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Same verb but I am walking and she is running? Which part of the sentence is indicating that?
I spoke with some native speakers about this, and basically got the impression that while "laufen" can mean walking/to walk, it usually means running, and is almost always used in that context, while "gehen" is more often used for walking. This may vary by region somewhat, but so far I haven't found any exceptions out of all the German / Swiss people I've met (though the Swiss do seem to use "ränne" for run more often, but then that's Swiss German, an entirely different beast, though it roughly correlates with "rennen").
Thanks! I had been under the impression that laufen just meant walk and only rennen meant run. You and Thelund were really helpful with this. :)
You got me, Javi. I've always wondered how 'laufen' can mean walking and running. Especially since they already have a word for run (rennen) and for jog (joggen). Maybe someone here can explain what. Maybe 'laufen' just means 'to go by foot?'
'Laufen' means both walking and running! 'joggen' is a loan-word, from English I think. 'Rennen' can also mean a race, like 'Formel 1 Rennen' would be 'formula 1 race'!
To walk can also be 'gehen'! I think more often than not 'laufen' is used about running. And 'rennen' is mainly used about a race!(?)
I think the point of this sentence is not really that 'sie läuft' is 'she runs', but to point that 'laufen' is like movement in general and that by context you know if it's a walk or a run. i.e. "I run and she walks" is also an option.
