German Verbs for Beginners: How to Use Fahren, Nehmen, and Gehen
Do you want to speak German? You need to learn verbs! Verbs are action words. Today, we learn three very important German verbs: fahren (to drive/travel), nehmen (to take), and gehen (to go/walk).
Let’s look at how they change in the present tense (Präsens).
1. Fahren (To Drive / To Travel by Vehicle)
Use fahren when you travel with a car, train, bus, or bicycle.
-
Example: Ich fahre nach Hause. (I am driving home.)
-
Example: Wir fahren mit dem Zug. (We are traveling by train.)
⚠️ A1 Watch Out: The vowel changes from a to ä for du and er/sie/es!
| Pronoun | German Conjugation | English Meaning |
| ich | fahre | I drive |
| du | fährst | you drive (informal) |
| er / sie / es | fährt | he / she / it drives |
| wir | fahren | we drive |
| ihr | fahrt | you drive (plural) |
| sie / Sie | fahren | they drive / you drive (formal) |
2. Nehmen (To Take)
Use nehmen when you take an object, order food, or catch public transport.
-
Example: Ich nehme einen Kaffee. (I am taking/having a coffee.)
-
Example: Wir nehmen den Bus. (We are taking the bus.)
⚠️ A1 Watch Out: The spelling changes completely from eh to imm for du and er/sie/es!
| Pronoun | German Conjugation | English Meaning |
| ich | nehme | I take |
| du | nimmst | you take (informal) |
| er / sie / es | nimmt | he / she / it takes |
| wir | nehmen | we take |
| ihr | nehmt | you take (plural) |
| sie / Sie | nehmen | they take / you take (formal) |
3. Gehen (To Go / To Walk)
Use gehen when you walk on foot or go to a place.
-
Example: Ich gehe ins Kino. (I am going to the cinema.)
-
Example: Wir gehen spazieren. (We are going for a walk.)
💡 Good News: This verb is regular! The root word geh- does not change its vowels.
| Pronoun | German Conjugation | English Meaning |
| ich | gehe | I go |
| du | gehst | you go (informal) |
| er / sie / es | geht | he / she / it goes |
| wir | gehen | we go |
| ihr | geht | you go (plural) |
| sie / Sie | gehen | they go / you drive (formal) |
A1 Grammar Summary
Practice these sentences every day. Soon, you will talk about your daily travel and shopping plans easily!