There probably isn't (or I haven't heard of one) language where all the verbs can be conjugated the same way, by using one pattern, without some classes of verbs depending on with what letters they end or if they are some special cases etc. So, exactly that is the case with German language too.

We can divide all the verbs in 3 categories:

* weak verbs (schwache Verben) - they are regular verbs and follow a fixed pattern for conjugation

* strong verbs (starke Verben) - they are irregular verbs

* mixed verbs (gemischte Verben) - they are irregular verbs, but their conjugation is a mix of strong and weak verbs

First, weak verbs are the ones that follow simple rule for making all the tenses. We have a basis and add some suffixes.

Next, strong verbs are the one where we have change of vowel in case of 2. and 3. person singular (du, er/sie/es).

Those changes are:

"e" changes to "i" (geben)

"e" changes to "ie" (lesen)

"a" changes to "ä" (fahren)

In brackets is only one example for each category, there are many more.

And finally, the mixed verbs are irregular verbs that don't fit in the previous category (they have some characteristics of both strong and weak verbs).

Rules on how we get present:

For weak verbs, we get the basis by removing -en from the end of the verb and then add suffixes: -e,-st, -t, -en, -t, -en (that's respectively for each pronoun).

I will share examples of verbs for each category, so you will see the difference between conjugations of weak and strong verbs:

lernen weak verb

Singular Plural

1. ich lerne 1. wir lernen

2. du lernst 2. ihr lernt

3. er/sie/es lernt 3. sie/Sie lernen

lesen strong verb

Singular Plural

1. ich lese 1. wir lesen

2. du liest 2. ihr lest

3. er/sie/es liest 3. sie/Sie lesen

haben mixed verb

Singular Plural

1. ich habe 1. wir haben

2. du hast 2. ihr hat

3. er/sie/es hat 3. sie/Sie haben