We usegoto refer to movement, most commonly away from the speaker or listener to another place. We normally usegowithout an object:
Does this tramgoto the city centre?
Can you wait here while Igoback to the house to fetch my jacket?
Don’t confusegoandwalk:
Shall we take the bus or shall wewalk?
Not:Shall we take the bus or shall we go?
Go+ -ing
We usego + -ingform when we speak about general activities that involve movement:
Jack and his dad havegonefishinguntil later this evening.
It was pouring with rain and all we could do was togoshopping.
If the activities have a clear beginning and end, thengo+to-infinitive is used:
They’vegone to watchthe tennis final.
Not:They’ve gone watching…
Go+ complement
We usego+ an adjective (complement) to describe changes to the state of things:
Don’t let the coffeego cold.
Their carwent wrongagain just two days after it had been repaired.
Gois a word with many different meanings. You will find other meanings ofgo, and phrasal verbs withgo, in a good learner’s dictionary.
See also:
Get
Getorgo?
Go and,come and…
In speaking, we often useandaftergoandcomebefore the base form of verbs likeask, buy, check, collect, do, find, get:
Why don’t yougo and askher?
I need togo and buymyself some running shoes.
Can youcome and dothe washing-up?
She shouldgo and findanother job.
In informal American English, speakers often leave outand:
Would you like tocome havelunch with us?
I was expecting him togo getthe keys.