German Phrase
Ich gehe den Rasen mähen.
Meaning
Literally, 'I go to mow the lawn.' It expresses that the speaker is about to leave for the purpose of mowing the grass. The construction emphasizes the intention to go somewhere to perform the action.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to tell someone that you are heading out to mow the lawn, especially in informal conversation with family or friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
IchgehedenRasenmähen
Verb + gehen + infinitive
In German, 'gehen' can be used as a modal-like verb meaning 'to go and do something', followed by an infinitive without 'zu'.
Accusative case with 'den'
The direct object 'Rasen' is masculine, so in the accusative it takes the article 'den'.
Separable verb 'mähen'
The verb 'mähen' is separable; in the infinitive it appears as a single word, but in main clauses the prefix separates (e.g., 'Ich mähe den Rasen').
🗨In Conversation
Ich gehe den Rasen mähen.
I'm going to mow the lawn.
Viel Spaß! Vergiss nicht, das Wasser zu holen, wenn es trocken ist.
Have fun! Don't forget to get the water if it's dry.
✕Common Mistakes
Ich gehe der Rasen mähen.
The article must match the accusative case; 'Rasen' is masculine, so 'den' is correct. Learners sometimes use 'der' (nominative) by mistake.
Ich gehe den Rasen zu mähen.
If you want to use a simple future, you would say 'Ich werde den Rasen mähen' instead of the 'gehen' construction.
Ich gehe den Rasen zu mähen.
Do not split the separable verb in the infinitive form; 'mähen' stays together.
↔Alternatives
Ich werde den Rasen mähen.
I will mow the lawn.
Ich mähte den Rasen gleich.
I'll mow the lawn right away.
Ich schneide den Rasen.
I am cutting the lawn.
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking households, mowing the lawn is often a weekend chore shared among family members. Saying 'Ich gehe den Rasen mähen' signals that you are taking responsibility, and it's polite to ask if anyone needs help before you start.