Hauptverbs

In German grammar, Hauptverben (main verbs) are the verbs that carry the core semantic content of a verb phrase. They contrast with auxiliary verbs (Hilfsverben) such as haben and sein, or with modal verbs, which provide tense, mood, or aspect rather than lexical meaning.

Hauptverben are finite in main clauses, agreeing with person and number and signaling tense and mood. In standard main clauses German places the finite verb in second position (V2). In subordinate clauses the finite verb is moved to the end of the clause. When a Hauptverb combines with an auxiliary to form compound tenses, the main verb appears with its participle (Partizip II) while the auxiliary carries the finite information. In modal constructions the main verb often remains in the infinitive, as in Ich muss gehen. In perfect tense with a modal, the auxiliary is used with the main verb in the infinitive (Ich habe gehen müssen).

Many Hauptverben take prefixes that can be separable or inseparable. Separable-prefix verbs pull the prefix into sentence-final position in the finite clause: Ich rufe dich später an. Inseparable-prefix verbs keep the prefix with the stem, as in verstehen or verziehen. Prefixes can alter meaning and interact with word order rules.

Verbs vary by transitivity (transitive vs intransitive) and by regularity (weak/strong/mixed). Regular Hauptverben form their past tenses with -te/-ten endings, while strong verbs often show vowel changes in tenses. The Hauptverb is the nucleus of the verb phrase, but its auxiliaries, prefixes, andStem changes determine the full syntax and meaning.