Let's discover the verb 'go'

From : http://www.shraddhaenglish.com/irregular-verb-go/

Long time not see. Well, don't blame me. I've been on holidays and preparing wedding arrangements. Anyway, today I've decided to write an entry on one of the first verbs you got to know when you started learning English, the verb 'go'. I previously wrote entries on the verb 'have' and the verb 'get', so now it's go's turn ! Even though you may think that 'go' is an easy verb, it may as well turn out to be more complex than you can think. Let's begin !

1. 'Go' as a verb of direction 

This is probably one of the first basic things when you learn English. 'Go' is a verb of direction that usually takes the preposition 'to'. 'I usually go to the beach in summer.' However, there are some exceptions where the preposition 'to' is not needed : 'go home' / 'go somewhere' / 'go anywhere' / 'go everywhere'.

The verb go can take other prepositions of direction such as 'into', 'towards', 'around', 'up', 'down' ... 

2. Go + -ing to indicate physical activity

There are hundreds and hundreds of examples involving 'go' + ing for physical activities. In this case, the preposition 'to' is not needed either. I have divided the expressions into sports (most of them involve water or are extreme sports) and leisure activities. 

From : http://www.trainer.ae/articles/4-reasons-to-go-jogging-in-the-morning-5187

a) Sports :

Go swimming
Go skiing
Go skateboarding
Go rollerblading
Go ice skating
Go fishing
Go surfing
Go parachuting 
Go snowboarding
Go bungee jumping
Go jogging
Go trekking 
Go hiking
Go running
Go scuba diving
Go cycling
Go mountain climbing
Go rafting
Go snorkelling
Go paragliding
Go mountainbiking
Go canoeing
Go rowing 
Go sailing
Go kiteboarding

b) Leisure activities
Go shopping
Go window shopping
Go hunting
Go dancing
Go camping
Go sightseeing
Go bowling

3. Go for a +noun
This is a typically English construction not existing in Spanish. It is similar to the previous go +-ing, only this time the structure requires 'go for a' + a noun derived from a verb. There are a lot of examples :
Go for a drink
Go for a ride = go cycling
Go for a swim = go swimming
Go for a jog = go jogging
Go for a run = go running
Go for a drive 
Go for a hike = Go hiking
Go for a walk
Go for a stroll 
Go for a pizza / coffee / soda /snack...

4. Be going to + infinitive 

Future time is complex in English and there are various ways of expressing it, including 'will' and other modal verbs. One of the ways to express future in English is the structure 'be going to + infinitive'. That means the verb 'go' is conjugated in the present continuous and then a full infinitive (with 'to') is added. This structure can be used to talk about :

a) Fixed plans and arrangements : 'I'm going to get married in October' (or I'm getting married in October) / 'My sister is going to have her baby in August (or 'my sister is having her baby in August'). 

b) Predictions based on certain evidence : 'The sky is dark. It's going to rain.' / 'Be careful, that glass is going to fall to the ground !'

c) Intentions : 'I'm going to study and I'm going to pass all my exams.' (with 'be going to' you are being positive. It shows determination, willingness and commitment).

5. go and + infinitive 

This is another typical English construction. In English this structure is, in my humble opinion, far more common than go + to infinitive. Have a look at these examples : 

(1) 'If you want some food you can go and get it' / *If you want some food you can go to get it. 

(2) After some time, I decided to go and talk to her / I decided to go to talk to her. 

As you can see, the structure 'go and' sounds more English and is always correct. This structure is a clear indicator that you are progressing in your English  and that you are thinking in English and not in Spanish. However, the structure go + to + infinitive is used to indicate purpose and sounds odd in the first examples. It is more of a Spanish-like construction.

6. Phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs

This is getting more and more complicated. Now we get into the troublesome are of phrasal and prepositional verbs, which happen to be a total nightmare for most students of mine ! You take a certain verb and then add a preposition or adverb and the meaning of the verb normally changes this verb. Don't panic ! Phrasal verbs with 'go' are not the toughest ones, so let's get to discover some of the phrasal verbs with 'go'.

- Go out = This has three possible meanings. The first one is quite obvious, it means 'exit'. 'I went out of my house to breathe some fresh air.' The second meaning is related to romantic interest. If you go out with someone, it means you are dating someone. 'I'm going out with Jenny this afternoon.' Last but not least, the final and most uncommon meaning of 'go out' is extinguish and is usually linked to fire. The fire went out after some time. 

- Go away = This verb has two meanings. The first one is a synonym for 'leave' in informal English. 'He packed his things and went away'. The second one is similar but in involves 'going on a trip.' 'He went away for the weekend.'

- Go on = It means 'continue' and is a synonym for 'keep on' and 'proceed with'. 'He was tired but he went on swimming in spite of that.' 'Go on' is followed by -ing when you continue doing the same activity (like in the previous example) and is followed by 'to infinitive' when you start a new activity, for instance, 'after explaining the consequences of climate change, he went on to speak about the possible solutions for that.' 

- Go off = It is a synonym for 'activate'. A bomb can go off, but also an alarm clock ! But surprisingly it is also s synonym for 'break down' or 'stop' : 'The generator went off after the storm.'

From : https://stephanienoble.com/category/body-clock/

- Go by = This verb is related to time and it means 'pass', e.g. 'Two days went by and I didn't get an answer' (=two days passed).

- Go over something = Revise. You should go over your themes for the exam ! 

-Go back = Return. 'I have to go back home. It's very late !'

- Go up / Go down = Increase / decrease. Prices always go up and never go down.'

7. Go on a + noun 

That's yet another typical construction similar to 'go for a' It's pointless trying to translate from your language. Instead, you need to think in English to understand this construction and see how it collocates. Examples of this constructions are :

- Go on a diet

- Go on holiday 

- Go on vacation

- Go on a date 

- Go on a trip / journey

- Go on a binge alcohol

- Go on a killing spree

This structure is used when you are going to do an activity that is going to take some time and it somehow involves your commitment and willingness to do it. 

8. Go + adjective

This is a really complex structure in English ! The use of 'go' + adjectives indicates the result. It normally refers to a negative outcome and it indicates the result of an action and is close to the verb 'become'.

-The child went missing on Sunday (=disappeared). 

- His generosity always goes unnoticed 

- The girl went berserk/crazy when she heard the news.

- Everything went wrong. 

As you can see the verb 'go' is extremely important in English. To fully understand this verb, you have to stop translating from your mother tongue and start thinking in English or how the English speakers conceive their own language. I hope you have liked my post. Please, post a comment with your thoughts !

See you next week !