Perfect Tense in German

Summary

The episode teaches how to form the German Perfekt tense through classroom demonstrations at the CMG school in Prostějov, Czech Republic.

How to form the Perfekt

1. Conjugate the auxiliary verb haben or sein.
2. Add the verb’s past participle.
3. Place the past participle at the end of the sentence.

The lesson contrasts present-tense actions with completed actions. For example, Ich trinke (“I drink”) becomes Ich habe getrunken (“I have drunk”).

Students demonstrate the tense through classroom activities and everyday actions, including sleeping, drinking water, painting, learning German, putting on a cardigan, walking around, entering the classroom, opening a window, wiping the blackboard, placing a phone on a table, going home, and playing the Bottle Flip Challenge. The examples use both haben and sein.

Speakers and sources featured

• The host introduces the episode and prompts the demonstrations.
• Eli identifies the location as Prostějov.
• Ms. Malickova, the German teacher, explains how to form the Perfekt.
• Students featured in the examples include Victoria, Klara, Karolina, Philipp, Theresa, Eliska, Julia, Anita, and Carolina.
• Other students participating in the Bottle Flip Challenge are not named in the subtitles.