Languages › German Schreiben (To Write) German Verb Conjugations Tenses of the German Verb Schreiben Share Flipboard Email Print ML Harris / Getty Images German Grammar History & Culture Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary 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. our editorial process 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 • geschriebenImperative (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 schreibtsie schreibtes 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 schriebsie schriebes 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 geschriebensie hat geschriebenes 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 geschriebensie hatte geschriebenes 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 Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation 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 August 4, 2021). copy citation