German Phrase
Ich hab gestern gearbeitet.
Meaning
This phrase uses the present perfect tense to describe a completed action in the past. In spoken German, the 'Perfekt' is the standard way to talk about past events, unlike the written 'Präteritum'. The word 'hab' is a common colloquial shortening of 'habe'.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual conversation when someone asks what you did yesterday or when explaining your recent schedule. It is perfect for informal settings with friends or colleagues.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ichhabgesterngearbeitet
Hab (Habe)
This is the conjugated auxiliary verb 'haben'. In spoken German, the final 'e' is frequently dropped.
Gestern
An adverb of time meaning 'yesterday'. In German sentences, time elements often follow the verb directly.
Gearbeitet
The past participle of 'arbeiten'. Regular verbs form this by adding the prefix 'ge-' and the suffix '-et' to the verb stem.
🗨In Conversation
Was hast du am Montag gemacht?
What did you do on Monday?
Ich hab gestern gearbeitet.
I worked yesterday.
✕Common Mistakes
Ich habe gestern arbeiten.
The past participle 'gearbeitet' is required to form the past tense with the auxiliary verb 'haben'.
Ich bin gestern gearbeitet.
The verb 'arbeiten' takes 'haben' as an auxiliary, not 'sein', because it does not involve a change of location or state.
↔Alternatives
Ich habe gestern gearbeitet.
I worked yesterday (Standard/Formal).
Gestern habe ich gearbeitet.
Yesterday, I worked (emphasizing the time).
Ich war gestern im Büro.
I was in the office yesterday.
Cultural Tip
In Germany, people often distinguish between work and private life, but mentioning work in a summary of your day is standard. Using the shortened 'hab' instead of 'habe' will make your German sound much more natural and less like a textbook.