B1 Gerunds & Infinitives 14 min read Fácil

Actividades con 'Go': Nadar, Comprar, etc. (Go + Gerundio)

Dominar el 'go + verb-ing' hará que tu inglés suene mucho más natural al hablar de actividades. Es como un pase VIP para las conversaciones sobre pasatiempos, deportes y movimiento!

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

¿Por qué decimos go shopping pero nunca go playing? Si alguna vez has sentido que el inglés es solo una colección de reglas aleatorias, no estás solo. Este patrón específico—go más un gerund (la forma -ing de un verbo)—es uno de esos hábitos peculiares del inglés que en realidad tiene una razón lógica muy genial.
Se trata de movimiento, ocio y la vibra de la actividad. Piénsalo como la gramática de
salir y hacer algo
. Ya sea que estés publicando una historia en Instagram sobre tu fin de semana o diciéndole a un amigo que vas al centro comercial, estás usando esta regla.

How This Grammar Works

En su esencia, la estructura go + gerund se usa para actividades recreativas que implican algún tipo de viaje o movimiento. No se trata solo de la acción en sí; se trata de todo el trayecto. Cuando vas a nadar (go swimming), no solo estás en el agua.
Empacas tu bolso, vas a la piscina o a la playa, te cambias y luego haces la actividad. La palabra go actúa como una señal de que te estás moviendo del punto A al punto B para realizar una actividad de ocio.

Formation Pattern

1
El verbo go. Este es el motor. Puedes conjugarlo en cualquier tiempo. I go, he goes, we went.
2
El gerund (Verbo + -ing). Esta es la carga. Se mantiene exactamente igual.
3
Form | Ejemplo | Traducción
4
Present Simple | I go swimming. | Voy a nadar.
5
Past Simple | We went shopping. | Fuimos de compras.
6
Future | You will go hiking. | Irás de excursión.

When To Use It

Usas este patrón para tres categorías principales. Primero: Deportes que no usan pelota, como running (correr) o swimming (nadar). Segundo: Actividades recreativas al aire libre como hiking (senderismo) o camping (acampar).
Tercero: Tareas específicas que implican movimiento, como shopping (ir de compras).

Common Mistakes

El error más grande es añadir to.
I want to go to swimming.
¡Error! En inglés, go to es para lugares, mientras que go + gerund es para actividades. Otro error común es intentar usarlo con deportes de pelota. No digas
I go playing soccer
. Di
I play soccer
.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • Go + Gerund: Para actividades que terminan en -ing e implican movimiento (ej. go swimming).
  • Play + Sport: Para juegos competitivos y cualquier cosa con una pelota (ej. play football).
  • Do + Activity: Para actividades sin pelota que no suelen implicar desplazarse (ej. do yoga, do karate).

Quick FAQ

P: ¿Puedo decir go to the shopping?

R: No. Di go shopping o go to the shops.

P: ¿Puedo usarlo en pasado?

R: ¡Claro! Went es el pasado de go.

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 Actividades con 'Go': Nadar, Comprar, etc. (Go + Gerundio)
Estructura Significado Ejemplo Error Común
Go + Gerundio
Movimiento para una actividad
I `go running`.
I `go to running`.
Go + Gerundio
Pasatiempo recreativo
Let's `go dancing`.
Let's `go to dance`.
Go + Gerundio
Recado activo
She `went shopping`.
She `went to shop`.
Go + Gerundio
Hobby regular
He `goes fishing`.
He `goes for fishing`.
Go + Gerundio
Evento pasado
We `went hiking`.
We `were hiking` (significado diferente).
Go + Gerundio
Plan futuro
They'll `go swimming`.
They'll `go for a swim` (similar pero diferente).

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
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)

Informal
Let's go shopping!

Let's go shopping! (Daily life)

Jerga
Wanna hit the shops?

Wanna hit the shops? (Daily life)

Actividades con Go + Gerundio

Go + -ING

Deportes

  • swimming Swim
  • running Run
  • skiing Ski

Pasatiempos

  • fishing Fish
  • hiking Hike
  • camping Camp

Recados

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

Exploración

  • sightseeing See sights
  • exploring Explore
  • birdwatching Watch birds

Go + Gerundio vs. Go + Infinitivo

Go + Gerundio (-ING)
Go swimming La actividad en sí es el foco.
Go shopping Recreativo o recado específico.
Go + Infinitivo (To + Verbo)
Go to swim Implica propósito, menos común para actividades.
Go to shop Implica propósito (ej. 'go to the store to shop').

Decidiendo sobre Go + Gerundio

1

¿Estás hablando de salir para hacer una actividad?

YES
Continuar
NO
Considera otros tiempos/estructuras.
2

¿Es la actividad un deporte, un pasatiempo o un recado específico?

YES
¡Usa Go + Verbo-ING!
NO
Quizás no. ¿Es 'reading'? Intenta 'go to read'.
3

¿La actividad implica movimiento continuo o recreación?

YES
¡Definitivamente Go + Verbo-ING!
NO
Si es pasivo (ej. 'go sitting'), este patrón suele ser incorrecto.

Actividades para Go + Gerundio

🌲

Diversión al Aire Libre

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

Escapadas Urbanas

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

Deportes y Fitness

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

Tareas Diarias

  • Go grocery shopping
  • Go window shopping
  • Go marketing

Ejemplos por nivel

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.

Fácil de confundir

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.

Errores comunes

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.

Patrones de oraciones

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.

💡

Piensa: 'Primero la Actividad'

Cuando dudes si usar 'go + verb-ing', pregúntate si la palabra en -ing describe la *actividad principal* a la que te diriges. Si es un deporte, un pasatiempo o un tipo específico de compras, ¡vas por buen camino! "When I'm bored, I often go browsing at the mall."
⚠️

Evita el 'To' con Gerundios

Un error súper común es poner 'to' entre 'go' y el verbo en -ing. Recuerda, es
go shopping
, no
go to shopping
. La terminación -ing ya lo convierte en una actividad sustantivada.
🎯

Expande tu vocabulario de 'Go'

¡Este patrón no es solo para 'go'! También puedes usarlo con 'come' (por ejemplo,
come dancing
) y 'get' (por ejemplo,
get going
). Aunque 'get going' es menos común, es una forma genial de decir que vas a empezar un viaje o una actividad. ¡Intenta
going exploring
y
coming visiting
!
🌍

Pasatiempos Universales

Muchas de las actividades que usan 'go + verb-ing' son pasatiempos universales, lo que hace que esta estructura sea fantástica para conectar entre culturas. Ya sea que
go swimming
en Bali o
go hiking
en los Rockies, ¡la gramática es la misma!
💡

Úsalo para Actividades Regulares

Este patrón es genial para describir tu rutina o tus pasatiempos.
I go jogging every morning
suena mucho más natural que
I run every morning
si quieres enfatizar la actividad como un pasatiempo.

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.

Pronunciación

/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.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

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

Asociación visual

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

Desafío

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

Notas culturales

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').

Inicios de conversación

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?

Temas para diario

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?

Errores comunes

Incorrect

Correcto


Incorrect

Correcto


Incorrect

Correcto


Incorrect

Correcto

Test Yourself

Elige la forma correcta para completar la frase.

My family often _____ fishing on weekends.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: goes
Como 'My family' es singular, usamos la forma de tercera persona del singular 'goes'.
Encuentra y corrige el error en la frase. 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.
No usamos 'to' entre 'go' (o 'went') y la forma -ing de la actividad. Debe ser 'went shopping'.
¿Qué frase usa correctamente la estructura 'go + gerundio'? Opción múltiple

Elige la frase correcta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I like to go swimming in the lake.
El patrón correcto es 'go' seguido directamente de la forma -ing de la actividad, 'swimming'.
Pon las palabras en orden para formar una frase correcta. 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.
La estructura para planes futuros con este patrón es 'Sujeto + will + go + actividad-ing'.

Score: /4

Ejercicios de practica

8 exercises
Choose the correct sentence. Opción múltiple

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. Opción múltiple

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
Elige la forma correcta para completar la frase. Completar huecos

He _____ skiing every winter in Canada.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: goes
Encuentra y corrige el error en la frase. Error Correction

Did you go to hiking last weekend?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Did you go hiking last weekend?
¿Qué frase usa correctamente 'go + gerundio'? Opción múltiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They are going dancing tonight.
Traduce al inglés: 'Ella va de compras todos los sábados.' Traducción

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."]
Pon las palabras en orden para formar una frase correcta. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We were going camping when it started raining.
Une los sujetos con las formas verbales correctas para la actividad 'swimming'. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Elige la opción correcta. Completar huecos

Let's _____ dancing tonight!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: go
Encuentra y corrige el error. Error Correction

He likes to go for surfing every summer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He likes to go surfing every summer.
¿Qué frase es correcta? Opción múltiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We will go exploring the new trail.
Traduce al inglés: '¿Quieres ir a escalar rocas conmigo?' Traducción

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?"]
Pon las palabras en orden. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Why did they go sightseeing?
Une la actividad con su uso típico de 'go + -ing'. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

Preguntas frecuentes (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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