Když jdu do práce, beru si s sebou telefon i hodinky.

When I go to work, I take my phone and my watch with me.

Breakdown of Když jdu do práce, beru si s sebou telefon i hodinky.

• já: I
• s: with
• jít: to go
• do: to

Questions & Answers about Když jdu do práce, beru si s sebou telefon i hodinky.

What does když mean here, and why is there a comma after the first part?

Když means when.

It introduces a subordinate clause: Když jdu do práce = When I go / am going to work.

In Czech, subordinate clauses are normally separated by a comma, so the comma here is required.

Why is it jdu and not chodím?

This is a very common question because Czech has two different verbs where English just has go.

• jít / jdu = to go in one direction, to be going, to be on the way
• chodit / chodím = to go regularly, habitually, back and forth

So:

• Když jdu do práce means when I’m going to work / when I’m on my way to work
• Chodím do práce means I go to work regularly or even I have a job and go there

In this sentence, jdu focuses on each individual trip to work, not just the general habit.

What case is do práce, and why?