The Past Simple (Präteritum)
The past simple expresses facts that started and finished in the past.
a) Translating the German past simple.
Look at the following examples. They show how German is translated into English:
| Er ging zum Bahnhof und kaufte sich eine Fahrkarte. Danach kaufte er sich eine Zeitung und ging einen Kaffee trinken. |
| He went to the train station and bought a ticket. Then he bought a newspaper and went for a coffee. |
| - |
| Wir wanderten 4 Tage durch das Gebirge. |
| We walked for 4 days through the mountain |
| - |
| Ich dachte, du würdest später kommen. |
| I thought that you would come later |
| - |
| Er strengte sich sehr an, um die Prüfung zu bestehen. |
| He tried hard to pass the exam |
| - |
| Als du mich anriefst, schlief ich noch. |
| When you called me, I was still sleeping. |
b) Uses of the past simple
The past simple is used to talk about real facts or invented stories. In literature, the past simple is used frequently in novels, stories and narratives. It is also used in press stories and television broadcasts.
b.1. Literary style:
| Die Prinzessin saß im Schloss und wartete verzweifelt auf ihren Retter. |
| The princess was in the castle, desperately waiting for her savior. |
b.2. News:
| Gestern wurde die neue Regierung gewählt. |
| Yesterday the new government was voted in |
| - |
| Aufgrund eines Schneesturms gab es einen Stromausfall. |
| Because of a storm, the electricity went down. |
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Exercises
Translate the following sentences:
(Click in the box to see the answers, double click to return to the original)
