The German verb "erfinden" means "to invent" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "erfinden" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "erfinden" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | erfinde |
| du | you (informal) | erfindest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | erfindet |
| wir | we | erfinden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | erfindet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | erfinden |
Er erfindet ein neues Spiel.
He invents a new game.
How to Conjugate "erfinden" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | erfand |
| du | you (informal) | erfandst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | erfand |
| wir | we | erfanden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | erfandet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | erfanden |
Er erfand das Telefon im Labor.
He invented the telephone in the lab.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe erfunden |
| du | you (informal) | hast erfunden |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat erfunden |
| wir | we | haben erfunden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt erfunden |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben erfunden |
Er hat eine Maschine erfunden.
He has invented a machine.
How to Conjugate "erfinden" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte erfunden |
| du | you (informal) | hattest erfunden |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte erfunden |
| wir | we | hatten erfunden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet erfunden |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten erfunden |
Er hatte das Telefon erfunden.
He had invented the telephone.
How to Conjugate "erfinden" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde erfinden |
| du | you (informal) | wirst erfinden |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird erfinden |
| wir | we | werden erfinden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet erfinden |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden erfinden |
Er wird ein Gerät erfinden.
He will invent a device.
How to Conjugate "erfinden" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | erfinde |
| du | you (informal) | erfindest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | erfinde |
| wir | we | erfinden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | erfindet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | erfinden |
Er erfinde etwas Neues.
He may invent something new.
How to Conjugate "erfinden" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | erfände |
| du | you (informal) | erfändest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | erfände |
| wir | we | erfänden |
| ihr | you all (informal) | erfändet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | erfänden |
Er erfände eine tolle Lösung.
He would invent a great solution.
Frequently Asked Questions About "erfinden"
Is "erfinden" regular or irregular in German?
"Erfinden" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "erfinden" mean in English?
The German verb "erfinden" means "to invent" in English.
How do you conjugate "erfinden" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → erfinde, du → erfindest, er/sie/es → erfindet, wir → erfinden, ihr → erfindet, sie/Sie → erfinden.
How many tenses does "erfinden" have in German?
"Erfinden" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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