Perfekttempus

Perfekttempus, or the perfect tense, is a past tense category used to describe actions that have been completed and often retain relevance to the present. In Germanic grammar, the perfekttempus is typically realized as a compound tense formed with an auxiliary verb (haben or sein) in the present tense plus the past participle of the main verb. The term reflects its function in describing completed events, rather than a single fixed form.

Formation: The most common pattern is haben + past participle (for example, Ich habe gegessen) or sein + past participle for a selected set of intransitive verbs of movement or change of state (for example, Er ist gegangen). Some verbs have irregular participles (gefahren, gegessen). Separable-prefix verbs form a single participle (aufgestanden), with word order adjustments in the clause. In questions, the auxiliary appears in the appropriate position as in statements.

Usage: The perfekttempus contrasts with the Präteritum (simple past), which is typically used for past narration in written German. In everyday spoken German, the Perfekt is the default past tense for past events, while Präteritum remains common in formal writing and literary narration. Regional and stylistic variation influences tense choice, with preferences differing by region and register.

Cross-linguistic perspective: The concept is parallel to the present perfect in English and the French passé composé, both of which combine an auxiliary with a past participle to express past actions with present relevance. In many languages, the terminology and exact use of the equivalent tense differ.

Examples: Ich habe das Buch gelesen. Er ist nach Hause gegangen. Wir haben lange gewartet.