Deutsch · A1 · verb · 4 minutes
Essen: present tense
Use the e→i change for du and er/sie/es in an everyday strong verb.
Understand the choice
Essen demonstrates a common strong-verb pattern without changing the ordinary present endings. The written ss remains, while the stressed vowel distinguishes singular isst from plural esst/essen.
Core rule: Essen changes e to i in du isst and er/sie/es isst; ihr esst keeps e.
Notice it in context
Das Kind isst Gemüse, aber seine Eltern essen Fisch.
The child eats vegetables, but its parents eat fish.
Isst agrees with singular Kind; essen agrees with plural Eltern.
Was isst du zum Frühstück?
What do you eat for breakfast?
Isst precedes du after question word was.
Ihr esst heute in der Küche.
You are eating in the kitchen today.
Ihr selects esst without vowel change.
What to remember
- Isst and ist sound the same but mean eats and is; spelling and context distinguish them.
- Zum Frühstück is a fixed meal-time phrase.
Common trap: Do not write du esst. The changed singular is du isst.