verb
to become, will (future auxiliary), to be (used as passive auxiliary)
A1
Irregular strong verb meaning 'to become', and used as the future auxiliary ('will') and to form the passive. Present stem vowel changes: e→i (du wirst, er wird); past stem wurde; perfect formed with sein (ist geworden). Non‑reflexive. Essential multifunctional auxiliary in German grammar.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Ich werde morgen kommen.
I will come tomorrow.
Der Direktor erklärte, dass die neuen Regeln ab nächsten Monat umgesetzt werden würden, damit alle Abteilungen vorbereitet sein konnten.
The director stated that the new rules would be implemented from next month so that all departments could be prepared.
Sofia ist gestern dreißig geworden.
Sofia turned thirty yesterday.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Picture a seed turning into a plant (becoming) — the seed 'wer'den into a plant
sounds like 'ver-den' — imagine 'turning into' (to become)
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Werden is an irregular verb used both as a lexical verb meaning 'to become' and as the auxiliary for the future tense and for forming the passive voice. In perfect tenses it normally uses the auxiliary sein (e.g., 'ich bin geworden'). Watch out for the vowel changes in the present (du wirst, er wird) and the past stem (wurde). Note: Konjunktiv I präteritum is not used in practice and is marked 'not applicable' in the conjugation table.