TESOL/Go and go to

Using go / go to can be a confusing grammatical problem.

Activities

Using "go" as an auxiliary verb with activities usually requires "go", not "go to". For example:

• go shopping
• go fishing
• go scuba diving
• go hiking
• go travelling
• go sightseeing

Locations

Nouns

Specific locations usually require "go to." For example:

• go to Tokyo
• go to Africa
• go to the store
• go to school
• to to work

Exceptions:

• go home

Adverbs and Prepositions

Locations relative to the position or the speaker or audience usually require "go" without "to." For example:

• go left
• go there
• go away
• go down
• go past

Quiz

1

shopping

	go shopping
	go to shopping

2

school

	go to school
	go school

3

skiing

	go skiing
	go to skiing

4

London

	go London
	go to London

5

home

	go home
	go to home

6

left

	go to left
	go left