sagen
to say/tell
A regular verb meaning 'to say' or 'to tell'. One of the most common communication verbs. Often used in reported speech: 'Er sagt, dass...' (He says that...).
Conjugation
Present Tense (Präsens)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | sage |
| du | sagst |
| er/sie/es | sagt |
| wir | sagen |
| ihr | sagt |
| sie/Sie | sagen |
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Pronomen | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | sagte |
| du | sagtest |
| er/sie/es | sagte |
| wir | sagten |
| ihr | sagtet |
| sie/Sie | sagten |
Perfect (Perfekt)
| Auxiliary | Partizip II |
|---|---|
| haben | gesagt |
z.B.: Ich habe gesagt
Imperative (Imperativ)
| du | ihr | Sie |
|---|---|---|
| sag(e) | sagt | sagen Sie |
Example Sentences
Was hast du gesagt?
What did you say?
Sag mir bitte die Wahrheit.
Please tell me the truth.
Man sagt, dass Deutsch schwer ist.
They say that German is difficult.
Usage Tips
Don't confuse 'sagen' (to say/tell) with 'sprechen' (to speak) or 'reden' (to talk). 'sagen' focuses on the content of what is said, while 'sprechen' is about the act of speaking.
Common Mistakes
Using 'sprechen' when 'sagen' is needed: 'Er spricht, dass er kommt'
Related Verbs
Related Grammar
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