German: Talking About Past Habits and States with Früher and the Simple Past
Learn to say what you used to do or used to be in German using früher with the simple past (Präteritum), plus the present tense for ongoing states.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
English often uses 'used to' for habits and states in the past: 'I used to live in Rome', 'We used to play tennis'. German has no single word for 'used to'. Instead, it usually combines the time word früher (formerly, in the past) with a past tense. For repeated actions, the simple past (Präteritum) is common, especially with sein, haben and modal verbs. For states that are still true, German often keeps the present tense and lets früher show the contrast. This lesson shows you the patterns step by step.
By the end, you can…
- describe a past habit or repeated action using früher and the simple past.
- describe a past state, such as where I used to live, using früher with sein or the present tense.
- ask someone what they used to do and understand a simple answer.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Früher wohnte ich in Rom.
I used to live in Rome.
FROO-er VOHN-tuh ikh in ROM
wohnen is a regular verb; its simple past adds -te: wohnte. Use this for a past state of residence.
Früher spielten wir oft Tennis.
We used to play tennis often.
FROO-er SHPEEL-tun veer oft TEN-is
spielen is regular: spielten. The time word früher can come first, then the verb, then the subject.
Als Kind hatte ich einen Hund.
As a child, I used to have a dog.
als KINT HAT-uh ikh EYE-nen HUNT
hatte is the simple past of haben. Use als Kind for 'as a child' when describing one past period.
Wir waren jeden Sommer am Meer.
We used to be at the sea every summer.
veer VAH-ren YAY-den ZOM-mer am MAIR
waren is the simple past of sein. Use it for past states and repeated situations.
Was hast du früher gemacht?
What did you use to do?
vas hast doo FROO-er guh-MAKHT
The perfect tense (hast ... gemacht) is common in spoken German for asking about past activities.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
German marks 'used to' with time words such as früher (in the past, formerly) or als Kind (as a child), not with a special verb form. For repeated actions, use the simple past (Präteritum): Früher spielte ich Klavier. (I used to play piano.) For states, use sein in the simple past: Früher war ich Lehrer. (I used to be a teacher.) In everyday speech, the perfect tense is also very common for actions: Früher habe ich in Berlin gearbeitet. (I used to work in Berlin.) Both are correct; the simple past sounds more written or formal with regular verbs, while sein, haben and modal verbs prefer the simple past even in speech.
When to use it
Use früher when the habit or state has clearly ended and contrasts with now: Früher rauchte er, jetzt nicht mehr. (He used to smoke, not anymore.) Use als Kind or als ich jung war for a defined life stage: Als Kind wohnten wir auf dem Land. (As a child, we used to live in the countryside.) If the state is still true, German often keeps the present tense and lets früher do the work: Früher war das anders. (Things used to be different.) Do not use the English-style 'used to' as a separate word; there is no direct equivalent. Also note that the simple past of regular verbs is less common in casual southern German speech, where the perfect tense is preferred.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Was hast du früher in den Ferien gemacht?
What did you use to do in the holidays?vas hast doo FROO-er in dane FAIR-ee-en guh-MAKHTFrüher war ich oft bei meinen Großeltern.
I used to be at my grandparents' place often.FROO-er var ikh oft bye MY-nen GROS-el-turnUnd was habt ihr dort gemacht?
And what did you use to do there?unt vas hahpt eer dort guh-MAKHTWir sind jeden Tag im Wald spazieren gegangen.
We used to go for a walk in the forest every day.veer zint YAY-den tahk im VALT shpah-TSEER-en guh-GANG-enA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, the simple past (Präteritum) is standard in writing and news, but in casual speech many speakers, especially in southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland, prefer the perfect tense for past actions. With sein, haben and modal verbs, however, the simple past is normal everywhere: Ich war, ich hatte, ich konnte. Using früher is neutral and common in both speech and writing.
One thing to watch for
Trying to translate 'used to' with a single German verb, for example *Ich benutzte in Rom zu wohnen.
Try this instead: German does not use a verb meaning 'used to'. Use a time word plus a past tense: Früher wohnte ich in Rom. or Früher habe ich in Rom gewohnt. The verb benutzen means 'to use' an object, not a past habit.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'We used to live in Vienna.' Use früher and the simple past of wohnen.
Show a sample answer
Früher wohnten wir in Wien.
wohnen is regular, so its simple past is wohnten. The verb comes second, then the subject wir. Früher habe ich in Wien gewohnt is also correct in spoken German.
2Which form fits better in a formal written sentence: 'I used to be a teacher'?
Show a sample answer
Früher war ich Lehrer.
sein uses the simple past war even in speech. Früher bin ich Lehrer gewesen is possible but sounds more colloquial and is less common in writing.
3Ask a friend informally: 'What did you use to do in the summer?'
Show a sample answer
Was hast du früher im Sommer gemacht?
The perfect tense with hast ... gemacht is the usual spoken form. Was machtest du früher im Sommer? is grammatically correct but sounds literary or old-fashioned.
To say 'used to' in German, do not look for a special verb. Add früher or als Kind and choose a past tense: simple past for states and formal actions, perfect for everyday spoken actions.
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