haben
to have
The second most important German verb. Expresses possession and is the main Perfekt auxiliary for most verbs.
Conjugation
Present Tense (Präsens)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | habe |
| du | hast |
| er/sie/es | hat |
| wir | haben |
| ihr | habt |
| sie/Sie | haben |
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | hatte |
| du | hattest |
| er/sie/es | hatte |
| wir | hatten |
| ihr | hattet |
| sie/Sie | hatten |
Perfect (Perfekt)
| Auxiliary | Partizip II |
|---|---|
| haben | gehabt |
z.B.: Ich habe gehabt
Imperative (Imperativ)
| du | ihr | Sie |
|---|---|---|
| hab(e) | habt | haben Sie |
Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | hätte |
| du | hättest |
| er/sie/es | hätte |
| wir | hätten |
| ihr | hättet |
| sie/Sie | hätten |
Example Sentences
Ich habe zwei Kinder.
I have two children.
Hast du Hunger?
Are you hungry?
Ich habe gestern viel gelernt.
I learned a lot yesterday.
Usage Tips
'haben' is the default Perfekt auxiliary. Use 'sein' only for motion/state-change verbs.
Note the irregular forms: ich habe, du hast, er hat — the 'b' disappears in du/er forms.
Common Mistakes
Confusing 'haben' and 'sein' in Perfekt: 'Ich habe gefahren'
Related Verbs
Related Grammar
Explore More
Helpful tools for anyone learning German. No signup required.
92 grammar topics organized by CEFR level, from A1 beginner to C1 advanced. Each topic includes examples, common mistakes, and learning tips.
See how de-de works alongside popular German learning tools.
Master German sounds with IPA guides and practice tips.
German courses tailored to your goals.
10 daily news from Germany, adapted to your language level
Ready to speak German?
Start your AI-powered German course today. No subscription — just your OpenAI API key (~$0.50/week).