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Verbs of Motion

Determinate vs indeterminate; foot vs vehicle

Motion verbs split: determinate vs indeterminate

iść (going now) vs chodzić (goes regularly).

📊 Verbs of motion
On foot By vehicle Sense
iść jechać going now (one direction)
chodzić jeździć going habitually / around
poszedł pojechał went (perfective)
💬 Examples
Idę do szkoły.
I'm going to school (now).
📝 iść = one specific trip
Chodzę do szkoły.
I go to school (regularly).
📝 chodzić = habitual / repeated
On foot vs by vehicle

iść/chodzić (walk) vs jechać/jeździć (ride/drive).

💬 Examples
Jadę do Warszawy.
I'm going (by transport) to Warsaw.
📝 jechać = by vehicle
Jeżdżę do pracy autobusem.
I commute to work by bus.
📝 jeździć = habitual, by vehicle
Prefixes build directional perfectives

przyjść (arrive), wyjść (leave), pójść (set off).

💬 Examples
Przyszedłem za późno.
I arrived too late.
📝 przy- = arrival
Wyszła z domu.
She left the house.
📝 wy- = exit (wyjść)