ísť / chodiť
Going Now and Going Regularly
Idem do práce. I'm on my way to work (now, one trip). Chodím do práce. I go to work (regularly).
How It Works
The forms
- ísť: idem, ideš, ide, ideme, idete, idú. Negative: nejdem, nejdeš, nejde ... Past: išiel or šiel, išla, išli. See Going With ísť.
- chodiť: chodím, chodíš, chodí, chodíme, chodíte, chodia. Negative: nechodím. Past: chodil, chodila, chodili.
Use ísť for
- A trip happening right now: Kam ideš? – Idem do obchodu. (Where are you going? – I'm going to the shop.)
- A single planned trip: V sobotu ideme k babke. (On Saturday we're going to Grandma's.)
Use chodiť for
- Regular or repeated trips, often with words like často (often), každý deň (every day) or niekedy (sometimes): Do práce chodím pešo. (I walk to work.)
- Attending something: chodiť do školy (go to school), chodiť na kurz (attend a course).
- Walking as an ability or walking around: Náš syn už chodí. (Our son can already walk.)
- Going out with someone: Chodí s Petrom. (She's going out with Peter.)
Commands and the future
The command form choď! (go!) comes from chodiť and is used for one trip too: Choď domov! (Go home!) To call someone toward you, say Poď sem! (Come here!). See Commands to One Person. The future of ísť is pôjdem, and of chodiť budem chodiť, see Future of Verbs of Motion.
Other motion verbs work in similar pairs, see Other Verbs of Motion in Pairs.
Examples (6)
- Kam ideš? – Idem do obchodu.
Where are you going? – I'm going to the shop.
One trip, happening now: ísť.
- Do práce chodím pešo.
I walk to work.
Word by Word: To work I-go on-foot.
A regular habit: chodiť.
- Chodíš často do kina?
Do you often go to the cinema?
Často (often) signals repeated trips, so chodiť.
- V sobotu ideme k babke.
On Saturday we're going to Grandma's.
A single planned trip: ísť.
- Náš syn už chodí.
Our son can already walk.
Chodiť for walking as an ability.
- Chodím na kurz slovenčiny.
I'm taking a Slovak course.
Chodiť na kurz means to attend a course regularly.
Common Mistakes
Using ísť for repeated trips.
Ideš často do kina?Chodíš často do kina?Často (often) describes repeated trips, so the verb must be chodiť. Ísť is for one trip.
Using chodiť for a single trip happening now. The intended meaning is "I'm on my way home now".
Teraz chodím domov.Teraz idem domov.A single trip in progress uses ísť: idem. Chodím domov would describe a habit, not what you are doing right now.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Going Now and Going Regularly, learn Going With ísť. chodiť is the regular-motion partner of ísť.
Related Patterns
- pôjdem / ponesiemFuture of Verbs of Motion
Shows the future forms of ísť and other motion verbs.
Level 3 - niesť / nosiť and Other Motion Verb PairsOther Verbs of Motion in Pairs
Other motion verbs that split one trip from repeated movement in the same way.
Level 3 - prísť / prichádzať, odísť / odchádzaťArriving and Leaving
Prefixed forms of ísť for arriving and leaving.
Level 3 - do + GenitiveGoing into: Do
The preposition you use for going into a place, as in chodím do školy.
Level 1 - na + AccusativeGoing Onto and to: Na
The preposition you use for going to events and some places, as in idem na koncert.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice ísť / chodiť in Bubblegum
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