4. Verbs with a stem ending in consonant + n

In the present tense, German verbs whose infinitive stem ends in consonant + n:

 

add -est and not -st in the "du" form

add -et and not -t in the "er/sie/es" form

add -et and not -t in the "ihr" form

Such verbs include begegnen (to meet), bewaffnen (to arm), sich eignen (to be suitable), entgegnen (to reply), sich ereignen (to happy), leugnen (to deny), öffnen (to open), ordnen (to order, to organize), rechnen (to calculate), regnen (to rain), segnen (to bless), trocknen (to dry), vervollkommnen (to perfect), sich wappnen (to prepare oneself), zeichnen (to draw).

 

 

Normal present tense endings are applied however:

 

if the -n in the stem of the verb follows l or r i.e. in verbs such as "lernen" (to learn)

if the -n in the stem of the verb follows another n i.e. in verbs such as "gewinnen" (to win)

if the -n in the stem of the verb is preceded by a vowel i.e. in verbs such as "weinen" (to cry) or "scheinen" (to appear)