{"id":5290,"date":"2014-08-04T17:28:33","date_gmt":"2014-08-04T17:28:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=5290"},"modified":"2014-08-04T13:38:27","modified_gmt":"2014-08-04T13:38:27","slug":"the-conjugation-of-the-german-verb-sagen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/the-conjugation-of-the-german-verb-sagen\/","title":{"rendered":"The conjugation of the German verb \u201csagen\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The word \u201csagen\u201d is one of the most frequent verbs in German. Usually, it either means \u201cto say\u201d or \u201cto tell\u201d in English. In order to form statements (declarative sentences) or commands (imperative sentences) it is necessary to conjugate verbs correctly. So, let\u2019s have a closer look at the verb \u201csagen\u201d and its conjugations of the tenses:<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pr\u00e4sens \u2013 present
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pr\u00e4teritum \u2013 preterit (equals simple past)
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Futur I \u2013 future I
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Perfekt \u2013 perfect
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Plusquamperfekt \u2013 pluperfect (equals past perfect)
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Futur II \u2013 future II<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pr\u00e4sens \u2013 present tense<\/strong><\/h1>\n

In order to form sentences in the Pr\u00e4sens<\/em> tense you have to use the infinitive verb form and attach the appropriate ending according to person and number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich sage<\/strong><\/span>
\n(I say)<\/td>\n		wir sagen<\/strong><\/span>
\n(we say)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu sagst<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 informal
\nSie sagen<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 formal
\n(you say)<\/td>\n		ihr sagt<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 informal
\nSie sagen<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 formal
\n(you say)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es sagt<\/strong><\/span>
\n(he\/she\/it says)<\/td>\n		sie sagen<\/strong><\/span>
\n(they say)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1. Herr M\u00fcller, Sie sagen mir das schon zum dritten Mal.
\n(Herr M\u00fcller, you tell me this for the third time.)<\/span>
\n2. Annika sagt, sie hat den Klempner heute Morgen angerufen.
\n(Annika says that she called the plumber this morning.)<\/span>
\n3. Das sagt mir (\u00fcberhaupt) nichts.
\n(This doesn\u2019t mean anything to me.)<\/span>
\n4. Wir sagen niemals nie.
\n(We never say never.)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Imperativ \u2013 imperative<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Very often we make use of commands or imperative sentences in our speech. For example, when we are cold we might say to somebody \u201cClose the window, please.\u201d We can also address ourselves in our own speech, for example, when we talk to ourselves: \u201cSandra, switch off the TV now!\u201d Or when we speak in first person plural: \u201cLet\u2019s go now!\u201d<\/p>\n

1. Wenn du Anita siehst, sag ihr sie soll mich anrufen.
\n(When you see Anita tell her she should give me a ring.)<\/span>
\n2. Sagen wir es niemanden.
\n(Let\u2019s tell no one.)<\/span>
\n3. Sagt euren Eltern, wir treffen uns morgen.
\n(Tell your parents we will meet tomorrow.)<\/span>
\n4. Sagen Sie mir, was passiert ist!
\n(Tell me what has happened!)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pr\u00e4teritum \u2013 preterit (equals simple past)<\/strong><\/h1>\n

In order to form sentences in the Pr\u00e4teritum<\/em> tense you need the preterit or simple past form of the verb. In our case it is \u201csagte\u201d. According to person and number you have to add the appropriate endings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich sagte<\/span><\/strong>
\n(I said)<\/td>\n		wir sagten<\/span><\/strong>
\n(we said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu sagtest<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 informal
\nSie sagten<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 formal
\n(you said)<\/td>\n		ihr sagtet<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 informal
\nSie sagten<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 formal
\n(you said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es sagte<\/span><\/strong>
\n(he\/she\/it said)<\/td>\n		sie sagten<\/span><\/strong>
\n(they said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1. Ich sagte dir doch, es nicht zu tun.
\n(I told you not to do it.)<\/span>
\n2. Wir sagten auf Wiedersehen und gingen.
\n(We said goodbye and left.)<\/span>
\n3. Er sagte es ihr unter vier Augen.
\n(He told her in confidence.)<\/span>
\n4. Sie sagten es laut und deutlich.
\n(They\/You said it loud and clear.)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Futur I \u2013 future I<\/strong><\/h1>\n

When forming a sentence in Futur I<\/em> you need the auxiliary verb \u201cwerden\u201d (here: to will). On the one hand, \u201cwerden\u201d helps you to point to the future and on the other hand, \u201cwerden\u201d is used for the conjugation. That is, the full verb \u201csagen\u201d is solely used in its infinitive form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich werde sagen
\n(I will say)<\/td>\n		wir werden sagen
\n(we will say)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu wirst sagen \u2013 informal
\nSie werden sagen \u2013 formal
\n(you will say)<\/td>\n		ihr werdet sagen \u2013 informal
\nSie werden sagen \u2013 formal
\n(you will say)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es wird sagen
\n(he\/she\/it will say)<\/td>\n		sie werden sagen
\n(they will say)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1. Ich werde es ihm morgen sagen.
\n(I will tell him tomorrow.)<\/span>
\n2. Er wird sagen, dass es ihm nicht gef\u00e4llt.
\n(He will say that he doesn\u2019t like it.)<\/span>
\n3. Wir werden nichts sagen.
\n(We will say nothing.)<\/span>
\n4. Ihr werdet es ihr bestimmt sagen, wenn sie fragt.
\n(You\u2019ll probably tell her when she asks.)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Perfekt – perfect<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Germans love the Perfekt<\/em> tense and prefer it over the Pr\u00e4teritum<\/em> 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<\/em> tense you have to use either the auxiliary verb \u201chaben\u201d (to have) or \u201csein\u201d (to be). Both verbs are frequently used in German, thus their conjugations are always at hand.
\nFurther, there is always only one form of the full verb. In our case it is \u201cgesagt\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich habe gesagt
\n(I have said)<\/td>\n		wir haben gesagt
\n(we have said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu hast gesagt \u2013 informal
\nSie haben gesagt \u2013 formal
\n(you have said)<\/td>\n		ihr habt gesagt \u2013 informal
\nSie haben gesagt \u2013 formal
\n(you have said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es hat gesagt
\n(he\/she\/it has said)<\/td>\n		sie haben gesagt
\n(they have said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1. Ich habe gesagt, wir k\u00f6nnten ins Kino gehen.
\n(I said we could go to the movies.)<\/span>
\n2. Du hast gesagt, wir treffen uns morgen.
\n(You said we will meet tomorrow.)<\/span>
\n3. Ihr habt es ihnen gesagt, oder?
\n(You told them, didn\u2019t you?)<\/span>
\n4. Sie haben gesagt, sie h\u00e4tten keine Zeit.
\n(They said they wouldn\u2019t have time.)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Plusquamperfekt \u2013 pluperfect (equals past perfect)<\/strong><\/h1>\n

When you wish to talk about the pluperfect in German you have to opt for the Plusquamperfekt<\/em>, which equals past perfect. Just like in the Perfekt<\/em> 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 \u201chaben\u201d (to have), which is \u201chatte\u201d (had) or \u201csein\u201d (to be), which is \u201cwar\u201d (was).<\/p>\n

Some Germans go overboard with grammar and add a \u201cgehabt\u201d (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 \u201cIch hatte einen Brief geschrieben gehabt\u201d DO NOT parrot it because literally it means something like: I had had written a letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich hatte gesagt
\n(I had said)<\/td>\n		wir hatten gesagt
\n(we had said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu hattest gesagt \u2013 informal
\nSie hatten gesagt \u2013 formal
\n(you had said)<\/td>\n		ihr hattet gesagt \u2013 informal
\nSie hatten gesagt \u2013 formal
\n(you had said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es hatte gesagt
\n(he\/she\/it had said)<\/td>\n		sie hatten gesagt
\n(they had said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1. Wir hatten dir gesagt, dass wir nicht kommen k\u00f6nnen.
\n(We had told you that we couldn\u2019t come.)<\/span>
\n2. Er hatte kein Sterbenswort gesagt.
\n(He hadn\u2019t said a single word.)<\/span>
\n3. Du hattest doch gesagt, dass du ihn magst.
\n(You had said that you like him.)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Futur II \u2013 future II<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Futur II<\/em> is seldom used in German. Therefore, you don\u2019t need to brood over it so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/td>\nich werde gesagt haben
\n(I will have said)<\/td>\n		wir werden gesagt haben
\n(we will have said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/td>\ndu wirst gesagt haben \u2013 informal
\nSie werden gesagt haben \u2013 formal
\n(you will have said)<\/td>\n		ihr werdet gesagt haben \u2013 informal
\nSie werden gesagt haben \u2013 formal
\n(you will have said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/td>\ner\/sie\/es wird gesagt haben
\n(he\/she\/it will have said)<\/td>\n		sie werden gesagt haben
\n(they will have said)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1. Sie werden es ihm heute in einer Woche gesagt haben.
\n(They will have told him this day next week.)<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The word \u201csagen\u201d is one of the most frequent verbs in German. Usually, it either means \u201cto say\u201d or \u201cto tell\u201d in English. In order to form statements (declarative sentences) or commands (imperative sentences) it is necessary to conjugate verbs correctly. So, let\u2019s have a closer look at the verb \u201csagen\u201d and its conjugations of…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[11971,8],"tags":[51,111221,166],"class_list":["post-5290","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-grammar-language","category-language","tag-conjugation","tag-sagen","tag-verbs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5290"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5314,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5290\/revisions\/5314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}