German Strong Verbs - Tables & Tests in 3 Tenses

GERMAN STRONG VERBS - TABLES & TESTS IN 3 TENSES contains 12 tables of 186 strong verbs in the present, imperfect and perfect tenses, and 4 test sheets for students aged 16 - 18 years and adults, followed by an answer key.

Each table is coloured and categorised according to similar vowel changes in the third person singular of verb stems (in bold) in each tense, for example:

in the dark blue table, ä in the present tense changes to i in the imperfect tense and a in the past participle; in the orange table,*** ie in the present tense changes to a in the imperfect tense and o in the past participle. In the dark green table, ei in the present tense changes to ie in the imperfect tense and in the past participle, and in the grey table,**** ie**** in the present tense changes to o in the imperfect tense and in the participle.

USES: This no-prep product can be printed and distributed to students to show them the variety of similar patterns in vowel changes all grouped together in single tables. Recognising similar patterns in each table will help students memorise the verbs more easily in each tense. The tables can then be used as study material for upcoming class tests or assessments (oral and written). The test sheets (which involve testing students’ knowledge of each verb in all 3 tenses in the third person singular form) could be used randomly by the teacher at different stages during a school year as class tests. The product could also be used as an independent work packet for students who are eager to study and test themselves on all 186 verbs.

Students could also display the tables on a study board at home and/or the tables could be displayed on the classroom wall.

I use these tables frequently to test students’ knowledge (oral and written) of these commonly used German irregular verbs. The result is an overall improvement in reading, listening and oral language skills.