What you will learn
- Use familiar stem-changing verbs with different subjects.
- Explain the key contrast: Which part of a verb changes, and which endings remain predictable?
Some verbs change a vowel
Quick summary
Compare ich esse with du isst and er isst.
Why it matters
The ending alone is not enough for every present-tense verb.
Build the pattern
Compare ich esse with du isst and er isst.
How it works
The stem is the main part of the verb before the ending. Some verbs change a vowel in the present forms for du and er/sie/es. Learn the change with each verb.
essen means “to eat”: ich esse, du isst, er/sie/es isst, wir essen, ihr esst, sie/Sie essen. The du form is isst, without another s.
sprechen means “to speak”: ich spreche, du sprichst, er/sie/es spricht, wir sprechen, ihr sprecht, sie/Sie sprechen. Notice the e → i change in the two singular forms.
Examples
Common mistakes
Du esst einen Apfel.Du isst einen Apfel.With du, use the changed form isst.
Limits & exceptions
- This is not a rule for every verb containing e. For example, the already-taught regular verb lernen keeps its stem.
A little deeper
You can store the dictionary form with the two useful singular forms: essen, du isst, er isst. The plural then provides a contrast.
Learn the spelling with the change
Quick summary
With lesen, learn du liest, er liest and ihr lest.
Why it matters
A longer-looking vowel spelling can be part of the verb form.
Build the pattern
With lesen, learn du liest, er liest and ihr lest.
How it works
lesen means “to read”. Its pattern is ich lese, du liest, er/sie/es liest, wir lesen, ihr lest, sie/Sie lesen.
The changed spelling is ie, not just i. Both du and er/sie/es use liest here. ihr uses lest, with the original vowel.
The ordinary sentence pattern still works: Du liest ein Buch becomes Liest du ein Buch? Changing the sentence into a question does not undo the vowel change.
Examples
Common mistakes
Er lest ein Buch.Er liest ein Buch.Use the changed spelling liest with er.
Limits & exceptions
- Learn this verb’s forms; do not turn every e into ie in other verbs.
A little deeper
Spelling and sound belong together. Listen to the whole form, then recall it with its subject.
Keep the umlaut in the singular
Quick summary
Compare wir fahren with du fährst and er fährt.
Why it matters
The two dots are part of the correct verb form.
Build the pattern
Compare wir fahren with du fährst and er fährt.
How it works
fahren means “to drive” or “to travel by vehicle”. Here we use it for driving: ich fahre, du fährst, er/sie/es fährt, wir fahren, ihr fahrt, sie/Sie fahren.
schlafen means “to sleep”: ich schlafe, du schläfst, er/sie/es schläft, wir schlafen, ihr schlaft, sie/Sie schlafen.
These verbs change a to ä for du and er/sie/es, but not for ich or the plural subjects. A person’s name works like er or sie: Mila schläft.
Examples
Common mistakes
Wir fährt morgen.Wir fahren morgen.The subject wir uses the unchanged stem and the plural ending.
Limits & exceptions
- Not every verb with a changes its vowel. These are specific patterns for the verbs taught in this block.
A little deeper
An irregular vowel does not mean irregular word order. The changed verb still follows the statement and question patterns you already know.
Words in context
| Word / expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| essenverb | to eat | Du isst einen Apfel.You are eating an apple. Word notedu isst, er isst; plural wir essen. |
| sprechenverb | to speak | Er spricht Deutsch.He speaks German. Word notedu sprichst, er spricht. |
| lesenverb | to read | Du liest ein Buch.You are reading a book. Word notedu liest, er liest; plural ihr lest. |
| fahrenverb | to drive / travel by vehicle | Du fährst heute.You are driving today. Word notedu fährst, er fährt; plural wir fahren. |
| schlafenverb | to sleep | Mila schläft.Mila is sleeping. Word notedu schläfst, sie schläft; plural wir schlafen. |
Practise and recall
Cover the examples and build a new phrase with words from this page. Check the form and the meaning, then try again after a break. The free grammar block includes guided practice, an optional mastery check and spaced review.
Practise this grammar block →Related German grammar
Build a practical German learning routine →Sources and review status
Original, AI-assisted teaching material awaiting review by a German-language teacher. These examples cover the stated beginner patterns, not complete A1 proficiency.
- Goethe-Zertifikat A1, Start Deutsch 1: WortlisteGoethe-Institut
- PersonLeibniz-Institut für Deutsche Sprache, grammis
- A-Grammatik: solutions, present tense without vowel changesSCHUBERT-Verlag