How to Say “Went” in German
If you’re learning German and want to know how to express the past tense verb “went,” you’ve come to the right place. The German language has its own unique way of forming past tense verbs, and “went” can be translated in several ways depending on the context. In this article, we’ll explore the different ways to say “went” in German and provide you with some examples to help you practice.
1. past tense of “gehen” (to go)
The most common way to say “went” in German is by using the past tense of the verb “gehen,” which means “to go.” In the simple past tense, “gehen” becomes “ging.” So, when you want to say “I went,” you would say “ich ging.” Here are some examples:
– Ich ging in den Supermarkt. (I went to the supermarket.)
– Sie gingen zum Theater. (They went to the theater.)
2. past tense of “fahren” (to travel, to drive)
If the action of going involves traveling or driving, you would use the past tense of the verb “fahren,” which means “to travel” or “to drive.” The past tense of “fahren” is “fuhr.” Here are some examples:
– Wir fuhren nach München. (We drove to Munich.)
– Sie fuhr mit dem Zug nach Berlin. (She traveled by train to Berlin.)
3. past tense of “fahren” (to go on an errand)
In some cases, when “went” refers to going on an errand or to a specific place, you can use the past tense of “fahren” as well. This usage is more common in colloquial German. The past tense of “fahren” in this context is “fuhr.” Here are some examples:
– Ich fuhr zum Arzt. (I went to the doctor.)
– Sie fuhr einkaufen. (She went shopping.)
4. past tense of “reisen” (to travel, to journey)
If the context involves a longer journey or traveling to a distant place, you can use the past tense of the verb “reisen,” which means “to travel” or “to journey.” The past tense of “reisen” is “reiste.” Here are some examples:
– Sie reiste nach Italien. (She traveled to Italy.)
– Wir reisten in den Urlaub. (We went on vacation.)
5. past tense of “gehen” (to go, to walk)
Lastly, if the action of going involves walking or simply going somewhere without a specific purpose, you can use the past tense of “gehen” as well. The past tense of “gehen” in this context is “ging.” Here are some examples:
– Ich ging in den Park. (I went to the park.)
– Sie ging zur Arbeit. (She went to work.)
In conclusion, there are several ways to say “went” in German, depending on the context. By understanding the different past tense forms of the verbs “gehen,” “fahren,” and “reisen,” you’ll be able to express the concept of “went” accurately in your German conversations. Happy learning!
