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The conjugation of the German verb “sagen” Posted by on Aug 4, 2014 in Grammar, Language

The word “sagen” is one of the most frequent verbs in German. Usually, it either means “to say” or “to tell” in English. In order to form statements (declarative sentences) or commands (imperative sentences) it is necessary to conjugate verbs correctly. So, let’s have a closer look at the verb “sagen” and its conjugations of the tenses:

–       Präsens – present
–       Präteritum – preterit (equals simple past)
–       Futur I – future I
–       Perfekt – perfect
–       Plusquamperfekt – pluperfect (equals past perfect)
–       Futur II – future II

 

Präsens – present tense

In order to form sentences in the Präsens tense you have to use the infinitive verb form and attach the appropriate ending according to person and number.

Singular Plural
1st person ich sage
(I say)
wir sagen
(we say)
2nd person du sagst – informal
Sie sagen – formal
(you say)
ihr sagt – informal
Sie sagen – formal
(you say)
3rd person er/sie/es sagt
(he/she/it says)
sie sagen
(they say)

1. Herr Müller, Sie sagen mir das schon zum dritten Mal.
(Herr Müller, you tell me this for the third time.)
2. Annika sagt, sie hat den Klempner heute Morgen angerufen.
(Annika says that she called the plumber this morning.)
3. Das sagt mir (überhaupt) nichts.
(This doesn’t mean anything to me.)
4. Wir sagen niemals nie.
(We never say never.)

 

Imperativ – imperative

Very often we make use of commands or imperative sentences in our speech. For example, when we are cold we might say to somebody “Close the window, please.” We can also address ourselves in our own speech, for example, when we talk to ourselves: “Sandra, switch off the TV now!” Or when we speak in first person plural: “Let’s go now!”

1. Wenn du Anita siehst, sag ihr sie soll mich anrufen.
(When you see Anita tell her she should give me a ring.)
2. Sagen wir es niemanden.
(Let’s tell no one.)
3. Sagt euren Eltern, wir treffen uns morgen.
(Tell your parents we will meet tomorrow.)
4. Sagen Sie mir, was passiert ist!
(Tell me what has happened!)

 

Präteritum – preterit (equals simple past)

In order to form sentences in the Präteritum tense you need the preterit or simple past form of the verb. In our case it is “sagte”. According to person and number you have to add the appropriate endings.

Singular Plural
1st person ich sagte
(I said)
wir sagten
(we said)
2nd person du sagtest – informal
Sie sagten – formal
(you said)
ihr sagtet – informal
Sie sagten – formal
(you said)
3rd person er/sie/es sagte
(he/she/it said)
sie sagten
(they said)

1. Ich sagte dir doch, es nicht zu tun.
(I told you not to do it.)
2. Wir sagten auf Wiedersehen und gingen.
(We said goodbye and left.)
3. Er sagte es ihr unter vier Augen.
(He told her in confidence.)
4. Sie sagten es laut und deutlich.
(They/You said it loud and clear.)

 

Futur I – future I

When forming a sentence in Futur I you need the auxiliary verb “werden” (here: to will). On the one hand, “werden” helps you to point to the future and on the other hand, “werden” is used for the conjugation. That is, the full verb “sagen” is solely used in its infinitive form.

Singular Plural
1st person ich werde sagen
(I will say)
wir werden sagen
(we will say)
2nd person du wirst sagen – informal
Sie werden sagen – formal
(you will say)
ihr werdet sagen – informal
Sie werden sagen – formal
(you will say)
3rd person er/sie/es wird sagen
(he/she/it will say)
sie werden sagen
(they will say)

1. Ich werde es ihm morgen sagen.
(I will tell him tomorrow.)
2. Er wird sagen, dass es ihm nicht gefällt.
(He will say that he doesn’t like it.)
3. Wir werden nichts sagen.
(We will say nothing.)
4. Ihr werdet es ihr bestimmt sagen, wenn sie fragt.
(You’ll probably tell her when she asks.)

 

Perfekt – perfect

Germans love the Perfekt tense and prefer it over the Präteritum in spoken language. The reason for this preference is simple: Finding the correct past form of a verb is also for Germans demanding, so to speak. In order to form sentences in the Perfekt tense you have to use either the auxiliary verb “haben” (to have) or “sein” (to be). Both verbs are frequently used in German, thus their conjugations are always at hand.
Further, there is always only one form of the full verb. In our case it is “gesagt”.

Singular Plural
1st person ich habe gesagt
(I have said)
wir haben gesagt
(we have said)
2nd person du hast gesagt – informal
Sie haben gesagt – formal
(you have said)
ihr habt gesagt – informal
Sie haben gesagt – formal
(you have said)
3rd person er/sie/es hat gesagt
(he/she/it has said)
sie haben gesagt
(they have said)

1. Ich habe gesagt, wir könnten ins Kino gehen.
(I said we could go to the movies.)
2. Du hast gesagt, wir treffen uns morgen.
(You said we will meet tomorrow.)
3. Ihr habt es ihnen gesagt, oder?
(You told them, didn’t you?)
4. Sie haben gesagt, sie hätten keine Zeit.
(They said they wouldn’t have time.)

 

Plusquamperfekt – pluperfect (equals past perfect)

When you wish to talk about the pluperfect in German you have to opt for the Plusquamperfekt, which equals past perfect. Just like in the Perfekt tense, you use the simple past form of the full verb here. In order to adjust the predicate according to person and number you have to conjugate the past form of either the auxiliary verb “haben” (to have), which is “hatte” (had) or “sein” (to be), which is “war” (was).

Some Germans go overboard with grammar and add a “gehabt” (had) to their past perfect statement. No idea where and when this bad habit has emerged. But whenever you hear a German say something like “Ich hatte einen Brief geschrieben gehabt” DO NOT parrot it because literally it means something like: I had had written a letter.

Singular Plural
1st person ich hatte gesagt
(I had said)
wir hatten gesagt
(we had said)
2nd person du hattest gesagt – informal
Sie hatten gesagt – formal
(you had said)
ihr hattet gesagt – informal
Sie hatten gesagt – formal
(you had said)
3rd person er/sie/es hatte gesagt
(he/she/it had said)
sie hatten gesagt
(they had said)

1. Wir hatten dir gesagt, dass wir nicht kommen können.
(We had told you that we couldn’t come.)
2. Er hatte kein Sterbenswort gesagt.
(He hadn’t said a single word.)
3. Du hattest doch gesagt, dass du ihn magst.
(You had said that you like him.)

 

Futur II – future II

Futur II is seldom used in German. Therefore, you don’t need to brood over it so much.

Singular Plural
1st person ich werde gesagt haben
(I will have said)
wir werden gesagt haben
(we will have said)
2nd person du wirst gesagt haben – informal
Sie werden gesagt haben – formal
(you will have said)
ihr werdet gesagt haben – informal
Sie werden gesagt haben – formal
(you will have said)
3rd person er/sie/es wird gesagt haben
(he/she/it will have said)
sie werden gesagt haben
(they will have said)

1. Sie werden es ihm heute in einer Woche gesagt haben.
(They will have told him this day next week.)

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About the Author: Sandra Rösner

Hello everybody! I studied English and American Studies, Communication Science, and Political Science at the University of Greifswald. Since I have been learning English as a second language myself for almost 20 years now I know how difficult it is to learn a language other than your native one. Thus, I am always willing to keep my explanations about German grammar comprehensible and short. Further, I am inclined to encourage you to speak German in every situation. Regards, Sandra


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