How to Conjugate the Verb "Helfen" (to Help)

Students will find that studying the verb helfen will be very helpful in expanding your German vocabulary. After all, it is the verb that means "to help," and you'll find yourself asking for help often when you're first learning the language.

As with all German verbs, we need to conjugate helfen in order to say "I am helping" or "we helped." This lesson will show you how that's done so you can begin using this common verb to form complete sentences.

An Introduction to Helfen

Helfen is relatively easy to remember on its own because it resembles the English word "help." However, it is both a stem-changing verb and an irregular (strong) verb, meaning it does not follow the common conjugations patterns we find in German. Instead of relying on known rules, you will have to memorize this vocabulary. Practicing the various present and past tense forms in context will help you with that.

Helfen is also a dative verb.

Principal Parts: helfen (hilft) - half - geholfen

Past Participle: gelhofen

Imperative (Commands): (du) Hilf! (ihr) Helft! Helfen Sie!

Helfen in the Present Tense (Präsens)

We begin the lesson with the present tense (präsens) of helfen. The stem change is crucial here as you will notice the change from "e" to "i" in the du and er/sie/es present tense forms. 

As you're studying, give these forms of the verb a try in simple sentences such as these. This practice will help you commit them to memory.

• Hans, hilf deiner Schwester! - Hans, help your sister.
• Wir helfen ihm. - We're helping him.

Helfen in the Simple Past Tense (Imperfekt)

The past tense (vergangenheit) of helfen comes in a variety of forms. The most common of these is the simple past tense (imperfekt) and you will use it frequently to express "I helped" or "they helped."

Helfen in the Compound Past Tense (Perfekt)

The compound past tense, or present perfect past tense (perfekt), is not as common, though it is good to know when and how you might use it.

In general, you will use these forms when the action of helping happened in the past but you're not saying exactly when it took place. It can, in some instances, also be used when you did "help" and continue to do so.

Helfen in the Past Perfect Tense (Plusquamperfekt)

The final past tense of this lesson is the past perfect (plusquamperfekt) and this has another rare but useful purpose. You'll use these forms when the action of helping occurred after something else. For example, "I had helped pack once the boxes arrived."