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Allthewayanime Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Go + infinitive or ing form

I know that the basic rule (imperative sentences) is go + bare infinitive therefore it would be :

Go cook! Go swim! Go drink! Go shop!Go eat! etc.

Now my doubt is if we can use with the expressions above the ing form and if there is any difference between them.

e.g. Go cooking! Go swimming!Go eating!Go shopping!Go drinking! etc.
  

Top answer

allthewayanime Now my doubt is if we can use with the expressions above the ing form and if there is any difference between them. Hi, No. This ‘ go-do’ collocation is primarily used in American English and is considered both informal and idiomatic.

— Regards

  • allthewayanime Now my doubt is if we can use with the expressions above the ing form and if there is any difference between them.
  • Hi, No.
  • This ‘ go-do’ collocation is primarily used in American English and is considered both informal and idiomatic.
  • The verb go is followed by the bare infinitive, while the whole collocation is said in somewhat of an imperative tone: Go bring Julia a sweater!
  • Go find me my keys!
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6 Answers
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allthewayanimeNow my doubt is if we can use with the expressions above the ing form and if there is any difference between them.
Hi,
No. This ‘go-do’ collocation is primarily used in American English and is considered both informal and idiomatic.
The verb go is followed by the bare infinitive, while the whole collocation is said in somewh
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allthewayanimemy doubt is if we can use with the expressions above the ing form and if there is any difference between them.
These are two distinct types of expression.

For expressions of the type Go eat! see
For expressions of the type Go swimming! see

CJ
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Could someone explain me why is it possible to use 'go to work' if according this pattern it should be ' go and work'?
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In 'go to work', 'work' is generally understood to be a noun: 'go to the work place'; 'go to the place where you work'.

You are putting "should"s where there are none. You may need one expression for one context, the other expression for another context.

CJ
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One last thing: regarding the construction 'let's stop + ing' , is it used in informal English?

e.g. Let's stop arguing! or is it better Let's not argue!
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I've heard both used in informal English.
If I had to choose one that is more formal, it would be "Let's not argue."
Note that "Let's stop arguing" and "Let's not argue" may not convey the same meaning.
"Let's stop" indicates that you are currently arguing and "Let's not" could indicate that you are not presently arguing.
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