verbformen

Verbformen denotes the various grammatical forms that verbs can take to express time, person, number, mood, voice, aspect, and related meanings. In many languages, including German, verbs are inflected; forms are typically divided into finite and non-finite.

Finite verbforms carry information about the subject and the time of the action. They occur in tenses such as Präsens, Präteritum, Perfekt, Plusquamperfekt, Futur I and Futur II; moods such as Indikativ, Konjunktiv I and II, and Imperativ; and voices, primarily Aktiv and Passiv. They also show person (1., 2., 3.) and number (singular, plural). The choice of finite form determines who performs the action and when.

Non-finite verbforms do not show a specific subject or time on their own. They include the Infinitiv (gehen), the Partizip Präsens (gehend) and the Partizip Perfekt (gegangen). These forms are used in infinitive clauses, perfect tenses, and as adjectives or in compound verbal constructions.

Regular (schwach) verbs follow predictable conjugation patterns, while irregular (unregelmäßige) verbs replace or alter basic patterns (sein, gehen, haben). Mixed verbs combine elements of both. Auxiliary verbs (haben, sein) help form compound tenses; modal verbs convey necessity, possibility, or obligation and often interact with the infinitive of the main verb.

In summary, verbformen encode essential grammatical information and vary across languages in their exact paradigms, but the distinction between finite and non-finite forms and the categories of tense, mood, voice, and aspect are common organizing principles.