lernten

Lernen is a German verb meaning to learn or to study. The form lernten is the simple past (Präteritum) used with plural subjects, and also appears with the formal you in past narrative contexts. It corresponds to sentences like "wir lernten" (we learned) or "sie lernten" (they learned).

Conjugation in the Präteritum (simple past) of lernen includes: ich lernte, du lerntest, er/sie/es lernte, wir lernten, ihr lerntet, sie lernten; with the formal you (Sie) it becomes Sie lernten. The specific form lernten is the 1st person plural and 3rd person plural past, while the 2nd person plural uses lern tet.

Usage and style: lernten is primarily found in written language, narrative prose, and historical or formal contexts. In everyday spoken German, speakers more often use the Perfekt (haben gelernt) to describe past learning experiences, as in "Ich habe Deutsch gelernt." The Präteritum form, including lernten, is common in literature, newspapers, and formal recounting of events.

Etymology and related forms: lernen derives from Old High German lerên and is cognate with Dutch leren and English learn. The verb has historically indicated the act of acquiring knowledge or skills, with related nouns such as Lehre (teaching or lesson) and the noun Lernen (the process of learning).

Examples: Wir lernten viel im Sommer. Sie lernten lesen und schreiben. In einer historischen Erzählung könnte man sagen: Die Kinder lernten geduldig, während der Lehrer den Stoff wiederholte.