German Phrase
Was haben deine Eltern gemacht?
Meaning
This phrase is used to ask about the past actions, activities, or even the former occupations of someone's parents. It uses the German 'Perfekt' tense, which is the most common way to discuss the past in spoken German. It is a direct and friendly way to inquire about family history or recent events.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual conversations when you want to learn more about a friend's family background or what their parents did during a specific event like a holiday. It is suitable for informal social settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WashabendeineElterngemacht
Perfekt Tense Structure
In German questions, the auxiliary verb (haben) stays in the second position, while the main verb (gemacht) moves to the very end.
Plural Agreement
'Eltern' is always plural in German, requiring the plural verb form 'haben' and the plural possessive ending '-e' on 'deine'.
🗨In Conversation
Was haben deine Eltern am Wochenende gemacht?
What did your parents do at the weekend?
Sie haben eine Wanderung im Schwarzwald gemacht.
They went for a hike in the Black Forest.
✕Common Mistakes
Was haben deine Eltern gemachen?
The past participle of 'machen' is 'gemacht'. Many learners mistakenly use the '-en' ending for all past participles.
Was hat deine Eltern gemacht?
The subject 'Eltern' (parents) is plural, so the auxiliary verb must be 'haben', not the singular 'hat'.
Was haben dein Eltern gemacht?
Because 'Eltern' is plural, the possessive pronoun needs the '-e' ending to become 'deine'.
↔Alternatives
Was sind deine Eltern von Beruf?
What are your parents' professions?
Was haben deine Eltern früher gemacht?
What did your parents do in the past?
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking cultures, asking about family is common, but questions about professional background are often more frequent than in some English-speaking contexts. Using the 'Perfekt' tense (haben + gemacht) is much more natural in speech than the 'Präteritum' (machten), which is mostly reserved for writing.