German Phrase
Es geht darum, ein paar Kisten zu bewegen.
Meaning
The sentence means “The point is to move a few boxes.” It highlights the purpose of an activity rather than describing the boxes themselves. The construction ‘es geht darum’ signals that what follows is the goal or focus of the discussion.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to explain the aim of a task, especially in work, moving, or logistics contexts. It works well in both informal team talks and more formal instructions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Esgehtdarum,einpaarKistenzubewegen.
Es geht darum
A fixed phrase meaning 'the point is' or 'it's about', used to introduce the purpose of an action.
zu‑Infinitiv
After 'darum' the infinitive is introduced with 'zu' to express what the action is about.
ein paar
An indefinite quantifier meaning 'a few' or 'a couple of', used with plural countable nouns.
Kisten (plural)
Plural noun for 'boxes' or 'crates'; note the vowel change from singular 'Kiste' to plural 'Kisten'.
Komma vor Infinitivgruppe
A comma is required before the infinitive clause when it is introduced by a phrase like 'es geht darum'.
🗨In Conversation
Wir müssen heute das Lager aufräumen.
We have to tidy up the warehouse today.
Es geht darum, ein paar Kisten zu bewegen.
The point is to move a few boxes.
✕Common Mistakes
Es geht um, ein paar Kisten zu bewegen.
‘Es geht um’ means ‘it’s about (a topic)’, not ‘the point is to…’; you need ‘darum’ to introduce the infinitive clause.
Es geht darum, einige Kisten zu bewegen.
‘Einige’ is correct but changes the nuance; learners often replace ‘ein paar’ with ‘einige’ without noticing the subtle difference in quantity perception.
Es geht darum ein paar Kisten zu bewegen.
The comma before the infinitive group is mandatory in this construction.
↔Alternatives
Es geht darum, ein paar Kisten zu transportieren.
It's about transporting a few boxes.
Wir sollen ein paar Kisten umstellen.
We should rearrange a few boxes.
Ziel ist es, ein paar Kisten zu bewegen.
The goal is to move a few boxes.
Cultural Tip
In German, ‘es geht darum’ is a very common way to introduce the purpose of an action. It is more formal than simply saying ‘wir müssen …’ and often appears in written instructions or meeting minutes. Remember to keep the comma before the infinitive clause; omitting it is a frequent mistake for learners.