14. Uses of the tenses

Question 1

14. 1. THE GERMAN TENSES: GENERAL (1)
15. 1.1. THERE ARE SIX TENSES IN GERMAN

In general, the forms and uses of the tenses in German and English are quite similar.

Present: ich kaufe = I buy
Past: ich kaufte = I bought
Perfect: ich habe gekauft = I have bought
Pluperfect: ich hatte gekauft = I had bought
Future: ich werde kaufen = I will buy
Future perfect: ich werde gekauft haben = I will habe bought.

Answer 1

14.1.1.

Question 2

14. 1. THE GERMAN TENSES: GENERAL (2)
15. 1.2. THE GERMAN PAST TENSE

This German tense does NOT convey the idea of an incomplete or continuous action, but simply indicates that the action or event took place at some time in the past.

Answer 2

14.1.2.

Question 3

14. 1. THE GERMAN TENSES: GENERAL (3)
15. 1.3. THERE ARE NO PROGRESSIVE TENSES IN GERMAN

“ich kaufe”, for instance, normally corresponds to BOTH English “I buy” and “I am buying”.
However, in some contexts the difference in meaning between these English forms can (or must) be made clear in German in other ways, by using additional words or different constructions.

Answer 3

14.1.3.

Question 4

14. 2. THE PRESENT TENSE (1)
15. 2.1. THE PRESENT TENSE IS USED TO RELATE TO PRESENT, HABITUAL OR “TIMELESS” ACTIONS OR EVENTS

This corresponds to the normal use of the present tense (simply or progressive) in English:

• Sie singt gut.
• Ich lese die Zeitung von gestern.
• Dankend bestätigen wird den Empfang Ihres Schreibens vom 30. Juni (= We gratefully acknowledge receipt of your letter of 30th June)
• Ursula spricht ein wenig Spanisch.
• In Irland regnet es viel.

Answer 4

14.2.1.

Question 5

14. 2. THE PRESENT TENSE (2)
15. 2.2. THE PRESENT TENSE INDICATES AN ACTION OR STATE WHICH BEGAN IN THE PAST AND IS STILL GOING ON AT THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING

Such sentences usually contains an adverb (“schon” or “bisher”), an adverbial phrase with “seit”, or an adverbial clause with “seit(dem)” or “solange”. These expresses the idea of “up to now”.

a. In “up-to-now” contexts the present tense is used in German.

This is quite different to English, where we used the perfect tense, typically the perfect progressive (e.g. have been doing)

• Ich stehe schon lange hier vor dem Bahnhof.
• Seit wann wohnen Sie in Rendsburg?
• Hier im Ngorongoro-Krater darf schon seit Jahrzehnten nicht mehr geschossen werden. (= Shooting hasn’t been allowed here in the Ngorongoro crater for decades).
• Seitdem die Europäer Tanganjika verwalten, hat sich eine solche Hungersnot nur noch in Kriegszeiten ereignet. (= Since the Europeans have been governing Tanganyika a famine like that has only occurred in wartime).
• Er wohnt in Hamburg, solange ich ihn kenne (= He’s lived in Hamburg as long as I’ve known him).

b.

Answer 5

14.2.2.

Question 6

14. 2. THE PRESENT TENSE (3)

14. 2.3.

Answer 6

14.2.3.

Question 7

14. 2. THE PRESENT TENSE (4)

14. 2.4.

Answer 7

14.2.4.