Go past tense

Meaning of go

to move or travel to a place.

Infinitive

Word: go /ɡoʊ/

Examples:

1. She goes to the gym every morning before work.
2. He always goes out of his way to help others.
3. They go to the same café every Sunday for brunch.

Past Simple

Word: went /wɛnt/

Examples:

1. She went to the store to buy some groceries for the week.
2. Despite the heavy rain, he went outside to walk the dog.
3. They went on vacation to Hawaii and had a wonderful time exploring the islands.

Past Participle

Word: gone /ɡɔːn/

Examples:

1. The letter has been gone through by the committee meticulously.
2. All the formalities were gone through by the family before the trip.
3. The opportunity had been gone after by her for years before she finally succeeded.

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Bare infinitive

To express habits or routines.
Example. 'I go to the gym every morning.'
Example. 'The Earth goes around the sun.'
Example. 'The train goes at 6 PM.'
For universal truths or facts.
Example. 'The Earth goes around the sun.'
Example. 'The train goes at 6 PM.'
For scheduled events in the near future (especially public transportation).
Example. 'The Earth goes around the sun.'
Example. 'The train goes at 6 PM.'

Past Simple

To describe an action that happened and was completed at a specific time in the past.
Example. 'I went to the store yesterday.'
For a sequence of actions in the past.
Example. 'I went home, took a shower, and went to bed.'
To narrate stories or events that took place in the past.
Example. 'Long ago, there went a traveler from land to land.'

Past Participle

In perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect) to express actions that have been completed at some point in the past or will be completed by a certain future time.
Example. Present Perfect. 'He has gone to the market.'
Example. Past Perfect. 'She had gone to university before she got her first job.'
Example. Future Perfect. 'By tomorrow, I will have gone through all the files.'
In passive voice constructions to describe actions done to the subject, often when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.
Example. 'The documents have gone missing.'
Example. Present Perfect. 'He has gone to the market.'
Example. Past Perfect. 'She had gone to university before she got her first job.'
Example. Future Perfect. 'By tomorrow, I will have gone through all the files.'
As an adjective to describe something that is no longer here or present.
Example. 'He is gone from our lives.'
Example. Present Perfect. 'He has gone to the market.'
Example. Past Perfect. 'She had gone to university before she got her first job.'
Example. Future Perfect. 'By tomorrow, I will have gone through all the files.'

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing 'went' with 'gone

' A common mistake is confusing the simple past form 'went' with the past participle 'gone,' especially in perfect tenses and passive voice. The simple past 'went' is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, 'I went to the store yesterday.' On the other hand, 'gone' is used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses or passive voice, indicating an action that has been completed at the time of speaking or has relevance to the present moment. For example, 'She has gone to the store' (present perfect) or 'The keys have gone missing' (present perfect passive).

— 02

'Gone' without auxiliary verbs

Another mistake involves using 'gone' without an auxiliary verb, treating it as if it were a simple past form. This error disrupts the intended meaning of the sentence, as 'gone' should not stand alone when referring to past actions linked to the present. For example, incorrectly saying 'I gone to the store' instead of the correct form 'I have gone to the store' or using the simple past 'I went to the store.'

— 03

Irregular Verb Patterns

Some learners might mistakenly apply regular verb pattern endings (-ed) to 'go,' expecting it to follow the same rule. This results in incorrect forms like 'goed' instead of using the correct irregular forms 'went' for the simple past and 'gone' for the past participle. Understanding that 'go' is an irregular verb and memorizing its correct forms is essential to avoid this common mistake.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the past simple and past participle forms of 'go'?

The past simple form of 'go' is 'went.' It is used to describe actions that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, 'I went to the store yesterday.' The past participle form is 'gone,' which is used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses or the passive voice. For example, in the present perfect tense, you might say, 'I have gone to the store.' When should I use 'went' in a sentence

How do I use 'gone' correctly?

'Gone' is used when you are referring to an action that has been completed, but it emphasizes the result in the present. It is often used with auxiliary verbs like 'have,' 'has,' or 'had.' For example, 'He has gone to the store' implies that he went to the store and is still not back yet. 'Gone' is also used in passive voice constructions, such as 'The days of summer have gone.'

Can you give examples of sentences using both 'went' and 'gone' to clarify their usage?

Using 'went'. 'Last weekend, we went to the beach.' (Past simple tense, indicating a completed action in the past with no direct relevance to the present moment.) Using 'gone'. 'She has gone to the doctor's office.' (Present perfect tense, suggesting that she went to the doctor's office and may still be there or the action has relevance to the present moment.) Understanding the difference between 'went' and 'gone' is crucial for using them correctly. 'Went' focuses on the action itself in the past, while 'gone' emphasizes the current relevance or result of the action.