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1.5.1.3: Haben

  • Page ID
    105117
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    Haben can be used either as the main verb of a sentence or as helping verbs. In this section, we will discuss haben as the main verb. Haben appears frequently in German, and just as frequently used verbs in English, it is quite irregular. The only thing to do is to memorize these forms.

    haben • to have
    ich habe wir haben
    du hast ihr habt
    er/sie/es hat sie haben

    Rotkäppchens Mutter Liebling, was hast du im Korb? Darling, what do you have in the basket?
    Rotkäppchen Ich habe eine Flasche Wein und Brot und Kekse. have a bottle of wine, and bread and cookies.
    Rotkäppchens Mutter Ach, keine Kekse! Omi hat zu viel Karies! Oh, no cookies! Granny has too many cavities!
    Rotkäppchen Mutter! Ihr habt so viele dumme Regeln! Mothers! You guys have so many silly rules!

    vi_05_01_rotkappchen-wine.gif

     

    related words
    Hab und Gut possessions
    die Habe possessions/belongings
    habeas corpus literally: you shall have the body
    der Habenichts the pauper
    die Habgier greed

    fun phrases
    Was hast du gegen mich? What do you have against me?
    Pech haben to have bad luck
    Schwein gehabt! lucky, lucky!
    Da hast du es! There you have it! Didn't I tell you?
    Naja, wer hat, der hat! Well, those who have it, have it!
    Er hat keine Auge im Kopf! He can't see/get it!
    Sie hat klebrige Finger! She steals (lit: sticky fingers)
    Du hast Recht You're right!
    Mensch, habe ich einen Kater! Man, I am so hung over!

    This page titled 1.5.1.3: Haben is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Zsuzsanna Abrams and co-workers (Center for Open Educational Resources and Language Learning) .

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