Before you start
Meet lesen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 3 meanings
- (transitive or intransitive) to read (to look at and understand symbols, words, or data)
- (reflexive) to read (to give off a certain impression while being read; of a text)
- (transitive) to select and gather or harvest (grapes, etc.)
Forms
How lesen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | lese | las |
| du | liest | last |
| er/sie/es | liest | las |
| wir | lesen | lasen |
| ihr | lest | last |
| Sie | lesen | lasen |
Partizip II gelesen · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich lese jeden Abend ein Buch.I read a book every evening.present main clause
- 2Wir haben die Nachricht gelesen.We read the message.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich muss heute lesen.I have to read today.with modal verb
Verb family
Separable verbs built on lesen
Add a prefix to lesen and the meaning changes.