The German verb "beginnen" means "to begin" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "beginnen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "beginnen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | beginne |
| du | you (informal) | beginnst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | beginnt |
| wir | we | beginnen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | beginnt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | beginnen |
Er beginnt die Arbeit um acht.
He starts work at eight.
How to Conjugate "beginnen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | begann |
| du | you (informal) | begannst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | begann |
| wir | we | begannen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | begannt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | begannen |
Er begann eine neue Arbeit heute.
He began a new job today.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe begonnen |
| du | you (informal) | hast begonnen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat begonnen |
| wir | we | haben begonnen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt begonnen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben begonnen |
Er hat das Buch begonnen.
He began the book.
How to Conjugate "beginnen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte begonnen |
| du | you (informal) | hattest begonnen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte begonnen |
| wir | we | hatten begonnen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet begonnen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten begonnen |
Es hatte zu regnen begonnen.
It had begun to rain.
How to Conjugate "beginnen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde beginnen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst beginnen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird beginnen |
| wir | we | werden beginnen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet beginnen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden beginnen |
Er wird die Arbeit beginnen.
He will begin the work.
How to Conjugate "beginnen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | beginne |
| du | you (informal) | beginnest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | beginne |
| wir | we | beginnen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | beginnet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | beginnen |
Er sagt, er beginne das Spiel.
He says he begins the game.
How to Conjugate "beginnen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | begänne |
| du | you (informal) | begännest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | begänne |
| wir | we | begännen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | begännet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | begännen |
Er begänne morgen gern.
He would like to begin tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions About "beginnen"
Is "beginnen" regular or irregular in German?
"Beginnen" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "beginnen" mean in English?
The German verb "beginnen" means "to begin" in English.
How do you conjugate "beginnen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → beginne, du → beginnst, er/sie/es → beginnt, wir → beginnen, ihr → beginnt, sie/Sie → beginnen.
How many tenses does "beginnen" have in German?
"Beginnen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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