{"id":5363,"date":"2014-08-25T10:57:36","date_gmt":"2014-08-25T10:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=5363"},"modified":"2014-08-19T11:01:18","modified_gmt":"2014-08-19T11:01:18","slug":"german-grammar-in-use-the-conjugation-of-the-verb-gehen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/german-grammar-in-use-the-conjugation-of-the-verb-gehen\/","title":{"rendered":"German grammar in use: The conjugation of the verb \u201cgehen\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The German verb gehen<\/em><\/span> has got several English translations. First of all, it means to go<\/span>, to walk<\/span>, to leave<\/span>, and to attend<\/span>. But gehen<\/em><\/span> is also used in German to say that something works or is feasible. Let\u2019s have a closer look, which meanings gehen<\/em><\/span> can have in the German tenses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pr\u00e4sens \u2013 Present tense<\/strong><\/h1>\n

In the Pr\u00e4sens<\/em><\/span> tense gehen<\/em><\/span> can mean to go<\/span>, to walk<\/span>, to leave<\/span>, to attend<\/span>, to work<\/span> (function), and to be feasible<\/span>. Of course, you can use gehen<\/span><\/em> in further compositions, such as \u201c\u00fcber die Stra\u00dfe gehen\u201d (to cross the street).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich gehe<\/td>\nwir gehen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu gehst \u2013 informal
\nSie gehen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n		ihr geht \u2013 informal
\nSie gehen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es geht<\/td>\nsie gehen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Der Fernseher geht nicht. Ist der Stecker drin? \/ Steckt der Stecker?<\/span>
\n(The TV doesn\u2019t work. Is the plug plugged in?)<\/p>\n

2. Kerstin geht nicht mehr zur Schule. Sie ist schon 28 und hat einen Beruf.<\/span>
\n(Kerstin doesn\u2019t attend school anymore. She is already 28 and has got a job.)<\/p>\n

3. Stefan und ich gehe heute Abend ins Kino. Willst du mitkommen?<\/span>
\n(Stefan and I are going to the movies tonight. Do you want to join us?)<\/p>\n

4. Bei Rot geht man nicht \u00fcber die Stra\u00dfe.<\/span>
\n(You don\u2019t have to cross the street at red.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Imperativ \u2013 Imperative<\/strong><\/h1>\n

When giving commands gehen<\/span><\/em> is used in the sense of to go<\/span>, to walk<\/span>, and to leave<\/span>.<\/p>\n

1. Sandra, gehe jetzt schlafen! Es ist schon sp\u00e4t und du musst morgen fr\u00fch aufstehen.<\/span>
\n(Talking to myself: Sandra, go to bed now! It\u2019s already late and you have to get up early tomorrow morning.)<\/p>\n

2. Geh jetzt bitte! Ich habe genug von deinen Ausreden.<\/span>
\n(Please, go now! I\u2019m tired of your excuses.)<\/p>\n

3. Danke f\u00fcr den Ratschlag. Aber gehen Sie jetzt bitte und k\u00fcmmern sich um Ihre eigenen Angelegenheiten.<\/span>
\n(Thanks for your advice. But please, go now and mind your own business.)<\/p>\n

4. Gehen wir! Die Party ist doch lahm.<\/span>
\n(Let\u2019s go now! This party is lame.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pr\u00e4teritum \u2013 Preterit (equals simple past)<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Pr\u00e4teritum<\/em> tense is predominantly used in the 1st<\/sup> and 3rd<\/sup> person (both singular and plural) in everyday German. Germans usually do not form statements and questions with gehen<\/span><\/em> in the 2nd<\/sup> person (neither singular nor plural) in the preterit tense. When it comes to talk about the past with gehen<\/span><\/em> Germans are more likely to use the perfect tense.<\/p>\n

Anyway, in the preterit tense gehen<\/span><\/em> can be used in the sense of to go<\/span>, to walk<\/span>, to leave<\/span>, to attend<\/span>, to work<\/span> and to be feasible<\/span>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich ging<\/td>\nwir gingen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu gingst \u2013 informal
\nSie gingen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n		ihr gingt \u2013 informal
\nSie gingen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es ging<\/td>\nsie gingen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Nach dem Unwetter ging das Licht nicht mehr.<\/span>
\n(The light didn\u2019t work after the storm)<\/p>\n

2. Wir gingen auf dieselbe Schule. Aber seit dem Abschluss haben wir keinen Kontakt mehr.<\/span>
\n(We attended the same school. But we haven\u2019t been in contact since our graduation.)<\/p>\n

3. Unser Plan ging v\u00f6llig in die Hose.<\/span>
\n(Our plan went down the drain.)<\/p>\n

4. Fr\u00fcher ging sie jeden Morgen zum B\u00e4cker, um frisches Brot zu kaufen. Doch seitdem sie einen Brotbackautomaten hat, b\u00e4ckt sie ihr Brot selbst.<\/span>
\n(She used to go to the bakery every morning to buy fresh bread. But since she has got her own bread maker she makes her own bread.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Futur I \u2013 Future I<\/strong><\/h1>\n

In the Futur I<\/em> tense gehen<\/span><\/em> can have all the meanings I have already mentioned. But as you can see in sentence 1 the meaning of gehen<\/em><\/span> can be modified in a particular composition. When Germans say that they go to another country it means that they intend to live there forever or, at least, for a while. When you want to express that Switzerland is your vacation destination you should use the verb fahren<\/span> (to drive): \u201cN\u00e4chstes Jahr fahren wir in die Schweiz\u201d, which means that you are travelling to Switzerland next year.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich werde gehen<\/td>\nwir werden gehen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu wirst gehen \u2013 informal
\nSie werden gehen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n		ihr werdet gehen \u2013 informal
\nSie werden gehen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es wird gehen<\/td>\nsie werden gehen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Wir werden n\u00e4chstes Jahr in die Schweiz gehen.<\/span>
\n(We will move to Switzerland next year.)<\/p>\n

2. Michael wird bald in die Schule gehen.<\/span>
\n(Michael will soon attend school.)<\/p>\n

3. An meinem Geburstag werden wir ins Kino gehen.<\/span>
\n(We will go to the movies on my birthday.)<\/p>\n

4. Wirst du mit mir wandern gehen, wenn wir im Urlaub sind?<\/span>
\n(Will you go trekking with me when we are on holidays?)<\/p>\n

5. Das wird nicht gehen.<\/span>
\n(It won\u2019t work\/be feasible.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Perfekt – Perfect<\/strong><\/h1>\n

In my opinion, the Perfekt<\/em> is the favorite tense of Germans when it comes to talk about the past. You simply need to know the past participle form of a particular verb and the conjugation of the auxiliaries sein<\/em><\/span> (to be) or haben<\/em><\/span> (to have).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich bin gegangen<\/td>\nwir sind gegangen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu bist gegangen \u2013 informal
\nSie sind gegangen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n		ihr seid gegangen \u2013 informal
\nSie sind gegangen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es ist gegangen<\/td>\nsie sind gegangen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Im Kino lief kein guter Film. Also sind wir ins Theater gegangen.<\/span>
\n(They didn\u2019t screen a good film at the movies. So we went to the theater.)<\/p>\n

2. Ich bin dreimal um den Block gegangen, um unsere Katze zu suchen. Leider habe ich sie nicht gefunden.<\/span>
\n(I walked around the block three times to look for our cat. Unfortunately, I haven\u2019t found it.)<\/p>\n

3. Es war Gr\u00fcn als wir \u00fcber die Stra\u00dfe gegangen sind.<\/span>
\n(The traffic lights were green when we crossed the street.)<\/p>\n

4. Seid ihr gestern am Ufer entlang gegangen?<\/span>
\n(Did you walk along the riverside yesterday?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Plusquamperfekt \u2013 Pluperfect (equals past perfect)<\/strong><\/h1>\n

When you would like to talk about the pluperfect then you have to use the Plusquamperfekt<\/em> in German. Forming it is as simple as the Perfekt<\/em>. All you need to know is the past participle of a verb and the conjugation of the auxiliary war<\/span><\/em> (was) or hatten<\/span><\/em> (had).<\/p>\n

Basically, all meanings of gehen<\/span>, which I have already mentioned, are possible in the pluperfect. However, I prefer the meanings to go<\/span>, to walk<\/span>, to leave<\/span>, and also to attend<\/span>. Using gehen<\/span><\/em> in the sense of to work\/function<\/span>\u00a0and to be feasible<\/span>\u00a0in the Plusquamperfekt<\/em> sounds odd to me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich war gegangen<\/td>\nwir waren gegangen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu warst gegangen \u2013 informal
\nSie waren gegangen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n		ihr wart gegangen \u2013 informal
\nSie waren gegangen \u2013 formal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es war gegangen<\/td>\nsie waren gegangen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Ihr wart schon gegangen als der Unfall passierte.<\/span>
\n(You were already gone when the accident happened.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Futur II \u2013 future II<\/strong><\/h1>\n

I would use gehen<\/span><\/em> in the Futur II<\/em> tense only in the sense of to go<\/span>, to walk<\/span>, to leave<\/span>, and to attend<\/span>. The meanings to work\/function<\/span> and to be feasible<\/span> appear unnatural to me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/strong><\/td>\nPlural<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\nich werde gegangen sein<\/td>\nwir werden gegangen sein<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ndu wirst gegangen sein \u2013 informal
\nSie werden gegangen sein \u2013 formal<\/td>\n		ihr werdet gegangen sein \u2013 informal
\nSie werden gegangen sein \u2013 formal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/sup> person<\/strong><\/td>\ner\/sie\/es wird gegangen sein<\/td>\nsie werden gegangen sein<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Wenn du morgen fr\u00fch aufstehst, werde ich bereits zum Briefkasten gegangen sein und die Zeitung geholt haben.<\/span>
\n(When you get up tomorrow morning I will already have gone to the postbox and got the paper.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The German verb gehen has got several English translations. First of all, it means to go, to walk, to leave, and to attend. But gehen is also used in German to say that something works or is feasible. Let\u2019s have a closer look, which meanings gehen can have in the German tenses.   Pr\u00e4sens \u2013…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[11971,8],"tags":[51,95290,177,165],"class_list":["post-5363","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-grammar-language","category-language","tag-conjugation","tag-gehen","tag-tenses","tag-verb"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5363"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5404,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5363\/revisions\/5404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}