Kommen: The German Verb for Movement
Introduction
The verb kommen is essential in German for expressing movement towards a location. It is equivalent to the English verb "to come" and is used in contexts where someone or something is approaching or arriving at a place.
Conjugation of "Kommen"
| Person | Present | Past | Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | komme | kam | bin gekommen |
| Du | kommst | kamst | bist gekommen |
| Er/Sie/Es | kommt | kam | ist gekommen |
| Wir | kommen | kamen | sind gekommen |
| Ihr | kommt | kamt | seid gekommen |
| Sie/sie | kommen | kamen | sind gekommen |
Examples
- Ich komme nach Hause.
- I am coming home.
- Du kommst zur Party.
- You are coming to the party.
- Er kommt aus Deutschland.
- He comes from Germany.
- Wir kommen morgen.
- We are coming tomorrow.
- Ihr kommt spät.
- You (all) are coming late.
- Sie kommen mit uns.
- They are coming with us.
Key Usage
- Direction: "Kommen" is used to indicate movement toward a specific place or person.
- Beispiel: Ich komme zur Schule. (I am coming to school.)
- Origin: It can also denote where someone originates from.
- Beispiel: Sie kommt aus Kanada. (She comes from Canada.)
- Arrival: Emphasizes arrival at a destination.
- Beispiel: Wir sind gekommen. (We have arrived.)
Common Phrases
- Kommst du mit?
- Are you coming along?
- Wann kommst du?
- When are you coming?
- Er kommt gleich.
- He is coming soon.
- Kommen Sie herein!
- Please come in!
- Ich komme nicht.
- I’m not coming.
Related Vocabulary
- ankommen – to arrive
- mitkommen – to come along
- zurückkommen – to come back
- herkommen – to come here
- hinkommen – to get to (a place)
Conclusion
The verb kommen is a fundamental part of expressing movement and arrival in German. Whether you're talking about going to a friend's house, arriving at an event, or describing where you originate from, "kommen" helps convey the idea of coming to a place.