The German verb "scheinen" means "to seem, to shine" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "scheinen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "scheinen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | scheine |
| du | you (informal) | scheinst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | scheint |
| wir | we | scheinen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | scheint |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | scheinen |
Die Sonne scheint hell am Himmel.
The sun is shining brightly in the sky.
How to Conjugate "scheinen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | schien |
| du | you (informal) | schienst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | schien |
| wir | we | schienen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | schient |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | schienen |
Die Sonne schien den ganzen Tag.
The sun shone all day.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe geschienen |
| du | you (informal) | hast geschienen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat geschienen |
| wir | we | haben geschienen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt geschienen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben geschienen |
Der Mond hat geschienen.
The moon has shone.
How to Conjugate "scheinen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte geschienen |
| du | you (informal) | hattest geschienen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte geschienen |
| wir | we | hatten geschienen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet geschienen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten geschienen |
Es hatte hell geschienen.
It had shone brightly.
How to Conjugate "scheinen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde scheinen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst scheinen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird scheinen |
| wir | we | werden scheinen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet scheinen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden scheinen |
Es wird einfach scheinen.
It will seem simple.
How to Conjugate "scheinen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | scheine |
| du | you (informal) | scheinest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | scheine |
| wir | we | scheinen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | scheinet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | scheinen |
Er sagt, er scheine müde.
He says he seems tired.
How to Conjugate "scheinen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | schiene |
| du | you (informal) | schienest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | schiene |
| wir | we | schienen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | schienet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | schienen |
Er schiene sehr nett.
He would seem very nice.
Frequently Asked Questions About "scheinen"
Is "scheinen" regular or irregular in German?
"Scheinen" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "scheinen" mean in English?
The German verb "scheinen" means "to seem, to shine" in English.
How do you conjugate "scheinen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → scheine, du → scheinst, er/sie/es → scheint, wir → scheinen, ihr → scheint, sie/Sie → scheinen.
How many tenses does "scheinen" have in German?
"Scheinen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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