Weak, strong and mixed verbs
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Sign up for freeWhat are weak, strong and mixed verbs?
In this lesson we will learn the different German verbs; weak, strong and mixed verbs. Pay attention and don't worry if you don't remember all at once. Don't forget! Practice makes perfect. Let's begin with German weak verbs. 
German weak verbs
These verbs are also called, 'regular verbs', they are verbs with no stem-vowel that changes with different tense. They infact take -te endings in the simple past and -t endings for their past participles.
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Abass T.
Colomba L.
Mili A. 
Giulia A. 
Felix C. 
Angela Q. 
Béatrice B. 
Ester S.
German irregular verbs (strong verbs)
These verbs are the opposite of weak verbs as they have stem vowel changes in different tenses. In the simple past, they take the same endings as mixed verbs, particularly there are no endings for 1st and 3r singular person their past participles end in -en.
German mixed verbs
If mixed sounds confusing, these verbs can also be called, irregular weak verbs. German vixed verbs are verbs with weak endings -te endings for simple past an subjunctive and -t endings for past participles, but which not regular. In other words, they have vowel changes.
How do I know which is which?
- If you have taken time to learn special forms of a verb, that one is probably a strong verb, this is because weak verbs are regular. When coming across new verbs, if it looks very unfamiliar to you, it is most likely to be a weak verb, If you've guess right, it will take the -te endings in the past and a -t in the past participle, also it will not have an stem-vowel changes.
- If the verb has an English cognate, the German verb is usually also strong if the English verb is strong, and weak if the English verb is weak.
Below are examples of the three different verb groups.
| German verbs | English Verbs |
|---|---|
| lachen, lachte, gelacht (weak) | laugh, laughed, laughed (weak) |
| singen, sang, gesungen (strong) | sing, sang, sung (strong) |
| lieben, liebte, geliebt (weak) | love, loved, loved (weak) |
| stehen, stand, gestanden (strong) | stand, stood, stood (strong) |
| leben, lebte, gelebt (weak) | live, lived, lived (weak) |
| sprechen, sprach, gesprochen (strong) | speak, spoke, spoken (strong) |
| kochen, kochte, gekocht (weak) | cook, cooked, cooked (weak) |
| bringen, brachte, gebracht (mixed) | bring, brought, brought (mixed) |
There are a few exceptions (in the table below), so be careful to avoid mistakes.
| German verbs | English verbs |
|---|---|
| rennen, rannte, gerannt (mixed) | run, ran, run (strong) |
| helfen, half, geholfen (strong) | help, helped, helped (weak) |
Lastly any verbs with the ending -ieren are weak. Remeber that these verbs do not take a -e when they get to form to the past participle. Examples;
| German verbs | ||
|---|---|---|
| studieren | studierte | hat studiert |
| explodieren | explodierte | ist explodiert |
| sich konzentrieren | konzentrierte sich | hat sich konzentriert |
We hope you have enjoyed this lesson and that now you understand the difference between the three German verb groups and you are confident in distinguishing them. Remember! If you have a doubt at anytime, go back and review the lesson to deeper your understanding.