Schreiben (To Write) German Verb Conjugations

Tenses of the German Verb Schreiben

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By
Hyde Flippo
Hyde Flippo
German Expert
Hyde Flippo taught the German language for 28 years at high school and college levels and published several books on the German language and culture.
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Updated on February 24, 2020

The German verb schreiben is a strong (irregular) verb meaning "to write." It also means to type and to spell. If you are taking a German class, you will soon be introduced to it complete your assignments.

In addition, schreiben can take on several meanings in idiomatic expressions. For instance, schreiben can be used to say "it is the year...," as in Wir schreiben das Jahr 1550. ("We are in/It is the year 1550."). See other idiomatic examples in the conjugation chart below. 

Because schreiben is an irregular verb, you will need to memorize how to conjugate all of the tenses for it as it doesn't follow a strict rule as would a regular verb. Here is how the German verb schreiben is conjugated in for present tense, simple past tense, compound past tense, and past perfect tense, both singular and plural.

How to Conjugate Schreiben

Principal Parts: schreiben • schrieb • geschrieben
Imperative (Commands): (du) Schreib(e)! | (ihr) Schreibt! | Schreiben Sie!  

Schreiben - Present Tense - Präsens

Deutsch English
ich schreibe I write
I am writing
du schreibst you write
you are writing
er schreibt

sie schreibt

es schreibt		 he writes
he is writing
she writes
she is writing
it writes
it is writing
wir schreiben we write
we are writing
ihr schreibt you (guys) write
you (guys) are writing
sie schreiben they write
they are writing
Sie schreiben you write
you are writing

Idiomatic Examples for Schreiben

Wir schreiben das Jahr 1550. It is the year 1550.
Sage und schreibe! Believe it or not!
Wie schreibt sich das? How is that spelled?
Schreiben Sie sich das hinter die Ohren! Take that to heart!

Schreiben - Simple Past Tense - Imperfekt

Deutsch English
ich schrieb I wrote
du schriebst you wrote
er schrieb
sie schrieb
es schrieb		 he wrote
she wrote
it wrote
wir schrieben we wrote
ihr schriebt you (guys) wrote
sie schrieben they wrote
Sie schrieben you wrote

Schreiben - Compound Past Tense (Present Perfect) -  Perfekt

Deutsch English
ich habe geschrieben I have written
I wrote
du hast geschrieben you have written
you wrote
er hat geschrieben

sie hat geschrieben

es hat geschrieben		 he has written
he wrote
she has written
she wrote
it has written
it wrote
wir haben geschrieben we have written
we wrote
ihr habt geschrieben you (guys) have written
you wrote
sie haben geschrieben they have written
they wrote
Sie haben geschrieben you have written
you wrote

Schreiben - Past Perfect Tense - Plusquamperfekt

Deutsch English
ich hatte geschrieben I had written
du hattest geschrieben you had written
er hatte geschrieben
sie hatte geschrieben
es hatte geschrieben		 he had written
she had written
it had written
wir hatten geschrieben we had written
ihr hattet geschrieben you (guys) had written
sie hatten geschrieben they had written
Sie hatten geschrieben you had written
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Flippo, Hyde. "Schreiben (To Write) German Verb Conjugations." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/german-verb-conjugations-schreiben-to-write-4070792. Flippo, Hyde. (2020, August 27). Schreiben (To Write) German Verb Conjugations. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/german-verb-conjugations-schreiben-to-write-4070792 Flippo, Hyde. "Schreiben (To Write) German Verb Conjugations." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/german-verb-conjugations-schreiben-to-write-4070792 (accessed May 17, 2022).