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Lcchang Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

spend time doing something

Please see the following sentence:

Ms. Fujita tries to spend her lunch hour swimming.

We often say to go swimming, but how come here we can't use going swimming in this sentence? Please advise.

LCChang
  

Top answer

You could, but it is a little odd-- she doesn't spend time on the going , she spends time actually swimming . The idiomatic ' to go + -ing (sport) ' incorporates the idea (to some extent) of included travel time.

— Mister Micawber

  • You could, but it is a little odd-- she doesn't spend time on the going , she spends time actually swimming .
  • The idiomatic ' to go + -ing (sport) ' incorporates the idea (to some extent) of included travel time.
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2 Answers
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You could, but it is a little odd-- she doesn't spend time on the going, she spends time actually swimming. The idiomatic 'to go + -ing (sport)' incorporates the idea (to some extent) of included travel time.
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Mister MicawberYou could, but it is a little odd-- she doesn't spend time on the going, she spends time actually swimming. The idiomatic 'to go + -ing (sport)' incorporates the idea (to some extent) of included travel time.

Interesting! Thanks for the explanation.

LC
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