Ranked by frequency of use in everyday German.
to be
to have
to become
can / to be able to
must / to have to
should / to be supposed to
to want
may / to be allowed to
to do / to make
to go
to come
to say
to give
to take
to find
to think
to know (a fact) / to know
to see
to let / to leave
to stand
to be called
to live
to drive / to travel
to work
to need
to speak
to eat
to drink
to sleep
to buy
to play
to read
to write
to learn
to understand
to help
to bring
to begin
to stay
to believe
to search / to look for
to ask
to show
to lie / to be located
to know (a person/place) / to know / to be familiar with
to tell / to narrate
to try
to run / to walk
to carry / to wear
to hear / to listen
to call / to shout
to live / to reside
to set / to sit down
to pull / to move
to fall
to lead / to guide
to reach / to achieve
to lay / to put
to mean / to think
to get / to receive
to like
to hold / to stop
to answer
to wait
to pay
to cook
to open
to close
to forget
to explain
to visit
to please / to like
to feel
to open up
to close / to shut
to arrive
to depart
to call (phone) / to call / to phone
to stop / to cease
to start / to begin
to invite
to order
to wash
to clean
to tidy up
to watch TV
to dance
to sing
to swim
to travel
to change (transport) / to change / to transfer
to register
to introduce
to be happy / to look forward to
to sit down
to wash oneself
to get dressed
to go for a walk
to pay attention / to watch out
to go out