + t
|
studieren - studiert
|
|
-re verbs
|
stem + u
|
vendre - vendu
|
separable prefixes
|
stem + t
|
besuchen - besucht
|
|
|
|
|
inseparable prefixes
|
prefix + ge + stem + t
|
abholen - abgeholt
|
Remember for German stems ending in -d or -t, you need to add -et as the ending for ease of pronunciation: arbeiten - gearbeitet. There are many more irregular past participles in German than in French, and you usually just have to memorize them. They could involve a stem vowel change and/or ending -en instead of -t.
Irregular Past Participles that take Avoir in French
|
to be
|
être
|
été
|
to permit
|
permettre
|
permis
|
|
to be able to
|
pouvoir
|
pu
|
to promise
|
promettre
|
promis
|
|
to believe
|
croire
|
cru
|
to put
|
mettre
|
mis
|
|
to do, make
|
faire
|
fait
|
to read
|
lire
|
lu
|
|
to have
|
avoir
|
eu
|
to receive
|
recevoir
|
reçu
|
|
to have to
|
devoir
|
dû
|
to see
|
voir
|
vu
|
|
to know
|
connaître
|
connu
|
to surprise
|
surprendre
|
surpris
|
|
to know
|
savoir
|
su
|
to take
|
prendre
|
pris
|
|
to laugh
|
rire
|
ri
|
to tell
|
dire
|
dit
|
|
to learn
|
apprendre
|
appris
|
to understand
|
comprendre
|
compris
|
|
to offer
|
offrir
|
offert
|
to want
|
vouloir
|
voulu
|
|
to open
|
ouvrir
|
ouvert
|
to write
|
écrire
|
écrit
|
Irregular Past Participles that take Haben in German
|
ask
|
bitten
|
gebeten
|
give
|
geben
|
gegeben
|
see
|
sehen
|
gesehen
|
|
be called
|
heißen
|
geheißen
|
hang, suspend
|
hängen
|
gehangen
|
shine
|
scheinen
|
geschienen
|
|
be silent
|
schweigen
|
geschwiegen
|
help
|
helfen
|
geholfen
|
shut
|
schließen
|
geschlossen
|
|
begin
|
beginnen
|
begonnen
|
hold
|
halten
|
gehalten
|
sing
|
singen
|
gesungen
|
|
begin
|
anfangen
|
angefangen
|
invite
|
einladen
|
eingeladen
|
sit
|
sitzen
|
gesessen
|
|
bite
|
beissen
|
gebissen
|
know (facts)
|
wissen
|
gewußt
|
sleep
|
schlafen
|
geschlafen
|
|
break
|
brechen
|
gebrochen
|
know (people)
|
kennen
|
gekannt
|
smell
|
riechen
|
gerochen
|
|
bring
|
bringen
|
gebracht
|
leave
|
verlassen
|
verlassen
|
sound
|
klingen
|
geklungen
|
|
burn
|
brennen
|
gebrannt
|
lend
|
leihen
|
geliehen
|
speak
|
sprechen
|
gesprochen
|
|
call
|
rufen
|
gerufen
|
let, allow
|
lassen
|
gelassen
|
stand
|
stehen
|
gestanden
|
|
call, name
|
nennen
|
genannt
|
lie, fib
|
lügen
|
gelogen
|
steal
|
stehlen
|
gestohlen
|
|
cry
|
schreien
|
geschrieen
|
lift
|
heben
|
gehoben
|
suffer
|
leiden
|
gelitten
|
|
cut
|
schneiden
|
geschnitten
|
lose
|
verlieren
|
verloren
|
swing
|
schwingen
|
geschwungen
|
|
do
|
tun
|
getan
|
meet
|
treffen
|
getroffen
|
take
|
nehmen
|
genommen
|
|
drink
|
trinken
|
getrunken
|
order, command
|
befehlen
|
befohlen
|
tear
|
reissen
|
gerissen
|
|
eat
|
essen
|
gegessen
|
pour, water
|
gießen
|
gegossen
|
think
|
denken
|
gedacht
|
|
eat (of animals)
|
fressen
|
gefressen
|
promise
|
versprechen
|
versprochen
|
throw
|
werfen
|
geworfen
|
|
find
|
finden
|
gefunden
|
pull
|
ziehen
|
gezogen
|
tie
|
binden
|
gebunden
|
|
forbid
|
verbieten
|
verboten
|
push
|
schieben
|
geschoben
|
turn
|
wenden
|
gewandt
|
|
forget
|
vergessen
|
vergessen
|
reach
|
greifen
|
gegriffen
|
understand
|
verstehen
|
verstanden
|
|
forgive
|
verzeihen
|
verziehen
|
read
|
lesen
|
gelesen
|
wash
|
waschen
|
gewaschen
|
|
freeze
|
frieren
|
gefroren
|
recline
|
liegen
|
gelegen
|
wear
|
tragen
|
getragen
|
|
get up
|
aufstehen
|
aufgestanden
|
recommend
|
empfehlen
|
empfohlen
|
win
|
gewinnen
|
gewonnen
|
|
get, receive
|
bekommen
|
bekommen
|
run
|
rennen
|
gerannt
|
write
|
schreiben
|
geschrieben
|
Word Order: French follows the same word order as English, the past participle directly follows the auxiliary verb; but German places the past participle at the end of the clause or sentence. In the negative, French places ne...pas around the auxiliary verb (or just pas after in informal French) and German generally places nicht after the auxiliary.
Auxiliary Verb: Verbs that indicate motion or a change of condition AND do not take a direct object use être / sein as an auxiliary verb. If the verb takes a direct object, then it must use avoir / haben as an auxiliary verb, so it is possible that one verb can use either auxiliary. In French, verbs that use être must make the past participle agree with the subject in gender and number, i.e. add an -e for feminine, -s for masculine plural, and -es for feminine plural.
Etre Verbs and their Past Participles in French
Irregulars are highlighted.
|
to arrive
|
arriver
|
arrivé(e)(s)
|
|
to be born
|
naître
|
né(e)(s)
|
|
to become
|
devenir
|
devenu(e)(s)
|
|
to come
|
venir
|
venu(e)(s)
|
|
to come back
|
revenir
|
revenu(e)(s)
|
|
to die
|
mourir
|
mort(e)(s)
|
|
to enter
|
entrer
|
entré(e)(s)
|
|
to fall
|
tomber
|
tombé(e)(s)
|
|
to go
|
aller
|
allé(e)(s)
|
|
to go by, pass
|
passer
|
passé(e)(s)
|
|
to go down
|
descendre
|
descendu(e)(s)
|
|
to go out
|
sortir
|
sorti(e)(s)
|
|
to go up
|
monter
|
monté(e)(s)
|
|
to leave
|
partir
|
parti(e)(s)
|
|
to return home
|
rentrer
|
rentré(e)(s)
|
|
to stay
|
rester
|
resté(e)(s)
|
Sein Verbs and their Past Participles in German
Irregulars are highlighted.
|
be
|
sein
|
gewesen
|
hike
|
wandern
|
gewandert
|
|
be born
|
gebären
|
geboren
|
jog
|
joggen
|
gejoggt
|
|
become
|
werden
|
geworden
|
jump
|
springen
|
gesprungen
|
|
come
|
kommen
|
gekommen
|
remain
|
bleiben
|
geblieben
|
|
die
|
sterben
|
gestorben
|
ride (horseback)
|
reiten
|
geritten
|
|
drive, go, travel
|
fahren
|
gefahren
|
run
|
rennen
|
gerannt
|
|
fall
|
fallen
|
gefallen
|
run
|
laufen
|
gelaufen
|
|
fly
|
fliegen
|
geflogen
|
sink
|
sinken
|
gesunken
|
|
follow
|
folgen
|
gefolgt
|
step
|
treten
|
getreten
|
|
go
|
gehen
|
gegangen
|
succeed
|
gelingen
|
gelungen
|
|
grow
|
wachsen
|
gewachsen
|
swim
|
schwimmen
|
geschwommen
|
|
happen
|
geschehen
|
geschehen
|
travel
|
reisen
|
gereist
|
|
happen
|
passieren
|
passiert
|
wake up
|
aufwachen
|
aufgewacht
|
Pronominal Verbs in Perfect Tenses: All pronominal verbs use être as the auxiliary verb in French, but all pronominal verbs use haben as the auxiliary verb in German.
Double Infinitives: When modal verbs are used in the perfect tenses in German, their past participles are only required when there is no other verb. If there is another verb, then that verb and the infinitive of the modal (instead of its past participle) are placed at the end of the sentence, called the double infinitive.
Verbs of Senses
Verbs that involve the senses (and a few others) can be followed directly by another infinitive in French and German, whereas in English, the gerund (-ing form) is used. French verbs include: entendre - to hear, voir - to see, etc. German verbs include: lassen - to let, helfen - to help, hören - to hear, sehen - to see, fühlen - to feel, and spüren - to feel/sense.
J'entends les oiseaux chanter. / Ich höre die Vögel singen. I hear birds singing.
In addition, these German verbs act as modals in the perfect tenses and form double infinitives instead of using their past participles when there is another verb involved.
J'ai entendu les oiseaux chanter. / Ich habe die Vögel singen hören. I heard the birds singing.
House & Furniture
|
English
|
French
|
German
|
English
|
French
|
German
|
|
alarm clock
|
le réveil
|
der Wecker
|
hearth
|
la cheminée
|
der Kamin
|
|
apartment
|
l'appartement (m)
|
die Wohnung
|
hook
|
le crochet
|
der Haken
|
|
armchair
|
le fauteuil
|
der Sessel
|
hot plates
|
la table de cuisson
|
die Herdplatte
|
|
attic
|
le grenier
|
der Dachboden
|
house
|
la maison
|
das Haus
|
|
balcony
|
le balcon
|
der Balkon
|
iron
|
le fer á repasser
|
das Bügeleisen
|
|
basement
|
le sous-sol
|
der Keller
|
ironing board
|
la table à repasser
|
das Bügelbrett
|
|
basket
|
la corbeille
|
der Abfalleimer
|
key
|
la clef
|
der Schlüssel
|
|
bathroom
|
le bain
|
das Badezimmer
|
kitchen
|
la cuisine
|
die Küche
|
|
bathtub
|
la baignoire
|
die Badewanne
|
ladder
|
l'échelle (f)
|
die Leiter
|
|
bed
|
le lit
|
das Bett
|
lamp
|
la lampe
|
die Lampe
|
|
bedroom
|
la chambre
|
das Schlafzimmer
|
laundry basket
|
le panier à linge
|
der Wäschekorb
|
|
blanket
|
la couverture
|
die Bettdecke
|
lawn
|
la pelouse
|
der Rasen
|
|
blinds
|
le store
|
die Rollgardine
|
light bulb
|
l'ampoule
|
die Glühbirne
|
|
bookcase
|
la bibliothèque
|
das Bücherregal
|
living room
|
le living / le salon
|
das Wohnzimmer
|
|
box
|
la boîte
|
die Kiste
|
lock
|
la serrure
|
das Schloss
|
|
broom
|
le balai
|
der Besen
|
mailbox
|
la boîte á lettres
|
der Briefkasten
|
|
bucket
|
le seau
|
der Eimer
|
matches
|
des allumettes
|
die Streichhölzer
|
|
camcorder
|
la caméra
|
der Camcorder
|
mattress
|
le matelas
|
die Matraze
|
|
camera
|
l'appareil-photo (m)
|
der Fotoapparat
|
medicine cabinet
|
l'armoire de toilette (f)
|
der Badezimmerschrank
|
|
candle
|
la bougie
|
die Kerze
|
microwave oven
|
le four á micro-ondes
|
der Mikrowellenherd
|
|
carpet
|
le tapis
|
der Teppich
|
mirror
|
le miroir
|
der Spiegel
|
|
cassette
|
la cassette
|
die Kassette
|
nightstand
|
la table de nuit
|
der Nachttisch
|
|
CD player
|
la lecteur de CD
|
der CD-Player
|
oven
|
le four
|
der Ofen
|
|
ceiling
|
le plafond
|
die Decke
|
pantry
|
le garde-manger
|
die Speisekammer
|
|
chair
|
la chaise
|
der Stuhl
|
picture
|
le tableau / le cadre
|
das Bild / der Bilderrahmen
|
|
chandelier
|
le lustre
|
der Kronleuchter
|
pillow
|
l'oreiller (m)
|
das Kissen
|
|
chimney
|
la cheminée
|
das Schornstein
|
pipe (water)
|
le tuyau
|
die Röhre
|
|
clock
|
la pendule
|
die Uhr
|
poker (fire)
|
le tisonnier
|
das Schüreisen
|
|
closet
|
le placard
|
die Garderobe
|
radiator
|
le radiateur
|
der Heizkörper
|
|
closet (clothes)
|
l'armoire (f)
|
der Kleiderschrank
|
radio
|
le radio
|
das Radio
|
|
clothes dryer
|
le sèche-linge
|
der Wäschetrockner
|
record
|
le disque
|
die Schallplatte
|
|
coffee maker
|
la cafetière
|
die Kaffeemaschine
|
refrigerator
|
le réfrigerateur
|
der Kühlschrank
|
|
coffee table
|
la table basse
|
der Couchtisch
|
roof
|
le toit
|
das Dach
|
|
computer
|
l'ordinateur (m)
|
der Computer
|
room
|
la pièce
|
das Zimmer
|
|
cooker
|
la cuisinière
|
der Herd
|
rug
|
le tapis
|
der Teppich
|
|
cooler
|
la glacière
|
die Kühlbox
|
scale (bathroom)
|
le pèse-personne
|
die Personenwaage
|
|
corner
|
le coin
|
die Ecke
|
sheet
|
le drap
|
das Bettuch
|
|
credenza
|
le buffet
|
die Anrichte
|
shelf
|
l'étagère
|
das Regal
|
|
cupboard
|
le placard / l'armoire (f)
|
der Schrank
|
shovel
|
la pelle
|
die Schaufel
|
|
curtain
|
le rideau
|
der Vorhang
|
shower
|
la douche
|
die Dusche
|
|
cushion
|
le coussin
|
das Kissen
|
sink
|
l'évier
|
die Spüle
|
|
desk
|
le bureau
|
der Schreibtisch
|
sink (bathroom)
|
le lavabo
|
das Waschbecken
|
|
dining room
|
la salle á manger
|
das Eßzimmer
|
sofa
|
le canapé
|
das Sofa
|
|
dish soap
|
le liquide vaisselle
|
das Spülmittel
|
sponge
|
l'éponge (f)
|
der Schwamm
|
|
dishwasher
|
le lave-vaisselle
|
die Spülmaschine
|
stairs
|
l'escalier (m)
|
die Treppe
|
|
door
|
la porte
|
die Tür
|
steps
|
les marches
|
die Stufen
|
|
doorbell
|
la sonnette
|
die Klingel
|
stereo
|
la chaîne hi-fi
|
die Stereoanlage
|
|
drawer
|
le tiroir
|
der Schublade
|
story (floor)
|
l'étage (m)
|
das Stockwerk
|
|
dresser
|
la commode
|
die Kommode
|
stove
|
le poêle
|
der Herd
|
|
driveway
|
l'allée
|
die Auffahrt
|
study
|
le cabinet de travail
|
das Arbeitszimmer
|
|
drying rack
|
le séchoir à linge
|
der Wäscheständer
|
switch
|
le commutateur
|
der Schalter
|
|
dustpan
|
la pelle
|
die Kehrschaufel
|
table
|
la table
|
der Tisch
|
|
DVD player
|
le lecteur de DVD
|
der DVD-Player
|
tap (faucet)
|
le robinet
|
der Hahn
|
|
fence
|
le portail / clôture
|
der Zaun
|
telephone
|
le téléphone
|
das Telefon
|
|
film
|
la pellicule
|
der Film
|
television
|
la télévision
|
der Fernseher
|
|
flashlight
|
la lampe de poche
|
die Taschenlampe
|
toaster
|
le grille-pain
|
der Toaster
|
|
floor
|
la plancher
|
der Boden
|
toilet (WC)
|
le cabinet
|
die Toilette
|
|
flower
|
la fleur
|
die Blume
|
towel
|
la serviette
|
das Handtuch
|
|
food processor
|
le robot ménager
|
die Küchenmaschine
|
toy box
|
le coffre à jouets
|
die Spielzeugkiste
|
|
freezer
|
la congélateur
|
die Gefriertruhe
|
vacuum cleaner
|
l'aspirateur (m)
|
der Staubsauger
|
|
front walk
|
la promenade
|
der Gehweg
|
vase
|
le vase
|
die Vase
|
|
fryer
|
la friteuse
|
die Fritteuse
|
VCR
|
la magnétoscope
|
der Videokassettenrekorder
|
|
furniture
|
les meubles (m)
|
die Möbel (pl.)
|
wall (house)
|
le mur
|
die Mauer
|
|
garage
|
le garage
|
die Garage
|
wall (room)
|
la paroi
|
die Wand
|
|
garbage can
|
la poubelle
|
der Abfalleimer
|
washing machine
|
le lave-linge
|
die Waschmaschine
|
|
garden
|
le jardin
|
der Garten
|
window
|
la fenêtre
|
das Fenster
|
|
ground floor
|
le rez-de-chaussée
|
das Erdgeschoss
|
yard
|
le jardin
|
der Hof
|
Buildings & Materials
|
English
|
French
|
German
|
English
|
French
|
German
|
|
airport
|
l'aéroport
|
der Flughafen
|
port
|
le port
|
der Hafen
|
|
bakery
|
la boulangerie
|
die Bäckerei
|
prison
|
la prison
|
das Gefängnis
|
|
bank
|
le banc
|
die Bank
|
restaurant
|
le restaurant
|
das Restaurant
|
|
bar
|
le bar
|
die Bar
|
road (highway)
|
le chemin / la route
|
dis Landstrasse
|
|
barn
|
le grange
|
die Scheune
|
school
|
l'école
|
die Schule
|
|
barracks
|
la caserne
|
dis Kaserne
|
sidewalk
|
le trottoir
|
der Bürgersteig
|
|
bench
|
le banc
|
die Bank
|
square
|
la place
|
der Platz
|
|
bridge
|
le pont
|
die Brücke
|
stable
|
l'étable
|
der Stall
|
|
bookstore
|
le librairie
|
die Buchhandlung
|
stadium
|
le stade
|
das Stadion
|
|
building
|
le bâtiment
|
das Gebäude
|
stop sign
|
le signe d'arrête
|
das Haltezeichen
|
|
butcher's
|
la boucherie
|
die Metzgerei
|
store
|
le magasin
|
der Laden
|
|
castle
|
le château
|
das Schloss
|
street
|
la rue
|
die Strasse
|
|
cathedral
|
la cathédrale
|
die Kathedrale
|
suburb
|
la banlieue
|
die Vorstadt
|
|
cemetery
|
le cimetière
|
der Friedhof
|
theater
|
le théâtre
|
das Theater
|
|
church
|
l'église
|
die Kirche
|
tower
|
la tour
|
der Turm
|
|
cinema
|
le cinéma
|
das Kino
|
town
|
la ville
|
die Stadt
|
|
consulate
|
le consulat
|
das Konsulat
|
town hall
|
la mairie
|
die Rathaus
|
|
corner
|
le coin
|
die Ecke
|
traffic light
|
le feu de circulation
|
die Ampel
|
|
courtyard
|
la cour
|
der Hof
|
university
|
l'université
|
die Universität
|
|
crosswalk
|
le passage pour piétons
|
der Ubergang
|
village
|
le village
|
das Dorf
|
|
dock
|
le bassin
|
das Dock
|
alloy
|
l'alliage (m)
|
die Legierung
|
|
dry cleaner's
|
le pressing
|
die Reinigung
|
brass
|
le laiton
|
das Messing
|
|
embassy
|
l'ambassade (f)
|
die Botschaft
|
brick
|
la brique
|
der Backstein
|
|
factory
|
l'usine (f)
|
die Fabrik
|
cement
|
le ciment
|
der Zement
|
|
farm
|
la ferme
|
der Bauernhof
|
chalk
|
la craie
|
die Kreide
|
|
fire hydrant
|
la bouche à incendie
|
der Hydrant
|
clay
|
l'argile (f)
|
der Lehm / Ton
|
|
fountain
|
la fontaine
|
der Brunnen
|
coal
|
le charbon
|
die Kohle
|
|
garage
|
le garage
|
die Garage
|
concrete
|
le béton
|
der Beton
|
|
grocery store
|
l'épicerie
|
das Lebensmittelgeschäft
|
copper
|
le cuivre
|
das Kupfer
|
|
hospital
|
l'hôpital (m)
|
das Krankenhaus
|
cork
|
le liège
|
der Kork
|
|
hotel
|
l'hotel
|
das Hotel
|
glass
|
le verre
|
das Glas
|
|
house
|
la maison
|
das Haus
|
gold
|
l'or (m)
|
das Gold
|
|
hut
|
la hutte
|
die Hütte
|
iron
|
le fer
|
das Eisen
|
|
inn
|
l'auberge (f)
|
das Wirtshaus
|
lead
|
le plomb
|
das Blei
|
|
lane (town)
|
la ruelle
|
die Gasse
|
leather
|
le cuir
|
das Leder
|
|
library
|
la bibliothèque
|
die Bibliothek
|
lime
|
la chaux
|
der Kalk
|
|
market
|
le marché
|
der Markt
|
marble
|
le marbre
|
der Marmor
|
|
ministry
|
le ministère
|
das Ministerium
|
mercury
|
le mercure
|
das Quecksilber
|
|
monument
|
le monument
|
das Denkmal
|
metal
|
le métal
|
das Metall
|
|
museum
|
le musée
|
das Museum
|
rubber
|
le caoutchouc
|
der Gummi
|
|
palace
|
le palais
|
der Palast
|
silver
|
l'argent (m)
|
das Silber
|
|
path
|
le sentier
|
der Pfad
|
steel
|
l'acier (m)
|
der Stahl
|
|
pavement
|
le trottoir
|
der Bürgersteig
|
stone
|
la pierre
|
der Stein
|
|
pharmacy
|
la pharmacie
|
die Apotheke
|
tar
|
le goudron
|
der Teer
|
|
pier
|
la jetée
|
der Pier
|
tin
|
l'étain (m)
|
das Zinn
|
|
police station
|
le commisariat
|
das Polizeirevier
|
wood
|
le bois
|
das Holz
|
Y/ En & Da- / Wo-
Y and en are pronouns in French that mostly replace prepositional phrases. Da- and wo- in German replace the noun in a prepositional phrase. In both languages, they can only refer to things and ideas and not people.
French: Y replaces a prepositional phrase, except those beginning with the preposition de. En replaces prepositional phrases beginning with de, as well as the noun that follows a number. Y is usually translated as it, them or there, and en is usually translated as some, of them, or it. Y and en are placed before the verb in French in regular sentences, or between a conjugated verb and infinitive, or after the verb and connected to it with a hyphen in the imperative.
A quoi penses-tu ? What are you thinking about?
Je pense aux vacances. I'm thinking about vacation.
J'y pense. I'm thinking about it.
German: Da- replaces the noun in a prepositional phrase in a statement, while wo- replaces the nouns in a prepositional phrase in a question. An -r- is added before prepositions that begin with a vowel. Da- is usually translated as it or them, and wo- is usually translated as what. The prepositions are always connected to da- or wo- and written as one word with no hyphen.
Woran denkst du? What are you thinking about?
Ich denke an die Ferien. I'm thinking about vacation.
Ich denke daran. I'm thinking about it.
