Introduction
The verb “sagen” is an essential part of the German language, used to express the act of speaking, stating, or quoting information. It is equivalent to "to say" in English and is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
Conjugation of Sagen
The verb “sagen” is a regular verb, meaning it follows a consistent conjugation pattern in the present tense.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| ich | sage |
| du | sagst |
| er/sie/es | sagt |
| wir | sagen |
| ihr | sagt |
| sie/Sie | sagen |
Examples of Sagen
- Ich sage: „Guten Morgen.“
- I say, “Good morning.”
- Du sagst: „Das ist mein Buch.“
- You say, “This is my book.”
- Er sagt: „Er kommt später.“
- He says, “He is coming later.”
- Wir sagen: „Wir sind bereit.“
- We say, “We are ready.”
- Ihr sagt: „Die Party beginnt um acht.“
- You (all) say, “The party starts at eight.”
- Sie sagen: „Es ist ein schöner Tag.“
- They say, “It is a beautiful day.”
- Sie sagen: „Können Sie mir helfen?“
- You (formal) say, “Can you help me?”
Usage in Context
- Quoting Someone:
- Er sagt, dass er müde ist.
- (He says that he is tired.)
- Making a Statement:
- Ich sage die Wahrheit.
- (I am telling the truth.)
- Reporting Information:
- Sie haben gesagt, dass das Meeting um drei Uhr ist.
- (They said that the meeting is at three o’clock.)
Key Takeaways
- “Sagen” is used when quoting someone or conveying what has been spoken.
- The verb is regularly conjugated, making it easy to learn and apply in various situations.
- It is useful in both direct speech (quoting) and indirect speech (reporting).