German Verb Conjugation: Reden (to Speak)20

Introduction

Reden is a highly irregular verb in German, meaning "to speak." It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts and has a variety of forms depending on the tense, mood, and voice. Understanding the conjugation of reden is essential for effective communication in German.

Present Tense
ich rede (I speak)
du redest (you speak)
er/sie/es redet (he/she/it speaks)
wir reden (we speak)
ihr redet (you speak)
sie/Sie reden (they speak)

Past Tense
ich redete (I spoke)
du redetest (you spoke)
er/sie/es redete (he/she/it spoke)
wir redeten (we spoke)
ihr redetet (you spoke)
sie/Sie redeten (they spoke)

Perfect Tense
ich habe geredet (I have spoken)
du hast geredet (you have spoken)
er/sie/es hat geredet (he/she/it has spoken)
wir haben geredet (we have spoken)
ihr habt geredet (you have spoken)
sie/Sie haben geredet (they have spoken)

Pluperfect Tense
ich hatte geredet (I had spoken)
du hattest geredet (you had spoken)
er/sie/es hatte geredet (he/she/it had spoken)
wir hatten geredet (we had spoken)
ihr hattet geredet (you had spoken)
sie/Sie hatten geredet (they had spoken)

Future Tense
ich werde reden (I will speak)
du wirst reden (you will speak)
er/sie/es wird reden (he/she/it will speak)
wir werden reden (we will speak)
ihr werdet reden (you will speak)
sie/Sie werden reden (they will speak)

Conditional Tense
ich würde reden (I would speak)
du würdest reden (you would speak)
er/sie/es würde reden (he/she/it would speak)
wir würden reden (we would speak)
ihr würdet reden (you would speak)
sie/Sie würden reden (they would speak)

Subjunctive Mood
ich rede (that I speak)
du redest (that you speak)
er/sie/es rede (that he/she/it speaks)
wir reden (that we speak)
ihr redet (that you speak)
sie/Sie reden (that they speak)

Imperative Mood
rede (speak)
redet (speak)

Passive Voice

To form the passive voice, use the auxiliary verb werden followed by the past participle geredet:
ich werde geredet (I am being spoken to)
du wirst geredet (you are being spoken to)
er/sie/es wird geredet (he/she/it is being spoken to)
wir werden geredet (we are being spoken to)
ihr werdet geredet (you are being spoken to)
sie/Sie werden geredet (they are being spoken to)

Tips for Conjugating Reden

Here are some tips for conjugating reden correctly:
Pay attention to stem changes: The stem of reden changes from "red" to "rede" in the present tense and "ge" in the past participle.
Remember irregular forms: Reden has several irregular forms, including "sprich" for the imperative and "rede" for the subjunctive.
Use the verbs "sprechen" or "sagen" as alternatives: If you're unsure about the conjugation of reden, you can use the more common verbs "sprechen" or "sagen" instead.

Conclusion

Mastering the conjugation of reden is crucial for effective German communication. By understanding the various forms and tenses of this irregular verb, you can express yourself clearly and accurately in both spoken and written German. The ability to conjugate reden will enhance your fluency and allow you to engage in meaningful conversations with native speakers.

2025-02-24

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