GO


Meaning of GO in English

verb

1

BAD : 'Have you ever gone to France?' she asked.

GOOD : 'Have you ever been to France?' she asked.

◆◆◆

In British English, been is used when someone has visited a place and returned. Gone is used when the person is still in the place they are visiting. Compare: 'Peter has gone to Paris.' (= he has not yet returned) 'Peter has been to Paris.' (= he has visited Paris and returned)

In American English gone can be used instead of been .

2

BAD : The next morning she went to see us at the hotel.

GOOD : The next morning she came to see us at the hotel.

◆◆◆

Come is used for movement towards the speaker/listener: 'Come in and sit down for a few minutes.' 'When can I come and see you?'

Go is used for movement in other directions: 'Could you go upstairs and turn the lights off?'

3

BAD : How do I go to the Holiday Inn?

GOOD : How do I get to the Holiday Inn?

BAD : He was lost and didn't know how to go back home.

GOOD : He was lost and didn't know how to get back home.

◆◆◆

When you mean 'arrive', use get (to) : 'I got to the classroom five minutes late.' 'When does the train get there?'

4

BAD : We go to swim every day on holiday.

GOOD : We go swimming every day on holiday.

BAD : They've gone for camping on Lantau Island.

GOOD : They've gone camping on Lantau Island.

◆◆◆

go swimming/sightseeing/shopping etc: 'They've probably gone fishing.'

5

BAD : That evening my boyfriend and I went out to walk.

GOOD : That evening my boyfriend and I went for a walk.

◆◆◆

go for a walk/swim/jog etc: 'Would anyone like to go for a drive?'

6

See TO 2 (↑ to )

7

See CAR (↑ car )

8

See FIRE 1 (↑ fire ), 3

Longman Common Errors English vocabulary.      Английский словарь распространенных ошибок Longman.