ich habe es vergessen
In German, 'I forgot' is expressed as ich habe es vergessen.
The verb vergessen is used both for forgetting information (like a name) and for forgetting to perform an action (like an appointment).
Which one should you use?
Ich habe es vergessen specifically includes the object 'it' (es), whereas Ich habe vergessen is often used more broadly to mean 'I forgot [to do something]'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In spoken German, the pronoun es (it) is often omitted if the context makes the object clear, resulting in ich habe vergessen.
Did you know?
- The German language uses the same word vergessen for both 'forgetting' a piece of data and 'forgetting' a person, such as when someone is neglected or abandoned.
- The word ich can be traced back through several thousand years to the Proto-Indo-European root '*eǵh₂óm', which is the same ancient source for the English word 'I'.
- The word vergessen shares a root with the English word 'forget', as both derive from an ancient Proto-West Germanic term *fragetan.
Examples in context
- Tut mir leid, ich habe es vergessen.Sorry, I forgot.This sentence shows how to offer an apology using ich habe es vergessen.Tatoeba #1131456 by Esperantostern, translation #1110451 by Scott
- Ich wollte hin, aber ich habe es vergessen.I had intended to go, but I forgot to.This sentence uses ich habe es vergessen to explain a failed intention.Tatoeba #1287332 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #7714879 by CK
- Ich wollte versuchen, an das Archiv zu kommen, aber ich habe es vergessen.I was going to try and get the archive, but I forgot.This sentence demonstrates using ich habe es vergessen to describe a failed attempt to reach a destination.Tatoeba #3586532 by MisterTrouser, translation #3586326 by WeissL
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Maximilian are talking about a promised phone call.
- LauraHast du mich gestern angerufen?Did you call me yesterday?
- MaximilianOh nein, ich habe es vergessen!Oh no, I forgot!
- LauraDas ist wirklich schade, Laura.That is really a pity, Laura.
- MaximilianEs tut mir leid, Maximilian.I am sorry, Maximilian.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, ich, vergessen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
