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bekommen das präteritum ?

# Mastering the Präteritum: Essential Tips for German Verb Conjugation

Welcome to another insightful blog post, where we’ll delve into the world of German grammar. Today, we’re going to focus on the **Präteritum** (past tense) of the German verb “bekommen” (to receive). But before we jump into the specifics, let’s make sure we understand the basics of the Präteritum.

### What is the Präteritum?

The **Präteritum** is one of the past tenses in German, used primarily in written language such as books, newspapers, and formal documents. It differs from the **Perfekt** (perfect tense), which is commonly used in spoken German and often emphasized more in these contexts.

### Conjugation of “bekommen” in Präteritum

Let’s break down the Präteritum forms of “bekommen” (to receive):

– **ich bekam** (I received)
– **du bekamst** (you received)
– **er/sie/es bekam** (he/she/it received)
– **wir bekamen** (we received)
– **ihr bekamt** (you all received)
– **Sie bekamen** (they/you all received)

### Example Sentences

To give you a better understanding, here are some example sentences using “bekommen” in the Präteritum:

– Ich bekam ein Geschenk. (I received a gift.)
– Du bekamst einen Anruf. (You received a call.)
– Er bekam einen Brief. (He received a letter.)
– Wir bekamen Bescheid. (We received notice.)
– Ihr bekommen gute Noten. (You all got good grades.)
– Sie bekamen Hilfe. (They received help.)

### Comparing Präteritum and Perfekt

One noticeable difference between Präteritum and Perfekt is the use of auxiliary verbs. In German, the Perfekt uses “haben” (to have) and “sein” (to be), while Präteritum stands alone.

#### Example in Perfekt:
– Ich habe ein Geschenk bekommen. (I received a gift.)

#### Example in Präteritum:
– Ich bekam ein Geschenk. (I received a gift.)

### Special Cases

Some verbs have irregular conjugations in Präteritum, and “bekommen” is one such verb. It does not change its stem for all persons, but the endings change:

– **ich bekam**
– **du bekamst**
– **er/sie/es bekam**
– **wir bekamen**
– **ihr bekamt**
– **Sie bekamen**

### Additional Resources

If you’re looking to dive deeper, here are some useful resources:

1. **Reverso – Konjugation bekommen**: [Reverso Konjugation](https://konjugator.reverso.net/konjugation-deutsch-verb-bekommen.html)
2. **Verbformen.de – Konjugation bekommen**: [Verbformen Konjugation](https://www.verbformen.de/konjugation/bekommen.htm)
3. **Die Konjugation – Verb bekommen**: [Die Konjugation](https://www.die-konjugation.de/verb/bekommen.php)

### Conclusion

Mastering the Präteritum of German verbs can be challenging, but understanding the basics and practicing with examples can make it much easier. The verb “bekommen” is a great starting point due to its frequent use and recognizable patterns. Keep practicing, and you’ll be a pro in no time!