Go + simple form?

Question

A student asked me today about using the verb "go" + simple form. For example, native speakers often say, "I am going to go buy a new car." Why do we use "go" in this sentence, and why is it followed by the base form? Is this proper grammar or just street language?
Thanks!

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

Gaga4Grammar For example, native speakers often say, "I am going to go buy a new car." Why do we use "go" in this sentence,

I don't think a native would likely say that to mean: " I am getting a new car", or " I am going to buy a new car".

But you can casually ask your girl friend (or boyfriend) " can you (go) get me a beer from the fridge ?"

CalifJim · Answer

Gaga4GrammarIs this proper grammar or just street language?

It is somewhere in between. It is casual language. Both go and come are used in these grammatical patterns. The variant with and can be thought of as the underlying form.

For the purposes of illustration, take the verb get:

come get, come and get, go get, go and get

When and is used, both verbs in the pattern are conjugated in the same tense, whatever it may be.

We went and bought a new car.
He has come and seen us.
They'll go and find the answer.

The and can be dropped only when the two verbs are in the base form:

Hurry! Come see who's here!
This plate is dirty. I'll go find a clean one for you.
It's too cold in here. Could you please go close the door?
I don't know how to do this. Can you come show me?

Not We went bought a new car. Not He came showed me.

The list of verbs that can follow come or go in these patterns is rather short, mostly commonly used action verbs.

CJ

Gaga4Grammar · Answer

Thank you so much, CJ!!  I really appreciate your explanation.  You definitely cleared things up for me!

Go + simple form?

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