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What is the difference between Arbeit and Arbeiten

Posted in Germany forum 12 Jan 2018, 11:13

Hi All,

I am learning German.

What is the difference between Arbeit and Arbeiten?

I translated "go to work" into "gehen zu arbeiten"

but while checking in net/google translate.It is wrong.

The right one is "geh zur Arbeit".

Why the word gehen change geh ,zu change to zur and arbeiten change to arbeit.

Please any one help me to understand.

Thanks & Regards,

 raj mal

• 
  Grammar

  posted by  Frank (confidential) in Germany forum 16 Jan 2018, 08:26

  This is a simple question of grammar:
  "Arbeit" is a noun (the work), "arbeiten" is a verb (to work).
  Since "zu" (to) always comes with a noun, you can say "Ich gehe zur Arbeit", but not "Ich gehe zu arbeiten."
  The difference between "gehen" und "geh" is simply declination: Ich gehe/geh (colloquial short form), du gehst, er geht, wir gehen/gehn, ihr geht, sie gehen/gehn.