Schreiben (To Write) German Verb Conjugations

Tenses of the German Verb Schreiben

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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 October 2, 2022).