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Dib Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

a holiday or holiday

while filling an on line English test I filled the blank below with an "a"
"We went swimming in the sea every day while we were on ___ holiday."
The website marked it wrong. I think "a holiday" is right. Why is it marked wrong.

Also can we say "We went TO swimming in the sea every day while we were on ___ holiday."

Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

on holiday (BrE) and its equivalent, on vacation (AmE) are fixed phrases. ____ No, you can't say went to swimming . The -ing form of a verb that expresses any of many typical activities comes directly after a form of go without any intervening words.

— CalifJim

  • on holiday (BrE) and its equivalent, on vacation (AmE) are fixed phrases.
  • ____ No, you can't say went to swimming .
  • The -ing form of a verb that expresses any of many typical activities comes directly after a form of go without any intervening words.
  • went shopping, went skiing, went fishing , etc.
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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on holiday (BrE) and its equivalent, on vacation (AmE) are fixed phrases.
____

No, you can't say went to swimming. The -ing form of a verb that expresses any of many typical activities comes directly after a form of go without any intervening words. went shopping, went skiing, went fishing, etc.

CJ
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Thanks for the reply.

Is there any instance where a holiday is correct when talking about being on a holiday? is this example correct : I will be on a holiday on Monday because I don't feel well.
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Dibis this example correct : I will be on a holiday on Monday because I don't feel well.
No. It certainly seems wrong to my ear.

CJ
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