---
title: "Present Tense: Stem-Changing Verbs — German grammar A1"
description: "Learn German present-tense stem-changing verbs at A1: lesen, geben, nehmen, fahren, schlafen, laufen, and wissen."
canonical: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/a1/present-tense-stem-changing-verbs"
lang: "en"
learning_language: "de"
cefr_level: "A1"
updated: "2026-07-12"
alternates:
  en: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/a1/present-tense-stem-changing-verbs.md"
  fr: "https://cefra.app/fr/explore/de/grammar/a1/present-tense-stem-changing-verbs.md"
  pl: "https://cefra.app/pl/explore/de/grammar/a1/present-tense-stem-changing-verbs.md"
  ru: "https://cefra.app/ru/explore/de/grammar/a1/present-tense-stem-changing-verbs.md"
---

# Present Tense: Stem-Changing Verbs

[Cefra](https://cefra.app/en.md) › [German](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de.md) › [Grammar](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar.md) › [A1](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/a1.md) › Present Tense: Stem-Changing Verbs

Learn common German verbs that change their stem vowel in the present tense. This A1 topic focuses on du and er/sie/es forms such as du liest, er fährt, sie läuft, plus the special verb wissen.

Last updated: July 12, 2026

## Present tense: stem-changing verbs

Some common German verbs change the vowel in the verb stem in the present tense. For the regular stem-changing pattern, this happens with **du** and **er/sie/es**.

The other forms usually keep the normal stem vowel: **ich lese**, **wir lesen**, **ihr lest**, **sie/Sie lesen**. The verb **wissen** is an exception and is explained separately below.

### e -> i or ie

| Infinitive | du       | er/sie/es |
| ---------- | -------- | --------- |
| geben      | gibst    | gibt      |
| nehmen     | nimmst   | nimmt     |
| lesen      | liest    | liest     |
| sprechen   | sprichst | spricht   |

Examples:

- **Du liest** die Zeitung.
- **Er gibt** mir ein Buch.
- **Sie spricht** Deutsch.

### a -> ä

| Infinitive | du       | er/sie/es |
| ---------- | -------- | --------- |
| fahren     | fährst   | fährt     |
| schlafen   | schläfst | schläft   |

Examples:

- **Fährst** du nach Berlin?
- Das Baby **schläft**.

### au -> äu

| Infinitive | du     | er/sie/es |
| ---------- | ------ | --------- |
| laufen     | läufst | läuft     |

Example:

- Er **läuft** im Park.

### Special verb: wissen

**Wissen** is irregular. Its singular forms are special, including **ich**:

| Person      | Form   |
| ----------- | ------ |
| ich         | weiß   |
| du          | weißt  |
| er/sie/es   | weiß   |
| wir/sie/Sie | wissen |
| ihr         | wisst  |

Examples:

- **Ich weiß** die Adresse.
- **Weißt** du das?

### Word order reminder

In statements and wh-questions, the conjugated verb is in second position:

- Ich **lese** ein Buch.
- Was **liest** du?

In yes/no questions, the conjugated verb is first:

- **Liest** du ein Buch?

Remember: first choose the person, then check whether the verb changes its stem vowel.

## Exercises

[Start practice](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/a1/present-tense-stem-changing-verbs/practice)

1. Which present-tense form fits? Choose the correct answer. (9 tasks)
2. Put the words in the correct order. The conjugated verb is in second position. (8 tasks)
3. Complete the forms. The stem vowel changes only with du and er/sie/es. (1 task)