Use go with familiar activity words ending in -ing.
I go swimming on Fridays.
We go shopping on Saturdays.
Swim doubles its final m in swimming
swim→double the final m→swimming
The short vowel in swim is followed by one final consonant. Double that consonant before -ing here. The spelling rule does not mean every verb doubles its final letter.
Let’s go shopping.Go shopping names an activity using go plus -ing.
Change go, not the activity word
Use goes with he or she. Use go after do, does, don’t or doesn’t.
She goes running before work.
Does he go cycling?
Activity or place?
Go swimming names an activity. Go to the pool names a destination.
Let’s go swimming.
Let’s go to the pool.
Guided practice
Say or write your answer first. Compare form and meaning with the model.
1. Complete: I go ___ in the pool. Use swim.
Compare a model and explanation
swimming
Double m in swimming.
2. Complete: She ___ shopping on Friday. Use go.
Compare a model and explanation
goes
She takes goes.
3. Correct: Let’s go to swimming.
Compare a model and explanation
Let’s go swimming.
The activity pattern has no to.
4. Ask about running: you, at weekends.
Compare a model and explanation
Do you go running at weekends?
Use do and go.
5. Make negative: He goes cycling every day.
Compare a model and explanation
He doesn’t go cycling every day.
Use go after doesn’t.
6. Choose activity or place: go to the beach.
Compare a model and explanation
Place.
The beach is a destination.
7. Choose activity or place: go swimming.
Compare a model and explanation
Activity.
Swimming names what you do.
8. Write one activity and its destination.
Compare a model and explanation
I go swimming. I go to the pool.
Other suitable activity/place pairs are acceptable.
A short conversation
Listen first, then open the transcript when useful.
Open the conversation transcript
A: Do you go swimming on Saturdays?
B: No, I go shopping. I go swimming on Sundays.
A: Which pool do you go to?
B: The small pool near my house.
Listening checks
Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have a separate score.
Let’s go to the pool.Go to the pool names a destination and needs to.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.
Use it in your own words
Speaking 1
Describe two weekly activities using go.
Reveal a possible response
I go swimming on Tuesdays. I go shopping on Fridays.
Success check: Use an -ing activity after go.
Speaking 2
Ask a partner about running and cycling.
Reveal a possible response
Do you go running? No, I don’t. Do you go cycling? Yes, on Sundays.
Success check: Use do and short answers.
Put it all together
Plan a free day. Name a place, an activity and a time.
Reveal a possible response
Let’s go to the park at ten. We can go cycling there. Let’s go shopping later.
Success check: Keep activity and destination patterns separate.
Take it with you
I can talk about familiar activities with go and an -ing word.
