German Stem-Changing Verbs (fahren → du fährst)
After this lesson you can handle the common verbs that change their vowel with du and er/sie/es.
Do this first: Present tense
German Stem-Changing Verbs (fahren → du fährst)
Some very common verbs change their vowel — but only for du and er/sie/es. Everyone else keeps the ordinary endings.
Some very common verbs change their vowel — but only for du and er/sie/es. Everyone else keeps the ordinary endings.
ich
↓
no
fahre
The letter ich becomes fahre. For example: no.
The video for this lesson is being made. Here is the idea in the meantime.
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Kulturnotiz
German distinguishes two verbs where English uses "go": gehen is on foot, fahren is by any vehicle — car, train, bike, bus. Ich gehe nach Berlin would mean you are walking there. Ich fahre nach Berlin is what you mean. The same split runs through the language: fliegen for flying, laufen for running.
Common questions
+Which forms change?
Only du and er/sie/es. ich, wir, ihr and sie/Sie are completely regular. If you remember nothing else, remember the change is confined to those two.
+How do I know which verbs change?
You learn it with the verb — dictionaries mark it, usually by listing the du and er forms. The good news is that the group is small and consists of the verbs you use most, so exposure teaches them quickly.
+Why is nehmen so irregular?
It changes vowel and consonants: nehmen → du nimmst, er nimmt. It is the messiest of the group and worth memorising as its own case.
+What is the difference between gehen and fahren?
Gehen is on foot; fahren is by vehicle. Ich fahre nach Berlin (by train or car) versus Ich gehe zum Supermarkt (walking). Using gehen for a journey implies you are walking it.