Frequently Asked German Questions

'Haben' or 'Sein' with the Verb 'Fahren' in German Past Tense?

Home > German Language > Auxiliary Verbs > 'Haben' or 'Sein' with the Verb 'Fahren' in German Past Tense?

For example, the sentence "Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren."

When using the verb 'fahren' in the German past tense, 'sein' is the correct auxiliary verb to indicate movement or travel, such as in 'Ich bin nach Berlin gefahren' which means 'I traveled to Berlin'. The choice of 'sein' over 'haben' is pivotal in such contexts because 'fahren' is an intransitive verb that implies a change of location, a state where 'sein' is appropriate to express the action. However, in the sentence 'Ich habe das Auto gefahren' ('I have driven the car'), it uses 'haben' because it emphasizes the action of driving a specific object – the car. Understanding the nuances of 'haben' and 'sein' helps in accurately conveying past actions and is essential for fluency in German.

Challenge me!

Related Challenges

Intermediate

Which auxiliary verb correctly completes the sentence to fit the context given?

Er ____ einen Brief geschrieben.

View Full Challenge
Intermediate

Which auxiliary verb correctly completes the sentence to fit the context given?

Sie ____ gestern sehr schnell gewachsen.

View Full Challenge

Track your progress, get daily alerts!

Simply provide your email address to keep track of your answers, and optionally receive daily alerts for new challenges.