BBC HomeExplore the BBC
This page was last updated in December 2005We've left it here for reference.More information

6 January 2010
Accessibility help
Text only
German for work

BBC Homepage
Languages
German
»Business
Greetings
Introductions
Directions
Food and Drink
Trade Fair
Marketing

Language Notes
Cultural Notes

TV transcripts
 

Contact Us

Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 
Language notes
ich bin, ich habe
Ich bin Frau Maier.
 I am Frau Maier.

Ich habe meine eigene Firma.
 I have my own business.

Ich bin selbstständig.
 I am self-employed.


Haben means 'to have' and sein means 'to be'. Neither verb follows a regular pattern (conjugation); both are listed below in full in the present tense.

haben sein
ich habe I have ich bin I am
du hast you have du bist you are
er/sie/es hat he/she/it
has
er/sie/es ist he/she/it
is
wir haben we have wir sind we are
ihr habt you (plural) have ihr seid you (plural)
are
sie/Sie haben they/you(formal) have sie/Sie
sind
they/you(formal)
are



About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy