Meaning and Usage
The verb gehen means to go in English. It is a very common verb used in everyday German to express movement on foot or to indicate going somewhere. Beyond physical movement, gehen can also be used figuratively in various expressions.
Verb Type and Irregularity
Gehen is an irregular verb in German. It is a strong verb, which means it has vowel changes in the stem when conjugated in some tenses and persons. It is important to learn its irregular forms as it appears frequently in speech and writing.
Present Tense Conjugation
The present tense (Präsens) of gehen is used to talk about current actions or habitual movements. Below is a typical conjugation pattern for gehen in the present tense.
| German Pronoun | German Conjugation | English Conjugation | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | gehe | I go / I am going | Ich gehe zur Schule. | I am going to school. |
| du | gehst | you go / you are going | Du gehst nach Hause. | You are going home. |
| er/sie/es | geht | he/she/it goes | Er geht ins Kino. | He goes to the cinema. |
| wir | gehen | we go | Wir gehen spazieren. | We go for a walk. |
| ihr | geht | you (plural) go | Ihr geht oft schwimmen. | You (all) go swimming often. |
| sie/Sie | gehen | they/you (formal) go | Sie gehen ins Restaurant. | They/You (formal) go to the restaurant. |
Past Tenses
Gehen forms its simple past (Präteritum) and present perfect (Perfekt) irregularly. The simple past is often used in writing or formal speech, while the present perfect is common in spoken German.
- Simple Past: ging
- Present Perfect: ist gegangen
Example:
Ich ging gestern ins Büro. — I went to the office yesterday.
Ich bin gestern ins Büro gegangen. — I have gone to the office yesterday.
Common Expressions with Gehen
Gehen is used in many fixed expressions and idioms in German. Some examples include:
- Wie geht’s? – How are you?
- Es geht – It’s okay / It works
- Das geht nicht – That’s not possible
These expressions highlight the verb’s widespread use beyond literal movement.
Summary
Gehen is an essential irregular German verb meaning to go. Its strong vowel changes and key expressions make it important for learners to master its forms and idiomatic uses.
