A verb in the simple past indicates that the action took place in the past. You already know the simple past of the verb sein. The verb haben is also often used in the simple past, e.g. when explaining why you arrived late:
Tut mir leid, mein Auto hatte eine Panne.
Tut mir leid, der Bus hatte Verspätung.
Below is another overview of the present:
Mein Auto hat (jetzt) eine Panne.
| Singular | |
| 1st person | ich habe |
| 2nd person | du hast |
| 3rd person | er/sie/es hat |
| Plural | |
| 1st person | wir haben |
| 2nd person | ihr habt |
| 3rd person | sie haben |
| Formal | Sie haben |
The simple past is formed like this:
Mein Auto hatte (gestern) eine Panne.
| Singular | |
| 1st person | ich hatte |
| 2nd person | du hattest |
| 3rd person | er/sie/es hatte |
| Plural | |
| 1st person | wir hatten |
| 2nd person | ihr hattet |
| 3rd person | sie hatten |
| Formal | Sie hatten |
|
Grammatical terms in German: das Präsens: The present is a verb tense. It is used when we are talking about events, activities or situations that take place in the present or are ongoing. das Präteritum: The simple past is a verb tense. It is used mainly in written language to describe events, activities or situations that took place in the past. Certain verbs, e.g. haben are also used in the simple past in spoken language. |