Activités avec 'Go' : Nager, Faire du shopping, etc. (Go + Gérondif)
activités de loisir.
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.
Overview
go shopping mais jamais go playing ? Si vous avez déjà eu l'impression que l'anglais n'est qu'une collection de règles aléatoires, vous n'êtes pas seul. Cette structure spécifique—go plus un gerund (la forme en -ing d'un verbe)—est l'une de ces habitudes anglaises bizarres qui a en réalité une raison logique très cool.How This Grammar Works
go + gerund est utilisée pour des activités récréatives qui impliquent un certain type de déplacement ou de mouvement. Il ne s'agit pas seulement de l'action elle-même, mais de tout le trajet. Quand vous allez nager (go swimming), vous n'êtes pas seulement dans l'eau.go sert de signal que vous vous déplacez d'un point A à un point B pour une activité de loisir.
Formation Pattern
go. C'est le « moteur ». Vous pouvez le conjuguer à n'importe quel temps. I go, he goes, we went.
gerund (Verbe + -ing). C'est la « cargaison ». Il reste exactement le même.
go swimming. | Je vais nager.
went shopping. | Nous sommes allés faire du shopping.
will go hiking. | Tu iras faire de la randonnée.
When To Use It
running (la course) ou swimming (la natation). Deuxièmement : les activités récréatives de plein air comme hiking (la randonnée) ou camping (le camping).shopping (le shopping).
Common Mistakes
to. « I want to go to swimming. » Faux ! En anglais, go to est pour les lieux, tandis que go + gerund est pour les activités. Une autre erreur est d'essayer de l'utiliser avec des sports de ballon. Ne dites pas « I go playing soccer ». Dites « I play soccer ».Contrast With Similar Patterns
Go + Gerund: Pour les activités en-ingimpliquant un mouvement (ex:go swimming).Play + Sport: Pour les jeux de compétition et tout ce qui implique un ballon (ex:play football).Do + Activity: Pour les activités sans ballon qui n'impliquent généralement pas de déplacement (ex:do yoga,do karate).
Quick FAQ
go to the shopping ?R: Non. Dites go shopping ou go to the shops.
R: Absolument ! Went est le passé 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.
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.”
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.”
Social Outings
Used for leisure activities done with others.
“We went dancing last night.”
“Do you want to go clubbing?”
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
| Structure | Signification | Exemple | Erreur Courante |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Go + Gerund
|
Mouvement pour une activité
|
I `go running`.
|
I `go to running`.
|
|
Go + Gerund
|
Passe-temps récréatif
|
Let's `go dancing`.
|
Let's `go to dance`.
|
|
Go + Gerund
|
Course active
|
She `went shopping`.
|
She `went to shop`.
|
|
Go + Gerund
|
Loisir régulier
|
He `goes fishing`.
|
He `goes for fishing`.
|
|
Go + Gerund
|
Événement passé
|
We `went hiking`.
|
We `were hiking` (signification différente).
|
|
Go + Gerund
|
Plan futur
|
They'll `go swimming`.
|
They'll `go for a swim` (similaire mais différent).
|
Spectre de formalité
We shall engage in some shopping this afternoon. (Daily life)
We are going shopping this afternoon. (Daily life)
Let's go shopping! (Daily life)
Wanna hit the shops? (Daily life)
Activités avec Go + Gérondif
Sports
- swimming Swim
- running Run
- skiing Ski
Loisirs
- fishing Fish
- hiking Hike
- camping Camp
Courses
- shopping Shop
- browsing Browse
- grocery shopping Shop for groceries
Exploration
- sightseeing See sights
- exploring Explore
- birdwatching Watch birds
Go + Gérondif vs. Go + Infinitif
Décider d'utiliser Go + Gérondif
Parles-tu de partir faire une activité ?
Est-ce un sport, un hobby ou une course spécifique ?
L'activité implique-t-elle un mouvement continu ou un loisir ?
Activités pour Go + Gérondif
Plaisirs de Plein Air
- • Go hiking
- • Go camping
- • Go fishing
- • Go skiing
- • Go sailing
Évasions Urbaines
- • Go shopping
- • Go dancing
- • Go sightseeing
- • Go browsing
- • Go exploring
Sports & Fitness
- • Go running
- • Go swimming
- • Go jogging
- • Go cycling
- • Go bowling
Tâches Quotidiennes
- • Go grocery shopping
- • Go window shopping
- • Go marketing
Exemples par niveau
I go swimming on Saturdays.
I do the activity of swimming every Saturday.
Do you go shopping?
Do you do the activity of buying things?
We go running in the park.
We run for exercise in the park.
They go dancing.
They dance at a club or party.
We went camping in the mountains last week.
We stayed in a tent in the mountains.
She didn't go skiing because it was too warm.
She stayed home instead of skiing.
Are you going hiking tomorrow?
Do you plan to walk in nature tomorrow?
I love to go window-shopping with my friends.
I like looking at shop windows without buying.
Whenever I visit a new city, I always go sightseeing.
I visit famous places as a tourist.
He has gone fishing every weekend since he retired.
He regularly fishes now that he doesn't work.
We should go clubbing to celebrate your birthday!
Let's go to dance clubs for your birthday.
I'm thinking of going skydiving next month.
I am considering the activity of jumping from a plane.
The locals often go mushroom-picking in the autumn.
Local people search for mushrooms in the woods.
I've never gone scuba-diving, but I'd love to try it.
I have no experience with underwater diving.
They decided to go sailing despite the choppy waters.
They went out on a boat even though the sea was rough.
If you go bird-watching, you need to be very quiet.
Quietness is required for observing birds.
We spent the afternoon going gallery-hopping in Chelsea.
We visited many art galleries one after another.
He's gone mountain-climbing in some of the world's most treacherous ranges.
He has climbed very dangerous mountains.
The documentary showed them going ice-fishing in the Arctic.
They were shown fishing through holes in the ice.
I find that going beachcombing is the best way to clear my head.
Searching the beach for items helps me relax.
The protagonist's penchant for going carousing led to his eventual downfall.
His habit of drinking and partying caused his ruin.
They went storm-chasing across the Great Plains for three weeks.
They followed severe weather for research or thrill.
Going antiquing requires a discerning eye and a great deal of patience.
Shopping for antiques is a skilled activity.
The nomadic tribes still go falconing in the remote steppes.
They hunt with falcons in isolated areas.
Facile à confondre
Learners often confuse the activity with the place.
Both are used for activities, but the structure is different.
Learners use 'play' or 'do' for -ing activities.
Erreurs courantes
I go to swimming.
I go swimming.
He go shopping.
He goes shopping.
We went to camping.
We went camping.
I go for shopping.
I go shopping.
I play swimming.
I go swimming.
They go to hiking.
They go hiking.
Do you go to dancing?
Do you go dancing?
I went to sightseeing.
I went sightseeing.
We go to bowling.
We go bowling.
He has gone to fishing.
He has gone fishing.
Let's go to carousing.
Let's go carousing.
I went to antiquing.
I went antiquing.
Structures de phrases
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
Just went hiking! The view was amazing. #nature
We should go sightseeing on the first day of our trip.
Wanna go shopping later?
In my spare time, I enjoy going running to stay active.
You went running for 5.2 miles today!
I'm looking for someone who likes to go camping.
Pense 'Activité d'abord'
Are you going fishing?
Évite 'To' avec les gérondifs
go shopping, pas go to shopping. Le -ing suffit déjà à en faire une activité-nom. "Let's go skiing."Élargis ton vocabulaire avec 'Go'
come dancing) et 'get' (par exemple, get going). Moins courant, get going est une super expression pour démarrer un voyage ou une activité. Essaie going exploring et coming visiting ! "Get going, we'll be late!"Passe-temps Universels
go swimming à Bali ou go hiking dans les Rocheuses, la grammaire est la même ! We love to go traveling.
Utilise-le pour tes activités régulières
I go jogging every morningsonne beaucoup plus naturel que
I run every morningsi tu veux insister sur le fait que c'est un passe-temps.
She goes horse riding on weekends.
Smart Tips
Stop! If the activity ends in -ing, delete the 'to'.
Check for a ball. If there's no ball and it ends in -ing, use 'go'.
Always use 'go sightseeing'. It's much more natural than 'visit sights'.
Add a noun before 'shopping' like 'window-shopping' or 'grocery-shopping'.
Prononciation
The '-ing' Ending
In casual speech, the 'g' at the end of '-ing' is often soft or almost silent (e.g., 'swimmin').
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.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Remember: 'Go for the -ing!' If it ends in -ing and you have to move, 'Go' is the word to choose.
Association visuelle
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
Défi
Write down 3 things you 'went' doing last month and 3 things you want to 'go' doing next month.
Notes culturelles
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').
Amorces de conversation
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?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
My family often _____ fishing on weekends.
Find and fix the mistake:
They went to shopping at the new mall yesterday.
Choisis la phrase correcte :
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /4
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesWhich of these is correct?
Last weekend, we ___ (go) camping in the forest.
Find and fix the mistake:
She loves to go to shopping on Fridays.
hiking / they / did / yesterday / go / ?
Match Go, Play, and Do.
When we were in Paris, we went ___.
I've never ___ skiing before.
Find and fix the mistake:
He is go swimmimg.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesHe _____ skiing every winter in Canada.
Did you go to hiking last weekend?
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella va de compras todos los sábados.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct verb form for 'swimming':
Let's _____ dancing tonight!
He likes to go for surfing every summer.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: '¿Quieres ir a escalar rocas conmigo?'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the activity to the 'go + -ing' phrase:
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
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ir a + infinitive
English uses the gerund (-ing) while Spanish uses the infinitive.
faire du/de la + noun
French uses 'do' + noun, whereas English uses 'go' + gerund.
verb + gehen
In German, the activity verb is in the infinitive, not a gerund.
verb-stem + ni iku
Japanese requires the purpose particle 'ni', which English does not.
dhahaba li- + masdar
Arabic requires a preposition ('for'), which English avoids in this structure.
qù + verb
Chinese has no gerund form, so it just uses the base verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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