Deutsch · A1 · verb · 4 minutes
Gehen: present tense
Use a regular present pattern for movement on foot and destinations.
Understand the choice
Gehen is a clean model for German present endings. Pair it with zu for people/institutions, nach for most cities and countries, and in + accusative when entering a bounded place.
Core rule: Gehen uses the regular present endings -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en.
Notice it in context
Ich gehe zur Schule, und meine Eltern gehen zur Arbeit.
I go to school, and my parents go to work.
Gehe agrees with ich and zur contracts zu der; plural Eltern selects gehen.
Gehst du heute in den Park?
Are you going to the park today?
Gehst precedes du in the question; in den marks movement into the park.
Ihr geht nach dem Essen nach Hause.
You go home after the meal.
Geht agrees with ihr; nach Hause is the fixed destination phrase.
What to remember
- Zu Hause is location; nach Hause is direction.
- The verb gehen does not normally cover travel by vehicle; use fahren or fliegen.
Common trap: Do not say ich gehe mit dem Auto for ordinary driving. Use ich fahre mit dem Auto.