B1 Gerunds & Infinitives 14 min read Leicht

Aktivitäten mit 'Go': Schwimmen, Einkaufen usw. (Go + Gerund)

Wenn du 'go' + Verb-ing richtig verwendest, klingt dein Englisch für Aktivitäten viel natürlicher. Es ist super praktisch!

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'go' followed by an '-ing' verb to talk about hobbies, sports, and activities that involve moving around.

  • Use 'go' + gerund for sports without balls like 'go swimming' (not 'go to swim').
  • Use it for recreational shopping or errands like 'go window-shopping'.
  • The verb 'go' changes tense (went, gone, going), but the gerund stays the same.
👤 + 🚶‍♂️ (go/went) + 🏊‍♂️ (verb-ing)

Overview

Warum sagen wir go shopping, aber niemals go playing? Wenn du jemals das Gefühl hattest, Englisch sei nur eine Sammlung zufälliger Regeln, bist du nicht allein. Dieses spezielle Muster – go plus ein gerund (die -ing-Form eines Verbs) – ist eine jener eigenartigen englischen Gewohnheiten, die eigentlich einen sehr coolen, logischen Grund haben.
Es geht um Bewegung, Freizeit und den „Vibe“ der Aktivität. Stell es dir als die Grammatik des „Rausgehens und Etwas-Unternehmens“ vor. Egal, ob du eine Instagram-Story über dein Wochenende postest oder einem Freund erzählst, dass du zum Einkaufszentrum fährst, du benutzt diese Regel.
Es ist der Unterschied zwischen einer statischen Handlung und einer vollwertigen Erfahrung.

How This Grammar Works

Im Kern wird die Struktur go + gerund für Freizeitaktivitäten verwendet, die eine Art Reise oder Bewegung beinhalten. Es geht nicht nur um die Handlung selbst, sondern um die gesamte Reise. Wenn du go swimming gehst, bist du nicht einfach nur im Wasser.
Du packst deine Tasche, fährst zum Pool oder zum Strand, ziehst dich um und machst dann die Aktivität. Das Wort go fungiert als Signal, dass du dich von Punkt A nach Punkt B bewegst, um eine Freizeitaktivität auszuüben. Deshalb verwenden wir es nicht für Dinge wie eating (Essen) oder sleeping (Schlafen).

Formation Pattern

1
Das Verb go. Dies ist der „Motor“. Du kannst es in jede Zeitform konjugieren. I go, he goes, we went.
2
Das gerund (Verb + -ing). Dies ist die „Ladung“. Es bleibt immer gleich.
3
Form | Beispiel | Übersetzung
4
Present Simple | I go swimming. | Ich gehe schwimmen.
5
Past Simple | We went shopping. | Wir waren einkaufen.
6
Future | You will go hiking. | Du wirst wandern gehen.

When To Use It

Du verwendest dieses Muster für drei Hauptkategorien. Erstens: Sportarten ohne Ball wie running (Laufen) oder swimming (Schwimmen). Zweitens: Outdoor-Freizeitaktivitäten wie hiking (Wandern) oder camping (Zelten).
Drittens: Bestimmte Besorgungen wie shopping (Einkaufen). Es verleiht der Handlung einen Sinn. Es sagt dem Zuhörer, dass dies nicht nur eine zufällige Bewegung war, sondern eine bewusste Entscheidung.

Common Mistakes

Der absolut größte Fehler ist das Hinzufügen von to. „I want to go to swimming.“ Falsch! Im Englischen ist go to für Orte, während go + gerund für Aktivitäten ist. Ein weiterer Fehler ist die Verwendung bei Ballsportarten. „I go playing soccer“ ist falsch. Sag „I play soccer“.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • Go + Gerund: Für Aktivitäten auf -ing mit Bewegung (z. B. go swimming).
  • Play + Sport: Für Wettkampfspiele und alles mit einem Ball (z. B. play football).
  • Do + Activity: Für Übungen ohne Ball und ohne Reisen (z. B. do yoga, do karate).

Quick FAQ

F: Kann ich go to the shopping sagen?

Nein, sag go shopping oder go to the shops.

F: Geht das auch in der Vergangenheit?

Absolut! „We went camping last July.“

2. Negative Contractions

Full Form Contraction Example
do not go
don't go
I don't go running.
does not go
doesn't go
He doesn't go skating.
did not go
didn't go
We didn't go bowling.
have not gone
haven't gone
They haven't gone skiing.

Conjugating 'Go' with a Gerund

Tense Subject Go Form Gerund (Activity)
Present Simple
I / You / We / They
go
swimming
Present Simple
He / She / It
goes
shopping
Past Simple
All subjects
went
hiking
Present Continuous
I
am going
camping
Present Perfect
He / She
has gone
fishing
Future (Will)
All subjects
will go
sailing
Gerund/Infinitive
All subjects
to go / going
dancing

Meanings

A specific grammatical structure used to describe recreational activities, sports, or chores that involve movement or being outdoors.

1

Recreational Sports

Used for physical activities that don't typically involve a team or a ball.

“I go running every morning.”

“They went skiing in the Alps.”

2

Shopping and Errands

Used for activities related to buying things or performing tasks outside.

“Let's go shopping for shoes.”

“I need to go grocery-shopping.”

3

Social Outings

Used for leisure activities done with others.

“We went dancing last night.”

“Do you want to go clubbing?”

4

Sightseeing and Travel

Used when exploring new places or being a tourist.

“We went sightseeing in Rome.”

“They went bird-watching in the forest.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Aktivitäten mit 'Go': Schwimmen, Einkaufen usw. (Go + Gerund)
Struktur Bedeutung Beispiel Häufiger Fehler
Go + Gerund
Bewegung für eine Aktivität
I `go running`.
I `go to running`.
Go + Gerund
Freizeitbeschäftigung
Let's `go dancing`.
Let's `go to dance`.
Go + Gerund
Aktives Besorgung
She `went shopping`.
She `went to shop`.
Go + Gerund
Regelmäßiges Hobby
He `goes fishing`.
He `goes for fishing`.
Go + Gerund
Vergangenes Ereignis
We `went hiking`.
We `were hiking` (andere Bedeutung).
Go + Gerund
Zukunftsplan
They'll `go swimming`.
They'll `go for a swim` (ähnlich, aber anders).

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
We shall engage in some shopping this afternoon.

We shall engage in some shopping this afternoon. (Daily life)

Neutral
We are going shopping this afternoon.

We are going shopping this afternoon. (Daily life)

Informell
Let's go shopping!

Let's go shopping! (Daily life)

Umgangssprache
Wanna hit the shops?

Wanna hit the shops? (Daily life)

Go + Gerundium Aktivitäten

Go + -ING

Sport

  • swimming Swim
  • running Run
  • skiing Ski

Hobbys

  • fishing Fish
  • hiking Hike
  • camping Camp

Besorgungen

  • shopping Shop
  • browsing Browse
  • grocery shopping Shop for groceries

Erkundung

  • sightseeing See sights
  • exploring Explore
  • birdwatching Watch birds

Go + Gerundium vs. Go + Infinitiv

Go + Gerundium (-ING)
Go swimming Die Aktivität selbst steht im Fokus.
Go shopping Freizeit- oder spezifische Besorgung.
Go + Infinitiv (To + Verb)
Go to swim Impliziert Zweck, weniger üblich für Aktivitäten.
Go to shop Impliziert Zweck (z.B. 'go to the store to shop').

Entscheidungshilfe für Go + Gerundium

1

Geht es darum, wegzugehen, um eine Aktivität zu machen?

YES
Weiter
NO
Andere Zeitformen/Strukturen in Betracht ziehen.
2

Ist die Aktivität ein Sport, Hobby oder eine bestimmte Besorgung?

YES
Verwende Go + Verb-ING!
NO
Vielleicht nicht. Ist es 'reading'? Probier 'go to read'.
3

Impliziert die Aktivität kontinuierliche Bewegung oder Freizeitbeschäftigung?

YES
Definitiv Go + Verb-ING!
NO
Wenn es passiv ist (z.B. 'go sitting'), ist dieses Muster normalerweise falsch.

Aktivitäten für Go + Gerundium

🌲

Outdoor-Spaß

  • Go hiking
  • Go camping
  • Go fishing
  • Go skiing
  • Go sailing
🏙️

Städtische Ausflüge

  • Go shopping
  • Go dancing
  • Go sightseeing
  • Go browsing
  • Go exploring
💪

Sport & Fitness

  • Go running
  • Go swimming
  • Go jogging
  • Go cycling
  • Go bowling
🛒

Alltägliche Aufgaben

  • Go grocery shopping
  • Go window shopping
  • Go marketing

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

I go swimming on Saturdays.

I do the activity of swimming every Saturday.

2

Do you go shopping?

Do you do the activity of buying things?

3

We go running in the park.

We run for exercise in the park.

4

They go dancing.

They dance at a club or party.

1

We went camping in the mountains last week.

We stayed in a tent in the mountains.

2

She didn't go skiing because it was too warm.

She stayed home instead of skiing.

3

Are you going hiking tomorrow?

Do you plan to walk in nature tomorrow?

4

I love to go window-shopping with my friends.

I like looking at shop windows without buying.

1

Whenever I visit a new city, I always go sightseeing.

I visit famous places as a tourist.

2

He has gone fishing every weekend since he retired.

He regularly fishes now that he doesn't work.

3

We should go clubbing to celebrate your birthday!

Let's go to dance clubs for your birthday.

4

I'm thinking of going skydiving next month.

I am considering the activity of jumping from a plane.

1

The locals often go mushroom-picking in the autumn.

Local people search for mushrooms in the woods.

2

I've never gone scuba-diving, but I'd love to try it.

I have no experience with underwater diving.

3

They decided to go sailing despite the choppy waters.

They went out on a boat even though the sea was rough.

4

If you go bird-watching, you need to be very quiet.

Quietness is required for observing birds.

1

We spent the afternoon going gallery-hopping in Chelsea.

We visited many art galleries one after another.

2

He's gone mountain-climbing in some of the world's most treacherous ranges.

He has climbed very dangerous mountains.

3

The documentary showed them going ice-fishing in the Arctic.

They were shown fishing through holes in the ice.

4

I find that going beachcombing is the best way to clear my head.

Searching the beach for items helps me relax.

1

The protagonist's penchant for going carousing led to his eventual downfall.

His habit of drinking and partying caused his ruin.

2

They went storm-chasing across the Great Plains for three weeks.

They followed severe weather for research or thrill.

3

Going antiquing requires a discerning eye and a great deal of patience.

Shopping for antiques is a skilled activity.

4

The nomadic tribes still go falconing in the remote steppes.

They hunt with falcons in isolated areas.

Leicht verwechselbar

Activities with 'Go': Swimming, Shopping, etc. (Go + Gerund) vs. Go + Gerund vs. Go to + Noun

Learners often confuse the activity with the place.

Activities with 'Go': Swimming, Shopping, etc. (Go + Gerund) vs. Go + Gerund vs. Go for a + Noun

Both are used for activities, but the structure is different.

Activities with 'Go': Swimming, Shopping, etc. (Go + Gerund) vs. Go vs. Play vs. Do

Learners use 'play' or 'do' for -ing activities.

Häufige Fehler

I go to swimming.

I go swimming.

Do not use 'to' before the -ing activity.

He go shopping.

He goes shopping.

Remember to conjugate 'go' for the third person (he/she/it).

We went to camping.

We went camping.

The past tense 'went' also does not take 'to'.

I go for shopping.

I go shopping.

Do not use 'for' in this specific structure.

I play swimming.

I go swimming.

Use 'go' for -ing activities, not 'play'.

They go to hiking.

They go hiking.

Even for outdoor nature activities, 'to' is incorrect.

Do you go to dancing?

Do you go dancing?

Questions follow the same 'no to' rule.

I went to sightseeing.

I went sightseeing.

Sightseeing is a gerund activity, not a destination.

We go to bowling.

We go bowling.

Bowling is an -ing activity.

He has gone to fishing.

He has gone fishing.

The present perfect still doesn't use 'to'.

Let's go to carousing.

Let's go carousing.

Even advanced/rare gerunds follow the 'no to' rule.

I went to antiquing.

I went antiquing.

Specialized hobbies still use the standard 'go + gerund' form.

Satzmuster

I usually go ___ on the weekends.

We went ___ last summer in ___.

Have you ever gone ___?

I'm not really into going ___, I prefer ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Just went hiking! The view was amazing. #nature

Travel Planning very common

We should go sightseeing on the first day of our trip.

Texting Friends constant

Wanna go shopping later?

Job Interviews occasional

In my spare time, I enjoy going running to stay active.

Fitness Apps very common

You went running for 5.2 miles today!

Dating Apps common

I'm looking for someone who likes to go camping.

💡

Denk an 'Aktivität zuerst'

Wenn du unsicher bist, ob du 'go' + '-ing' verwenden sollst, frag dich: Beschreibt das '-ing'-Wort die Hauptaktivität, die du machen willst? Wenn es Sport, ein Hobby oder eine bestimmte Art von Shopping ist, liegst du meistens richtig. Denk an I go swimming oder She went shopping.
⚠️

Vermeide 'To' bei Gerundien

Ein häufiger Fehler ist, ein 'to' zwischen 'go' und dem '-ing'-Verb einzufügen. Denk dran: Es heißt go shopping, nicht go to shopping. Das '-ing' macht es schon zu einer nomenartigen Aktivität, die kein 'to' braucht.
🎯

'Go'-Vokabular erweitern

Dieses Muster geht nicht nur mit 'go'! Du kannst es auch mit 'come' verwenden (z.B. come dancing) und 'get' (z.B. get going). Letzteres ist ein super Ausdruck, um zu sagen, dass man losgeht. Probier mal going exploring und coming visiting aus!
🌍

Universelle Freizeitbeschäftigungen

Viele Aktivitäten mit 'go' + '-ing' sind weltweit beliebt. Das macht diese Struktur super, um dich international zu verständigen. Egal ob du go swimming auf Bali machst oder go hiking in den Rocky Mountains – die Grammatik bleibt dieselbe!
💡

Für regelmäßige Aktivitäten nutzen

Dieses Muster ist fantastisch, um deine Routine oder Hobbys zu beschreiben.
I go jogging every morning
klingt viel natürlicher, als nur zu sagen
I run every morning
, wenn du das Joggen als Hobby betonen willst.

Smart Tips

Stop! If the activity ends in -ing, delete the 'to'.

I want to go to hiking. I want to go hiking.

Check for a ball. If there's no ball and it ends in -ing, use 'go'.

I play swimming. I go swimming.

Always use 'go sightseeing'. It's much more natural than 'visit sights'.

We visited many sights in London. We went sightseeing in London.

Add a noun before 'shopping' like 'window-shopping' or 'grocery-shopping'.

I went shopping for food. I went grocery-shopping.

Aussprache

/ˈswɪmɪŋ/

The '-ing' Ending

In casual speech, the 'g' at the end of '-ing' is often soft or almost silent (e.g., 'swimmin').

go-ing (go-wing)

Linking 'Go' and 'Ing'

When 'go' ends in a vowel and the gerund starts with a consonant, there is a smooth transition. If the gerund starts with a vowel (rare), a small 'w' sound might appear.

Emphasis on the Activity

I'm going SHOPping. (Stress on 'shop')

Focuses on what you are doing rather than the fact that you are going.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Remember: 'Go for the -ing!' If it ends in -ing and you have to move, 'Go' is the word to choose.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a green 'GO' traffic light. Next to it, a person is running, swimming, and carrying shopping bags. All these moving people have '-ING' written on their shirts.

Rhyme

When you're active and on the wing, use the verb GO with -ING!

Story

Last summer, I decided to be active. I went swimming in the lake, then I went hiking up the mountain. After that, I went shopping for a new tent so I could go camping. It was a very 'Go-ing' summer!

Word Web

SwimmingShoppingHikingCampingFishingRunningSkiingSightseeing

Herausforderung

Write down 3 things you 'went' doing last month and 3 things you want to 'go' doing next month.

Kulturelle Hinweise

Going 'window-shopping' is a very common weekend pastime in the US, especially in large malls, even if people don't intend to buy anything.

The term 'go clubbing' is very common among young people in the UK to describe a night out at various dance venues.

Due to the climate, 'go surfing' and 'go swimming' are deeply embedded in the daily lifestyle and identity of many Australians.

The use of 'go' with a gerund dates back to Middle English, where it was often used with the prefix 'a-' (e.g., 'go a-fishing').

Gesprächseinstiege

What do you usually go doing on the weekends?

Have you ever gone skydiving or bungee jumping?

If you could go sightseeing anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Do you prefer going camping in the woods or staying in a hotel?

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe your perfect Saturday using at least three 'go + gerund' expressions.
Write about a time you went camping or hiking. What happened?
Discuss the pros and cons of going sightseeing in a crowded city versus a quiet village.
If you had to choose one activity to go doing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Häufige Fehler

Incorrect

Richtig


Incorrect

Richtig


Incorrect

Richtig


Incorrect

Richtig

Test Yourself

Wähle die richtige Form, um den Satz zu vervollständigen.

My family often _____ fishing on weekends.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: goes
Da 'My family' im Singular steht, verwenden wir die dritte Person Singular 'goes'.
Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

They went to shopping at the new mall yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They went shopping at the new mall yesterday.
Wir verwenden kein 'to' zwischen 'go' (oder 'went') und der '-ing'-Form der Aktivität. Es muss 'went shopping' heißen.
Welcher Satz verwendet die 'go + Gerundium'-Struktur korrekt? Multiple Choice

Wähle den richtigen Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I like to go swimming in the lake.
Das korrekte Muster ist 'go' direkt gefolgt von der '-ing'-Form der Aktivität, 'swimming'.
Bringe die Wörter in die richtige Reihenfolge, um einen korrekten Satz zu bilden. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We will go fishing tomorrow.
Die Struktur für Zukunftspläne mit diesem Muster ist 'Subjekt + will + go + Aktivität-ing'.

Score: /4

Ubungsaufgaben

8 exercises
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which of these is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I go swimming every day.
We use 'go' + gerund without any prepositions.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb.

Last weekend, we ___ (go) camping in the forest.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: went
The past tense of 'go' is 'went'.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

She loves to go to shopping on Fridays.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to shopping
The 'to' should be removed: 'go shopping'.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Building

hiking / they / did / yesterday / go / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Did they go hiking yesterday?
Questions use 'Did' + subject + 'go' + gerund.
Match the verb with the correct activity. Match Pairs

Match Go, Play, and Do.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Go - Swimming
Go is for -ing activities.
Select the most natural activity. Multiple Choice

When we were in Paris, we went ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sightseeing
'Go sightseeing' is the standard idiomatic expression.
Complete the sentence.

I've never ___ skiing before.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gone
The past participle of 'go' is 'gone'.
Correct the spelling. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

He is go swimmimg.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: swimmimg
The spelling is 'swimming' (double m), but the verb 'go' should also be 'going' in the continuous form.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Wähle die richtige Form, um den Satz zu vervollständigen. Lückentext

He _____ skiing every winter in Canada.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: goes
Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz. Error Correction

Did you go to hiking last weekend?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Did you go hiking last weekend?
Welcher Satz verwendet 'go + Gerundium' korrekt? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They are going dancing tonight.
Übersetze ins Englische: 'Ella va de compras todos los sábados.' Übersetzung

Translate into English: 'Ella va de compras todos los sábados.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["She goes shopping every Saturday.","She goes grocery shopping every Saturday."]
Bringe die Wörter in die richtige Reihenfolge, um einen korrekten Satz zu bilden. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We were going camping when it started raining.
Ordne die Subjekte den richtigen Verbformen für die Aktivität 'swimming' zu. Match Pairs

Match the subjects with the correct verb form for 'swimming':

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Wähle die richtige Option. Lückentext

Let's _____ dancing tonight!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: go
Finde und korrigiere den Fehler. Error Correction

He likes to go for surfing every summer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He likes to go surfing every summer.
Welcher Satz ist korrekt? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We will go exploring the new trail.
Übersetze ins Englische: '¿Quieres ir a escalar rocas conmigo?' Übersetzung

Translate into English: '¿Quieres ir a escalar rocas conmigo?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Do you want to go rock climbing with me?","Would you like to go rock climbing with me?"]
Bringe die Wörter in die richtige Reihenfolge. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Why did they go sightseeing?
Ordne die Aktivität der typischen 'go + -ing'-Verwendung zu. Match Pairs

Match the activity to the 'go + -ing' phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

It is grammatically possible if 'to swim' is an infinitive of purpose, but it sounds very unnatural. 'Go swimming' is the standard way to describe the activity.

We only use 'go + gerund' for activities that involve movement or leaving the house. Since reading is stationary, we just say 'I like reading'.

'Go shopping' focuses on the activity/hobby. 'Go to the shop' focuses on the destination/place.

It is 'go bowling' because it ends in -ing. We don't use 'play' for bowling.

Yes! You can say 'go grocery-shopping' or 'go clothes-shopping'.

Yes, they are very similar. 'Go running' is the general activity, while 'go for a run' usually refers to one specific instance.

Yes, 'go fishing' is the most common way to describe that hobby.

Yes, you can use the present continuous form of 'go' to talk about future plans.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

ir a + infinitive

English uses the gerund (-ing) while Spanish uses the infinitive.

French low

faire du/de la + noun

French uses 'do' + noun, whereas English uses 'go' + gerund.

German high

verb + gehen

In German, the activity verb is in the infinitive, not a gerund.

Japanese moderate

verb-stem + ni iku

Japanese requires the purpose particle 'ni', which English does not.

Arabic low

dhahaba li- + masdar

Arabic requires a preposition ('for'), which English avoids in this structure.

Chinese high

qù + verb

Chinese has no gerund form, so it just uses the base verb.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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