Expressions with Go + Verb-ing
It is very common to use a gerund after the verb “go”. Remember that we form a gerund by adding “-ing” to the end of a verb (playing, eating, drinking, etc.).
We use “go + gerund” to talk about hobbies or activities.
Look at the difference between the two sentences.
- Mary likes to go running for exercise.
- Mary ran away from the dog.
In example 1, we can use “go running” because it is a hobby/activity. Mary likes to run as a hobby or exercise.
In example 2, we cannot use “go running” because Mary is not running as a hobby or activity. Mary is running because she is trying to escape the dog. It is just an action.
We can use “go” in any tense.
- I like to go shopping with my friend.
- I went shopping with my friend last weekend.
- I will go shopping with my friend next weekend.
- I have gone shopping with my friend April many times.
- I am going shopping with my friend tonight.
Sometimes, we can also use a regular verb to express the same thing.
- I like to camp.
(=I like to go camping.)
In the present perfect tense and other perfect verb tenses, we can use the verb “to be” or “to go”.
-
- I have been camping many times.
(=I have gone camping many times.)
- I have been camping many times.
- I have never been scuba diving.
(=I have never gone scuba diving.)
Let’s take a look at a list of the most common activities and hobbies that are used with “go”.
go running | go shopping | go hiking |
go surfing | go bowling | go sailing |
go camping | go sightseeing | go jogging |
go skiing | go kayaking | go dancing |
go trekking | go skating | go fishing |
go scuba diving | go mountain climbing | go horseback riding |
- Do you want to go camping next weekend?
- She always goes surfing in the morning.
- We went dancing last weekend.
- I will go mountain climbing.
- Would you like to go ice skating tomorrow?
- Let’s go horseback riding.
- I want to go dancing this weekend.
- They went hiking. They should be back soon.