Key learning points

1. In two-verb structures, the reflexive pronoun normally comes after the first verb.
2. In the perfect tense, it is more common to use the simple past versions of ‘haben’, ‘sein’, and ‘es gibt’.
3. Use ‘früher’ in the perfect and imperfect tenses to mean ‘used to’.
4. Use ‘gern’, ‘lieber’, ‘am liebsten’ in the perfect and imperfect tenses to talk about likes and preferences.

Keywords

• Simple past - synonymous with the imperfect; German single-word past tense used mainly to narrate past events in writing; for example, 'war', 'hatte', 'gab'

• Perfect tense - German two-word past tense using either 'haben' or 'sein' with a past participle

• Reflexive verb - verb used to indicate doing something to yourself, e.g., 'to wash yourself'

Common misconception