Expressions with the Verb TO GO

Use GO with another -ING verb when you talk about activities and sports.

• Do you want to go surfing in California?
• There are some beautiful places to go sightseeing here, too!
• Have you ever gone wine tasting in Italy?

Team sports (soccer, basketball) typically use the verb to play. Sports that are done individually usually use to go. For more information about the verbs go, play, and do, click here.

WATER SPORTS

• go swimming
• go surfing
• go scuba diving
• go snorkeling
• go sailing
• go wind surfing
• go boogie boarding

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

• go hiking
• go biking
• go mountain climbing
• go ice skating
• go skiing
• go camping
• go exploring

TRAVEL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES

• go shopping
• go sightseeing
• go wine-tasting
• go dancing
• go clubbing (go to nightclubs for dancing and music)

GO EXPRESSIONS WITHOUT -ING VERBS

Go is also used in expressions that don’t use an -ing verb.

• go broke (lose all your money)
• go out of business (close a business forever)
  • Many businesses go broke after the first year and go out of business.
• go bald (lose your hair)
• go blind (lose your vision)
  • He went bald when he was 45, but he didn’t go blind until much later.
• go away for the weekend
• go out of town for business or travel
• go abroad (overseas for travel, work, or study)
• go home
  • After going abroad, going away for a few weeks, or even going out of town for the weekend, it’s always wonderful to go back home.

Do you know the difference between go back and come back? Click here.

Remember, the verb to go can change in tense. Let’s look at what happens when we use one expressions in different tenses.

• I go swimming every day.
• I went swimming yesterday.
• I haven’t gone swimming in a long time.
• I‘m going swimming after work today.
• I won’t go swimming in cold water!

Do you know any more expressions with the verb to go? Add your comments below!

Ready, set, GO!