How to use the verb ‘go’ in English

How to use verb go in English: Grammar chart

In the table below, you can see the different ways to use the verb go in English.

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Go + -ing

We use go + -ing verb for many sports, and also some other activities like shopping, dancing, clubbing, etc. 

• I want to go shopping this afternoon.
• We went kayaking on Lake Michigan.

Go to

Work/bed

We don’t use the in the expressions go to work and go to bed.

• What time do you go to work?
• I’m tired. I‘m going to bed. 

School/university

We say go to school or go to university without the to mean that go to those places as students.

• They couldn’t go to school for a few days because of the snow.
• Almost 40% of young people go to university. 

Prison

We say go to prison when someone is taken there as a prisoner.

• He could go to prison if the judge finds him guilty. 

Go to a/the

We use go to a/the + nouns describing places or events. We use go to + the before nouns of places that we typically go in the city.

• I need to go to the dentist. 
• I‘m going to the bank. 

You can know when we use a or the by checking the use of articles in English.

Go for a

We use go for a before nouns describing acitivities, such as a swim, a run, a walk, a ride, a drink, etc.

• The weather is great today. I’m going to go for a swim.
• I have a new bike. Would you like to go for a ride with me?

Go on a

We use go on a before nouns related to holidays, trips or similar, such as holiday, trip, journey, excursion, tour, cruise, etc.

• He went on a cruise with his family.
• Let’s go on an excursion to explore the area.