The German verb "erkennen" means "to recognize" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "erkennen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "erkennen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | erkenne |
| du | you (informal) | erkennst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | erkennt |
| wir | we | erkennen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | erkennt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | erkennen |
Er erkennt die Wahrheit.
He recognizes the truth.
How to Conjugate "erkennen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | erkannte |
| du | you (informal) | erkanntest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | erkannte |
| wir | we | erkannten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | erkanntet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | erkannten |
Er erkannte den Fehler im Text.
He recognized the error in the text.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe erkannt |
| du | you (informal) | hast erkannt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat erkannt |
| wir | we | haben erkannt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt erkannt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben erkannt |
Er hat den Fehler erkannt.
He has recognized the error.
How to Conjugate "erkennen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte erkannt |
| du | you (informal) | hattest erkannt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte erkannt |
| wir | we | hatten erkannt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet erkannt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten erkannt |
Er hatte den Fehler erkannt.
He had recognized the error.
How to Conjugate "erkennen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde erkennen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst erkennen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird erkennen |
| wir | we | werden erkennen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet erkennen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden erkennen |
Sie wird das Gesicht erkennen.
She will recognize the face.
How to Conjugate "erkennen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | erkenne |
| du | you (informal) | erkennest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | erkenne |
| wir | we | erkennen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | erkennet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | erkennen |
Er sagt, er erkenne die Gefahr.
He says he recognizes the danger.
How to Conjugate "erkennen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | erkennte |
| du | you (informal) | erkenntest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | erkennte |
| wir | we | erkennten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | erkenntet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | erkennten |
Er erkennte die Gefahr sofort.
He would recognize the danger.
Frequently Asked Questions About "erkennen"
Is "erkennen" regular or irregular in German?
"Erkennen" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "erkennen" mean in English?
The German verb "erkennen" means "to recognize" in English.
How do you conjugate "erkennen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → erkenne, du → erkennst, er/sie/es → erkennt, wir → erkennen, ihr → erkennt, sie/Sie → erkennen.
How many tenses does "erkennen" have in German?
"Erkennen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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