In German what is the past tense of the verb wissen?

Answer 1

German has two tenses which equate to the English past tense: Präteritum (simple past) and Perfekt(present perfect)

Präteritum

ich sagte

Du sagtest

er/sie/es sagte

wir sagten

Ihr sagtet

sie/Sie sagten

Perfekt

ich habe gesagt

Du hast gesagt

er/sie/es hat gesagt

wir haben gesagt

Ihr habt gesagt

sie/Sie haben gesagt

Although the present perfect is technically incorrect, it is often used by native German speakers in lieu of the simple past. For example, the phrase I slept well last night in Germanwill (almost) always be formed using the (incorrect) present perfect (Ich habe heute Nacht gut geschlafen - I have slept well last night), rather than the (correct) simple past (Ich schlief heute Nacht gut - I slept well last night)

or in the case of the verb sagen:

(the incorrect) Ich habe ihr gesagt instead of (the correct) ich sagte ihr

Answer 2

The formation of German verbs in the past tense can be slightly confusing as they can take on one of two forms (the correct simple past tense and the, from native German speakers preferred, incorrect present perfect), both of which can equate to the English 'simple' past tense:

Ich wusste es!- I knew it!

Ich habe es gewusst - I knew it! (although this actually means I have known it!)

Answer 3

The formation of German verbs in the past tense can be slightly confusing as they can take on one of two forms (the correct simple past tense and the, from native German speakers preferred, technically incorrect present perfect), both of which can equate to the English 'simple' past tense:

Ich wusste es!- I knew it! (simple past tense)

Ich habe es gewusst - I knew it! (although this actually translates as I have known it!) (present perfect)