WHEN DO WE USE PRÄTERITUM?

The Function of Präteritum


Präteritum is a past tense form roughly equivalent to the simple past tense in English (e.g. went, sang, received, called etc.). It is used to relate events the happened in the past. It is used mostly in written texts and formal occasions (like speeches). Click to find out the difference in the usage of Präteritum and Perfekt.


You can find further information in the Eurolingua Learner's Handbook (pp. 124-125). We encourage you to purchase a copy of this for your own reference. You may also refer to German Elementary Grammar (by Kars and Häussermann) which is available in the Central Library.  


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© Dr. Chan Wai Meng, July 2000