German Phrase
Ich lerne jetzt stricken.
Meaning
The speaker is telling the listener that they have just started learning how to knit. The adverb ‘jetzt’ stresses that the learning is happening at this very moment.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to share a new hobby or activity you are beginning, especially in casual conversation with friends, family, or language‑exchange partners.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ichlernejetztstricken
Personalpronomen (Ich)
Subject pronoun for the first person singular; always capitalised in German.
Verb lernen (lerne)
Present‑tense conjugation of lernen (to learn). With an infinitive it does NOT require ‘zu’.
Zeitadverb (jetzt)
Means ‘now’; placed directly after the verb in simple statements, but can also appear before the verb for emphasis.
Infinitiv ohne zu (stricken)
When lernen is followed by another verb, the infinitive appears without ‘zu’. ‘Stricken’ is the infinitive of ‘to knit’.
🗨In Conversation
Was machst du in deiner Freizeit?
What do you do in your free time?
Ich lerne jetzt stricken.
I am learning to knit now.
✕Common Mistakes
Ich lerne jetzt zu stricken.
‘Lernen’ is followed directly by the infinitive; do NOT insert ‘zu’.
Ich lerne jetzt das stricken.
When ‘Stricken’ is used as a noun it must be capitalised: ‘das Stricken’. Also, the article is optional in this construction.
↔Alternatives
Ich fange jetzt an zu stricken.
I am starting to knit now.
Ich lerne gerade stricken.
I am currently learning to knit.
Ich lerne jetzt das Stricken.
I am learning knitting now.
Cultural Tip
Knitting (Stricken) is a beloved pastime in German‑speaking countries, especially during the colder months. Many towns have ‘Strickkreise’ (knitting circles) where people meet in cafés to work on projects together. Remember that ‘Stricken’ is a verb; the noun form is capitalised – ‘das Stricken’. If you want to stress the ongoing nature of the activity, you can replace ‘jetzt’ with ‘gerade’.