Forming the past participle

In brief

The German past participle (Partizip II) is a verb form used to talk about completed actions. Its ending depends on the verb: regular verbs usually end in -t, while many irregular verbs end in -en. Some irregular verbs also change their stem vowel. Learn common irregular forms with the verb, just as you learn English forms like write–written.

Form

Regular: ge- + stem + -t (machen → gemacht). Many irregular verbs: ge- + often changed stem + -en (schreiben → geschrieben). Mixed verbs have a stem change but end in -t (bringen → gebracht). Verbs ending in -ieren have no ge- (telefonieren → telefoniert).

Usage

• Use the participle to describe a completed action: Ich habe gekocht.
• In a main clause with habe or hat, the participle usually comes at the end.

Examples

• Ich habe gestern gekocht. — I cooked yesterday.
• Er hat einen Brief geschrieben. — He wrote a letter.
• Wir haben Kaffee mitgebracht. — We brought coffee.
• Sie hat mit ihrer Mutter telefoniert. — She talked to her mother on the phone.

Common mistake

❌ Ich habe einen Brief geschreibt.

✅ Ich habe einen Brief geschrieben.

The irregular verb schreiben forms its past participle with a changed stem and -en: geschrieben, not geschreibt.

Remember

Many participles begin with ge-, but verbs ending in -ieren do not.