brauchen
to need
A regular verb meaning 'to need'. In spoken German, often used like a modal verb with 'nicht...zu': 'Du brauchst nicht zu kommen' (You don't need to come). Very useful for everyday situations.
Conjugation
Present Tense (Präsens)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | brauche |
| du | brauchst |
| er/sie/es | braucht |
| wir | brauchen |
| ihr | braucht |
| sie/Sie | brauchen |
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | brauchte |
| du | brauchtest |
| er/sie/es | brauchte |
| wir | brauchten |
| ihr | brauchtet |
| sie/Sie | brauchten |
Perfect (Perfekt)
| Auxiliary | Partizip II |
|---|---|
| haben | gebraucht |
z.B.: Ich habe gebraucht
Imperative (Imperativ)
| du | ihr | Sie |
|---|---|---|
| brauch(e) | braucht | brauchen Sie |
Example Sentences
Ich brauche deine Hilfe.
I need your help.
Du brauchst dir keine Sorgen zu machen.
You don't need to worry.
Usage Tips
In spoken German, 'brauchen' + 'nicht' + 'zu' replaces 'nicht müssen': 'Du brauchst nicht zu warten' = 'Du musst nicht warten' (You don't have to wait). Some speakers even drop the 'zu'.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting 'zu' with brauchen: 'Du brauchst nicht kommen'
Related Verbs
Related Grammar
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