German A1: Verben mit Vokalwechsel (verbs with vowel change). These common verbs change their stem vowel in the du and er/sie/es forms — for example, lesen becomes du liest, er liest. The change only affects the second and third person singular; the plural forms follow the regular pattern.
Type the correct conjugated form of the verb shown in each section header.
lesen (e → ie)
sprechen (e → i)
laufen (a → ä)
waschen (a → ä)
helfen (e → i)
treffen (e → i)
How do vowel-changing verbs work in German?
In German, many strong verbs change their stem vowel in the du and er/sie/es forms of the present tense. The pattern does not affect ich, wir, ihr, or sie (plural).
Vowel-change patterns
| Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|
| e → i | sprechen → du sprichst, er spricht helfen → du hilfst, er hilft treffen → du triffst, er trifft |
| e → ie | lesen → du liest, er liest |
| a → ä | waschen → du wäschst, er wäscht laufen → du läufst, er läuft |
Mastered vowel-changing verbs? Try more free A1 German exercises or get 1-on-1 coaching with a private German tutor in Munich.
