The verb haben
A1 · Beginner · Basics
The rule
ich habe, du hast, er hat, wir haben, ihr habt, sie haben.
How it works
Haben (to have) expresses possession, age, feelings such as Hunger and Durst, and it is the auxiliary of most perfect tenses. Its present forms are habe, hast, hat, haben, habt, haben. Haben is the default helper verb in the perfect tense, so mastering it also unlocks the past tense.
When to use it
Use haben (to have) for possession and as the auxiliary for many past tense forms.
Use cases
- Expressing possession and family: Ich habe zwei Kinder
- Describing feelings: Er hat Angst
- Forming the perfect: Wir haben gegessen
Examples
- Wir haben Hunger – We are hungry
- Hast du einen Bruder? – Do you have a brother?
- Ich habe heute keine Zeit. – I have no time today.
- Sie hat Hunger. – She is hungry.
Common mistake
Using the wrong ending in "du hast" or "er hat", which look similar.
Memory tip
Haben is irregular in the du, er and ihr forms: hast, hat and habt. The ich, wir and sie forms are regular.