01
mitgehen
to go along
To accompany someone on foot; to go together with others to a specific place.
example
Ich gehe kurz zum Supermarkt, willst du mitgehen?
I'm just going to the supermarket, do you want to go along?
mitgehen
to go along
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 03
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Mitgehen' (to go along) is a separable verb. The prefix 'mit-' separates from the verb in the main clause and comes at the end of the sentence. In subordinate clauses, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Gehst du später mit ins Café?
Are you going along to the café later?
Perfect tense with 'sein'
Since 'mitgehen' (to go along) expresses movement, the perfect tense is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein'. So say 'ich bin mitgegangen' (I went along), not 'ich habe mitgegangen'.
EXAMPLE
Er ist gestern Abend mit seinen Freunden ins Kino mitgegangen.
He went along to the cinema with his friends yesterday evening.
Fixed expression
The expression 'etwas mitgehen lassen' (to make off with something) is a fixed unit and means 'stehlen' (to steal). It is used colloquially and has the structure: subject + hat + object (accusative) + mitgehen lassen.
EXAMPLE
Ich glaube, jemand hat meinen Stift mitgehen lassen.
I think someone made off with my pen.
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning 'zustimmen' (to agree) by the fact that the verb refers to something abstract, such as a proposal, an idea, or an argument. The literal meaning refers to a physical path or place.
EXAMPLE
Das ist ein guter Plan, da kann ich mitgehen.
That's a good plan; I can go along with that.
Compare with
mitgehen vs folgen
to follow
'folgen' and 'mitgehen' can both mean that you move with another person. 'folgen' emphasizes that someone is going or driving behind a person or thing. The other person is more likely to be in front or to be setting the direction. 'mitgehen' emphasizes that you accompany someone and walk together with them. The words are easy to confuse because in both cases two people may take the same route. If you are simply going behind someone, 'folgen' fits better; if you are out and about together, 'mitgehen' sounds more natural.
mitgehen
Am Wochenende gehe ich mit meiner Nachbarin zum Markt mit.
At the weekend, I'm going along with my neighbor to the market.
folgen
Im Museum folgt die Gruppe der Führerin durch die alten Räume.
In the museum, the group follows the guide through the old rooms.
In real life
Loading video examples...