German Example Sentences with 24 of the Most-Used Verbs

Learn German for Beginners Complete A1 German Course with Herr Antrim

Learn how to use 24 verbs in German in the present tense with this example filled skit. This lesson uses examples with “Was macht er?” to teach this vocabulary. It includes the following verbs: spielen, gehen, bleiben, warten, suchen, finden, arbeiten, lernen, bekommen, liegen, legen, sitzen, setzen, stehen, stellen, zeigen, denken, sprechen, erzählen, reden, schreiben, schließen, and öffnen. These are some of the most commonly used verbs in the German language.

This lesson is a part of Herr Antrim’s new e-book “Beginner German with Herr Antrim“. Within the e-book, this lesson includes a worksheet and answer key to practice the skills you are about to learn. You will also get access to online flashcards and a whole lot more. Find out more about the e-book here.

spielen – to play

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er spielt Basketball.
He is playing basketball.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie spielt Fußball.
She is playing football/soccer.

gehen – to go

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er geht nach Hause.
He is going home.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie geht ins Kino.
She is going to the movies (movie theater).

bringen – to bring

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er bringt eine Pizza.
He is bringing a pizza.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie bringt einen Hamburger.
She is bringing a hamburger.

bleiben – to stay

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er bleibt zu Hause.
He is staying at home.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie bleibt in der Schule.
She is staying in the school (at school).

warten – to wait

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er wartet auf den Bus.
He is waiting on (for) the bus.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie wartet auf den Zug.
She is waiting on (for) the train.

suchen – to search, look (for)

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er sucht nach seinem Schlüssel.
He is looking for his key.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie sucht nach Schokolade.
She is looking for chocolate.

finden – to find

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er findet seinen Schlüssel.
He is finding his key.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie findet Schokolade.
She is finding chocolate.

arbeiten – to work

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er arbeitet als Lehrer.
He works as a teacher.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie arbeitet als Architektin.
She is working as an architect.

lernen – to learn, study (for a quiz or test)

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er lernt für eine Prüfung.
He is studying for a test.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie lernt für ein Quiz.
She is studying for a quiz.

bekommen – to receive, get

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er bekommt ein Eis.
He is getting an ice cream.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie bekommt einen Preis.
She is receiving a prize.

liegen – to lie

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er liegt auf dem Sofa.
He is lying on the sofa.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie liegt auf dem Boden.
She is lying on the floor.

legen – to lay

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er legt das Papier auf den Tisch.
He is laying the paper onto the table.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie legt den Bleistift auf den Stuhl.
She is laying the pencil onto the chair.

sitzen – to sit

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er sitzt auf dem Sessel.
He is sitting on the armchair.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie sitzt auf dem Hocker.
She is sitting on the stool.

setzen – to set

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er setzt die Puppe in den Hochstuhl.
He is setting the doll into the highchair.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie setzt sich auf das Sofa.
She is setting herself down onto the sofa.

stehen – to stand

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er steht in der Küche.
He is standing in the kitchen.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie steht im Wohnzimmer.
She is standing in the living room.

stellen – to put, place

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er stellt die Tasse auf den Tisch.
He is putting the cup onto the table.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie stellt das Glas auf den Tisch.
She is putting the glass onto the table.

zeigen – to show, point

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er zeigt uns ein Foto.
He is showing us a photo.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie zeigt auf ihre Haare.
She points to her hair.

denken – to think

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er denkt über Essen.
He thinks about food.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie denkt über Politik.
She thinks about politics.

sprechen – to speak

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er spricht zu viel.
He talks too much. (He is talking too much.)

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie spricht nicht.
She doesn’t talk. (She isn’t talking.)

erzählen – to tell (a story)

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er erzählt eine Geschichte.
He tells a story.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie erzählt ein Märchen.
She tells a fairytale.

reden – to talk

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er redet mit sich selbst.
He talks with himself.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie redet mit Freunden.
She talks with friends.

schreiben – to write

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er schreibt einen Brief.
He is writing a letter.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie schreibt eine E-Mail.
She is writing an email.

öffnen – to open

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er öffnet die Tür.
He is opening the door.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie öffnet das Fenster.
She is opening the window.

schließen – to close

Was macht er?
What is he doing?

Er schließt die Tür.
He is closing the door.

Was macht sie?
What is she doing?

Sie schließt das Fenster.
She is closing the window.

Beginner German with Herr Antrim

Herr Antrim’s new e-book “Beginner German with Herr Antrim“ is your guide to having your first conversation in German. Within the e-book, each lesson includes a worksheet and answer key to practice the skills in that lesson. You will also get access to online flashcards and a whole lot more. Find out more about the e-book here.