Explanation
Exercises

🚶‍♀️ How to use the verb go in English

Key patterns: go + -ing, go to, go for a, go on a, plus go + adverb, transport, “go and + verb”, and phrasal verbs.
go + -ing (activities) go to + place / event go for a + activity go on a + trip/holiday go + home/there/abroad (no “to”) go by + transport go and + V / go + V (AmE) phrasal verbs: go out/on/back…
🟩GO + -ing (sports & activities)
PATTERN Use go + -ing with many sports and leisure activities.
  • We went kayaking on Lake Michigan.
  • I want to go shopping this afternoon.
  • Let’s go dancing / clubbing tonight.
  • They often go hiking at weekends.
Compare
  • play + ball games: play tennis, play football.
  • do + non-game exercise: do yoga, do karate.
🟠GO TO + place/event
PLACES
  • I’m going to the bank / to the dentist.
  • They went to a restaurant / to a wedding.
  • Typical city places with the: go to the cinema, to the hairdresser’s, to the park.
FIXED EXPRESSIONS (no article)
  • go to work, go to bed 🛏️
  • go to school/university (= as a student)
  • go to prison (= as a prisoner). Visiting → go to the prison/school.
🧭GO + adverb (no “to”)
DIRECTION / PLACE ADVERBS No “to” before adverbs like home, there, here, somewhere, anywhere, north, left, upstairs, downtown, abroad.
  • Let’s go home. (not *go to home)
  • We’re going there later.
  • Tourists often go abroad in winter.
  • Go upstairs/downstairs and check.
🚌Transport: GO BY / GO ON
PATTERN
  • We usually go by car/bus/train/air. (not *go in bus)
  • They went on foot. (= walked)
  • Go on the bus / the subway (focus on the vehicle you board).
🥤GO FOR A + activity
PATTERN
  • I’m going to go for a swim/run/walk.
  • Shall we go for a coffee/beer after work?
  • Let’s go for a ride/drive in the hills.
🧳GO ON A + trip/holiday
PATTERN
  • They went on a cruise with their family.
  • We’re going on an excursion tomorrow.
  • He went on a business trip to Berlin.
🧩GO AND + base verb
SPOKEN ENGLISH
  • I’ll go and get the tickets.
  • Go and see what’s happening.
  • AmE often drops “and”: Go see the doctor; Go get your coat.
🎭GO + adjective (change of state)
MEANING
  • The milk went bad.
  • The sky went dark and it started to rain.
  • He went crazy when he won.
  • The child went missing for two hours.
🧭Common phrasal verbs with GO
  • go out (leave/socialize; light stops shining): We went out last night; The lights went out.
  • go on (continue/happen): Please go on; What’s going on?
  • go back (return): When did you go back home?
  • go over (review): Let’s go over your answers.
  • go through (experience/examine): She went through a tough time.
  • go off (explode/sound/spoil): The alarm went off; The meat went off.
  • go with (match/choose): These shoes go with that dress; I’ll go with option B.
  • go for (try/choose): I’ll go for the veggie burger.
🧪More natural examples
  • What time do you go to work? — Around eight.
  • I’m tired. I’m going to bed.
  • They couldn’t go to school because of the snow.
  • Let’s go there by tram and come back on foot.
  • We go hiking three times a month.
  • She’s gone abroad for a year.
🚫Common mistakes
  • ❌ go to home → ✅ go home
  • ❌ go to shopping → ✅ go shopping
  • ❌ go in bus → ✅ go by bus / on the bus
  • ❌ go to the school (as a student) → ✅ go to school — visitor: go to the school.
  • ❌ go to prison (to visit) → ✅ visitor: go to the prison; prisoner: go to prison.
✅Quick checks
  • Activities? → go + -ing / go for a
  • City places/events? → go to (+ the/a)
  • Direction words? → go + home/there/here/abroad (no “to”)
  • Travel? → go by transport / go on a trip/holiday
  • Next action/errand? → go and + verb (spoken)
Recap: go pairs with -ing for activities, to for places/events, for a for short actions, on a for trips, takes adverbs of place without “to”, and forms many useful phrasal verbs. 🌟
Exercises:
1
2
3

How to use the verb go in English

Choose the correct form of go to complete the sentences below.
1
It's sunny — let's for a walk.
2
We usually to the gym after work.
3
She's shopping this afternoon.
4
I never home before midnight on Saturdays.
5
We decided on a day trip tomorrow.
6
What time did you to bed yesterday?
7
He skiing every winter.
8
They usually on holiday in September.
9
We to the nearest petrol station when the light came on.
10
Have you ever abroad by yourself?

How to use the verb go in English

Choose the correct form of go to complete the sentences below.
1
It’s getting dark — let’s ____ home.
A.
B.
C.
2
We usually ____ by bus in winter.
A.
B.
C.
3
She wants to ____ shopping after work.
A.
B.
C.
4
We’re ____ a trip to the mountains next month.
A.
B.
C.
5
He didn’t ____ to the party because he was ill.
A.
B.
C.
6
It’s late — time to ____.
A.
B.
C.
7
Are you ____ out tonight?
A.
B.
C.
8
They ____ skiing every January.
A.
B.
C.
9
As a child, I used to ____ church every Sunday.
A.
B.
C.
10
She hopes to ____ abroad after graduation.
A.
B.
C.

How to use the verb go in English

Complete with a phrase from the box. Use to / on / for and a/the when needed (type the whole phrase, e.g. on holiday, to the gym, for a walk, home).
Word box: holiday – gym – walk – dentist – home – bed – church – trip – swim – university – shopping – coffee

on + holiday / a trip for + a walk / a swim / a coffee to + the gym / the dentist / bed / church / university go home (no “to”)

1
We’d love to go in July if we can get time off.
2
I’m not free at six — I’m going .
3
It’s sunny. Shall we go in the park?
4
My tooth hurts — I need to go tomorrow.
5
It’s late. Let’s go after dessert.
6
I usually go around eleven on weekdays.
7
On Sundays my grandparents go together.
8
The class is going to the science museum next week.
9
It’s so hot — let’s go in the lake.
10
Her sister is going in Scotland next year.