TESOL/Go and go to

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

Activities

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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

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Nouns

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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

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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

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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