The Auxiliary Verbs: haben, sein, und werden

The Auxiliary Verbs: haben, sein, und werden

Present Perfect Tense (das Perfekt)

The German Present Perfect Tense (das Perfekt) is formed with the conjugated auxiliary haben OR sein + the past participle of the main verb.

haben
The conjugated auxiliary haben is used to form the Present Perfect in most instances including,

whenever the main verb has a direct object,

Ex: Sie haben gut geschlafen. (They slept well.)
Ex: Sie hat die Zeitung gelesen. (She read the newspaper.)

or is used reflexively.

Ex: Wir haben uns verspätet. (We were late.)

sein

The auxiliary sein is used only where both of the following conditions are met:

The main verb expresses motion, change of location, OR change of condition.

and

The main verb isintransitive[does NOT have an accusative (direct) object]

Note: A direct object indicates where the verb’s action is directed and who or what is affected by it. (Van Gogh created The Starry Night.; Caroline saved Jake.)

Change of Location

Ex: Er ist von einem Baum gefallen. (He fell from a tree.)

Motion

Ex: Sie ist nach Hause gegangen. (She went home.)

Change of Condition

Ex: Er ist gestorben. (He died.)
Ex: Sie sind reich geworden. (They became rich.)

NOTE: On either side directly next to of any form of sein, use the nominative case.

Ex: Er ist mein Bruder. (NOT: Er ist meinen Bruder.)

werden

In order to recognize the meaning of werden in a given context, you have to first determine whether it is accompanied by an adjective, a noun, or a verb.

werden+ predicate adjective (or predicate noun)

Ex: Es wird kälter. (It is getting colder.)
Ex: Er wurde Präsident. (He became president.)
werden + verb
- When werden is an auxiliary, the main verb may be an infinitive OR a past participle.
- If the verb is an Infinitive, werden is the Future Auxiliary in the Active Voice.
- Ex: Sie wird den Fall untersuchen. (She will investigate the case.)

- If the verb is a Past participle, werden is the Passive Auxiliary.
- Ex: Der Fall wird untersucht. (The case is being investigated.)

English Equivalents of Werden

to become, get – when used with an adjective or moun

shall/will – when used with an infinitive and expressing the future tense

to be – when used with a past participle and expressing the passive

Indicative Mood - Present Tense * of Auxiliaries (der Indikativ - das Präsens * von die Hilfsverben)

	haben (to have; to possess)	sein (to be)	werden (to become)
ich	habe	bin	werde
du	hast	bist	wirst
er, es, sie	hat	ist	wird
wir	haben	sind	werden
ihr	habt	seid	werdet
sie	haben	sind	werden
Sie	haben	sind	werden

*The Present Tense usually indicates that an action is taking place as you are speaking or writing.