iść

The Verb Iść

Level 3

iść (to go/walk) is a high-frequency irregular verb used for specific, one-way movements on foot. It changes its stem significantly between the present (id-) and the past (sz-).

How It Works

The verb iść is essential for daily communication but presents several challenges for learners:

1. Present Tense Conjugation
It follows the -ę, -esz pattern but uses the stem id-:

  • Ja idę (I am going)
  • Ty idziesz (You are going)
  • On/Ona/Ono idzie (He/She/It is going)
  • My idziemy (We are going)
  • Wy idziecie (You all are going)
  • Oni/One idą (They are going)

2. The Irregular Past Tense
The past tense is built on a different root (sz-) and is highly irregular. In the masculine singular, a fleeting 'e' appears: szedłem (I went), szedłeś (you went), szedł (he went). In all other forms, the 'e' disappears: szła (she went), szli (they went - masculine personal).

3. Determinate vs. Indeterminate
In the Polish system of motion verbs, iść is used for a trip in progress (e.g., 'I am walking to the store now'). If you talk about habits or round trips, you use chodzić.

4. Common Prepositions
Iść is frequently paired with do + Genitive for destinations (do domu) or na + Accusative for events (na koncert).

Examples (5)

  1. Gdzie teraz idziesz?

    Where are you going right now?

    Word by Word: Where now you-go?

    Uses the present tense 'idziesz' to ask about a movement currently in progress.

  2. Wczoraj szedłem do parku przez godzinę.

    Yesterday I was walking to the park for an hour.

    Word by Word: Yesterday I-went to park through hour.

    Demonstrates the masculine past tense form 'szedłem' for an ongoing movement in the past.

  3. Idziemy na spacer, chcesz iść z nami?

    We are going for a walk, do you want to go with us?

    Word by Word: We-go on walk, you-want to-go with us?

    Shows the first-person plural 'idziemy' and the infinitive 'iść'.

  4. Wszystko idzie zgodnie z planem.

    Everything is going according to plan.

    Word by Word: Everything goes according with plan.

    A common figurative use of 'iść' to describe progress.

  5. Ona szła bardzo szybko.

    She was walking very fast.

    Word by Word: She went very fast.

    Shows the feminine past tense 'szła', where the 'e' from the masculine 'szedł' is dropped.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'iść' when traveling by vehicle.

    Idę do Londynu samolotem.
    Lecę do Londynu samolotem.

    'Iść' mainly means going on foot (some scheduled vehicles also 'go', as in autobus idzie). For planes, use 'lecieć'; for cars and most vehicles, use 'jechać'.

  • Saying 'szłem' instead of 'szedłem'.

    Wczoraj szłem do kina.
    Wczoraj szedłem do kina.

    Male speakers often drop the 'ed' in casual speech, but 'szłem' is considered a grammatical error. Always use 'szedłem'.

  • Using 'iść' for a general habit.

    Different MeaningCodziennie idę do pracy.
    Codziennie chodzę do pracy.

    Codziennie idę do pracy is grammatical, for example when you describe the walk you make at a certain time every day. For a general habit, the neutral choice is 'chodzić': Codziennie chodzę do pracy.

How It Connects

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iśćLevel 3The Verb Iść

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Learn Present Tense before The Verb Iść.

Words in This Pattern

iść