Schreiben (To Write) German Verb Conjugations

Tenses of the German Verb Schreiben

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By
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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    Hyde Flippo
    Updated 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