The transitive verb 'go'

Question

1. Could you check wether the usage of 'go' in the following sentence belongs to the definition #45 of 'go' in 'Dictionary.com', http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/go ?

Every season millions of fans go football games in the USA.

1.1 If so, is the usage of 'go' like the above sentence casual or informal? The reason why I ask this is I found it in some textebook for teaching students English, so I'd like to confirm whether this is still informal – Sometimes dictionary says too old definitions not matching today's real life. In Oxford English dictionary online, I couldn't find any similar explantion about 'go' unlike 'Dictionary.com'.

2. Could you confirm whether the following sentences are okay?

Every season millions of fans go to football games in the USA.
Every season millions of fans go to see football games in the USA.
Every season millions of fans go seeing football games in the USA.

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

lucas21cEvery season millions of fans go football games in the USA.

That is not correct. It needs 'to' after 'go'.

CalifJim · Answer

lucas21c1. Could you check wether the usage of 'go' in the following sentence belongs to the definition #45 of 'go' in 'Dictionary.com', http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/go ?Every season millions of fans go football games in the USA.

Oof! No. That usage of "go" is typically used with a singular noun and it refers to the desire of one person (or a very few people), most frequently for something edible. "go for" is another way of saying the same thing, and I believe it's more common with "for".

I could go (for) an ice cream cone right now. (I would really enjoy an ice cream cone now.)
We could go (for) a nice slice of meatloaf with potatoes and gravy.
____________

The version without "for" is used in the negative, and the range of objects is somewhat greater.

I can't go pea soup. (I can't stand pea soup. / I very much dislike pea soup.)
I can't go Tom's attitude toward immigrants.
Jack can't go Laura's cackling laugh.

These are all informal.

lucas21c2. Could you confirm whether the following sentences are okay?
Every season millions of fans go to football games in the USA.
Every season millions of fans go to see football games in the USA.
Every season millions of fans go seeing football games in the USA.

1 and 2 are fine. 3 is wrong.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

CalifJimI can't go pea soup. (I can't stand pea soup. / I very much dislike pea soup.)

This must be a regional variation. I don't say "I can't go pea soup." but "I can't go with pea soup."

I do use these:
He goes for the Texans. (He really likes the Texans football team.)
We always go Dutch.

CalifJim · Answer

AlpheccaStarsThis must be a regional variation. I don't say "I can't go pea soup." but "I can't go with pea soup."

In view of your revelation I have to agree. I'd never add the "with" (in the relevant reading)!

Still, if I were discussing a menu to be served at some sort of gathering, and I wanted to say that I did not agree that it was a good idea to serve pea soup, I would gladly say, "I can't go with pea soup".

CJ

The transitive verb 'go'

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