Before you start
Meet weitergehen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
weiter- + gehen
- weiter-
- onward or further
- gehen
- to go
You keep going onward rather than stopping.
So weitergehen means to go on; to continue.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Verb family
More verbs built on gehen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
- ausgehento go out, assume
- eingehento deal with, give attention
- angehento concern, go on
- zurückgehento go back, decrease
- umgehento treat, handle
- hingehento go there
- zugehento approach, close
- aufgehento rise, open
Separable verb: weiter·gehen
In a main clause the prefix weiter splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseIch gehe bis zur Tür weiter.I keep walking as far as the door.
Subordinate clauseDer Weg ist lang, weil sie weitergeht.The path is long because she keeps going.
Participle: weitergegangenzu-infinitive: weiterzugehen
Forms
How weitergehen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | gehe weiter | ging weiter |
| du | gehst weiter | gingst weiter |
| er/sie/es | geht weiter | ging weiter |
| wir | gehen weiter | gingen weiter |
| ihr | geht weiter | gingt weiter |
| Sie | gehen weiter | gingen weiter |
Partizip II weitergegangen · Perfekt with sein
Three examples
- 1Wir gehen jetzt weiter.We are going on now.prefix goes to the end
- 2Der Film ist danach weitergegangen.The film continued after that.Perfekt with sein
- 3Wenn es weitergeht, rufe ich dich an.If it continues, I’ll call you.verb at the end after wenn
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
weitergehen + der Weg
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Make der Weg the subject.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We went on after she calledanrufen us.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the busder Bus stopped, we went on on footzu Fuß.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We went on because the streetdie Straße was closedgesperrt.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The pathder Weg that continued through the forestder Wald was very long.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
We have to go on although it is rainingregnen.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She went on earlyfrüh to get homenach Hause kommen before darkdunkel.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Can we go on here, or should we turn backumkehren?
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
weitergehen + das Gespräch + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Use a pronoun for das Gespräch in the main clause.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What helps you keep going when something is difficult?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence using the target verb.
- 2Include a wenn-clause.
- 3Put the verb at the end of that clause.