Go + noun – Lesson
he construction “go” + noun in English is a prevalent and practical way to express various activities. This format is commonly used with nouns that describe activities, especially those ending in -ing, which are known as gerunds. For example, “go swimming” or “go shopping.” Understanding how to correctly use this structure is crucial for ESL learners, as it not only improves fluency but also enhances comprehension of everyday English expressions.
Look at the sentences. For most sentences we use go to (somewhere)…
I will go to the store.
I will go to the bank.
I will go to the park.
BUT… when you talk about home or shopping, don’t use to.
I will go home. Do not say– I will go to home.
I will go shopping. Do not say– I will go to shopping.
Now you try…
Practice Quiz on “Go” + Noun
Now that you are familiar with the use of “go” + noun in English, complete the following sentences to test your understanding. Select “to” or “x” (not needed) based on the rules of using gerunds with “go.” This exercise will help you master the construction and use it accurately in everyday conversations.
Use “to” if it is needed or “x” if nothing is needed.
Karen needed to go _____ class. But she decided to go ____ shopping instead. So first she went _____ the bank to get money. Next she went _____ a restaurant. Then she went _____ a huge shopping mall where she bought a new sweater and a hat. After that she decided to go ____ the supermarket go get some groceries. At the end of the day, she was tired, so she went _____ home and fell asleep.
Answer Key:
Karen needed to go to class. But she decided to go (X) shopping instead. So first she went to a restaurant. Then she went to a huge shopping mall where she bought a new sweater and a hat. After that she decided to go to the supermarket to get some groceries. At the end of the day she was tired, so she went (X) home and fell asleep.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Go + noun:
In English, the phrase “Go + noun” is typically used to describe various activities, especially leisure activities or routine tasks. This construction combines the verb “go” with a noun that represents the activity. For example, “go swimming” or “go shopping”. It’s a simple yet versatile structure used to talk about participating in different actions.
Not all nouns work with “Go + noun”. This construction is generally used with activities that are understood as events or actions. Nouns like “swimming”, “fishing”, “shopping” are activities and fit this pattern. However, nouns that don’t represent activities, like “table” or “idea”, do not work in this construction.
The “Go + noun” construction tends to have a casual tone, but it’s not necessarily informal. It can be used in both spoken and written English, in casual and semi-formal contexts. However, for more formal or academic writing, it might be better to use more detailed descriptions of activities.
Tense changes in “Go + noun” follow the regular conjugation rules of the verb “go”. For example, “go swimming” in the past tense becomes “went swimming”. The noun part of the phrase does not change with tense. It’s important to conjugate “go” correctly to match the time frame you are talking about.
Yes, you can add details to “Go + noun” phrases to make them more specific. You can include where, when, with whom, and why you are doing the activity. For example, “go swimming at the beach”, “go shopping tomorrow”, or “go fishing with my friends”. These additions provide more context and detail to the basic structure.