Understanding the seemingly simple shift from “go” to “goes” is crucial for mastering English grammar. This fundamental change reflects the core principles of subject-verb agreement, a concept that dictates how verbs must align with their subjects in number and person.
A solid grasp of this verb shift is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences and communicating effectively in both spoken and written English. This article is designed for English language learners of all levels, from beginners seeking to understand the basics to advanced students looking to refine their understanding and usage.
By exploring the rules, exceptions, and common pitfalls associated with this verb form, learners can significantly improve their fluency and accuracy. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the “go/goes” paradigm, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to confidently navigate this key aspect of English grammar.
This is your guide to mastering subject-verb agreement focused on the verb ‘to go’.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement with ‘Go’/’Goes’
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of Subjects
- Examples of ‘Go’ and ‘Goes’ in Sentences
- Usage Rules for ‘Go’ and ‘Goes’
- Common Mistakes with ‘Go’ and ‘Goes’
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement with ‘Go’/’Goes’
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental principle of English grammar that states that a verb must agree in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third) with its subject. In simpler terms, if the subject is singular, the verb usually takes a singular form, and if the subject is plural, the verb typically takes a plural form. This agreement ensures that sentences are grammatically correct and easy to understand.
The verb “to go” is an irregular verb, meaning its forms don’t follow the standard rules of conjugation. The third-person singular present tense form of “to go” is “goes.” All other forms (first-person singular, second-person singular, first-person plural, second-person plural, and third-person plural) use “go.” Understanding when to use “go” versus “goes” is essential for accurate sentence construction.
Classification: ‘Go’ and ‘Goes’ are both present simple tense forms of the verb ‘to go’. ‘Go’ is used for plural subjects and the pronouns I and you, while ‘Goes’ is used for singular subjects.
Function: They indicate an action or state that occurs regularly, habitually, or as a general truth in the present time. They can also describe scheduled events in the near future.
Contexts: These verb forms are used in a wide variety of contexts, including:
- Describing daily routines: I go to work every day. She goes to school five days a week.
- Expressing habits: They go swimming on Saturdays. He goes running in the morning.
- Stating general truths: The sun goes down in the west. Water goes to 100 degrees Celsius.
- Indicating future events: The train goes at 6 pm. The movie goes on to the cinema.
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure involving “go” and “goes” follows the standard Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern in English sentences. The key is to correctly identify the subject and then choose the appropriate verb form based on its number and person.
Here is a breakdown of the structural elements:
- Subject: The noun or pronoun performing the action.
- Verb (Go/Goes): The action word, conjugated according to the subject.
- Object (Optional): The noun or pronoun that receives the action.
- Adverbial Phrase (Optional): Provides additional information about the action, such as time, place, or manner.
Subject-Verb Agreement Chart:
| Subject Pronoun | Verb Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| I | go | I go to the library every Tuesday. |
| You | go | You go to the park on weekends. |
| He | goes | He goes to the gym after work. |
| She | goes | She goes shopping every Friday. |
| It | goes | The clock goes tick-tock. |
| We | go | We go on vacation every summer. |
| They | go | They go out for dinner on Saturdays. |
Understanding the structure and the subject-verb agreement is important for constructing grammatically correct sentences. Incorrect agreement can lead to confusion and misinterpretations.
Types and Categories of Subjects
Subjects in English sentences can be categorized in several ways, and these categories influence the verb form used. Here are some key types of subjects to consider:
Singular Subjects
Singular subjects refer to one person, place, thing, or idea. When the subject is singular, the verb “goes” is used (in the present simple tense).
Examples of singular subjects:
- He
- She
- It
- John
- The cat
- My mother
Example Sentences:
- He goes to the office at 9 am.
- She goes to bed early.
- It goes without saying that practice is important.
- John goes to the gym regularly.
- The cat goes outside every morning.
- My mother goes to church on Sundays.
Plural Subjects
Plural subjects refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. When the subject is plural, the verb “go” is used (in the present simple tense).
Examples of plural subjects:
- They
- We
- The cats
- My parents
- John and Mary
Example Sentences:
- They go to the movies every Friday.
- We go to the beach in the summer.
- The cats go crazy when they see a bird.
- My parents go for a walk every evening.
- John and Mary go dancing on Saturdays.
Compound Subjects
A compound subject consists of two or more subjects joined by a conjunction (usually “and”). Compound subjects are generally considered plural, and therefore, the verb “go” is used.
Examples:
- John and Peter
- My brother and I
- The dog and the cat
Example Sentences:
- John and Peter go to the same school.
- My brother and I go camping every year.
- The dog and the cat go everywhere together.
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things. Some indefinite pronouns are singular (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody), while others are plural (e.g., several, both, few).
Singular indefinite pronouns take “goes,” while plural indefinite pronouns take “go.”
Singular Indefinite Pronouns:
- Everyone
- Someone
- Nobody
- Each
- Every
- Anybody
Example Sentences:
- Everyone goes to the party.
- Someone goes to the market.
- Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore.
Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
- Several
- Both
- Few
Example Sentences:
- Several students go to the library after class.
- Both of my parents go to work early.
- Few people go there anymore.
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things (e.g., team, family, committee). These can be tricky.
If the group is acting as a single unit, use “goes.” If the members of the group are acting individually, use “go.”
Examples:
- The team
- The family
- The committee
Example Sentences:
- The team goes to the stadium together. (acting as a unit)
- The family goes their separate ways after dinner. (acting individually)
- The committee goes over the proposal. (acting as a unit)
Examples of ‘Go’ and ‘Goes’ in Sentences
To further illustrate the usage of “go” and “goes,” here are several examples organized by subject type.
Examples with Singular Subjects
This table provides examples of sentences using “goes” with various singular subjects. Each example shows how the verb agrees with the subject in number.
| Subject | Sentence |
|---|---|
| He | He goes to the gym every morning before work. |
| She | She goes to the library to study. |
| It | It goes without saying that honesty is the best policy. |
| John | John goes to the park every Sunday. |
| The cat | The cat goes to sleep on the windowsill. |
| My mother | My mother goes to yoga class twice a week. |
| The dog | The dog goes for a walk every evening. |
| The student | The student goes to class on time. |
| The car | The car goes very fast. |
| The train | The train goes to London every hour. |
| The company | The company goes bankrupt. |
| The teacher | The teacher goes to school on time. |
| The singer | The singer goes on stage. |
| The chef | The chef goes to work. |
| The doctor | The doctor goes to the hospital. |
| The artist | The artist goes to the gallery. |
| The writer | The writer goes to the office. |
| The actor | The actor goes on stage. |
| The dancer | The dancer goes to the studio. |
| The baker | The baker goes to the bakery. |
| Every child | Every child goes to school. |
| Each student | Each student goes to the library. |
| Someone | Someone goes to the gym. |
| Nobody | Nobody goes to that restaurant. |
Examples with Plural Subjects
Following are examples of sentences using “go” with various plural subjects. Notice how the verb form changes to agree with the plural subjects.
| Subject | Sentence |
|---|---|
| They | They go to the movies every weekend. |
| We | We go camping in the summer. |
| The cats | The cats go outside to play. |
| My parents | My parents go for a walk after dinner. |
| John and Mary | John and Mary go dancing every Saturday night. |
| The students | The students go to the cafeteria for lunch. |
| The dogs | The dogs go crazy when the doorbell rings. |
| The children | The children go to bed at 9 pm. |
| The cars | The cars go past the house very quickly. |
| The trains | The trains go to different cities. |
| The companies | The companies go to an event. |
| The teachers | The teachers go to class. |
| The singers | The singers go to the studio. |
| The chefs | The chefs go to the kitchen. |
| The doctors | The doctors go to the hospital. |
| The artists | The artists go to the gallery. |
| The writers | The writers go to the office. |
| The actors | The actors go to the stage. |
| The dancers | The dancers go to the studio. |
| The bakers | The bakers go to the bakery. |
| All children | All children go to school. |
| Several students | Several students go to the library. |
| Both of them | Both of them go to the gym. |
| Many people | Many people go to that restaurant. |
Examples with “I” and “You”
The pronouns “I” and “you” are exceptions to the standard subject-verb agreement rules. Even though “I” is singular, it takes the plural form of the verb (“go”).
“You” also takes the plural form (“go”), regardless of whether it refers to one person or multiple people.
| Subject | Sentence |
|---|---|
| I | I go to work at 8 am every day. |
| You (singular) | You go to the store to buy groceries. |
| You (plural) | You go to the meeting after lunch. |
Examples with Compound Subjects
This table provides examples of sentences with compound subjects, where two or more subjects are joined by “and.” In most cases, compound subjects are treated as plural.
| Subject | Sentence |
|---|---|
| John and Mary | John and Mary go to the same school. |
| My brother and I | My brother and I go out for dinner on weekends. |
| The dog and the cat | The dog and the cat go for a walk together. |
| The teacher and the student | The teacher and the student go to the library. |
| The chef and the baker | The chef and the baker go to the kitchen. |
| The singer and the dancer | The singer and the dancer go to the studio. |
| The writer and the artist | The writer and the artist go to the office. |
Usage Rules for ‘Go’ and ‘Goes’
The primary rule is to match the verb form with the subject’s number: singular subjects usually take “goes,” while plural subjects take “go.” However, there are several nuances and exceptions to this rule.
- Simple Present Tense: “Go” and “goes” are used in the simple present tense to express habits, routines, general truths, and scheduled events.
- Pronoun Agreement: Always use “go” with the pronouns “I” and “you,” regardless of whether “you” is singular or plural.
- Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by “and” are generally considered plural and take the verb “go.”
- Collective Nouns: Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is acting as a unit or as individuals. If the group acts as a unit, use “goes.” If the members act individually, use “go.”
- Indefinite Pronouns: Singular indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody) take “goes,” while plural indefinite pronouns (e.g., several, both, few) take “go.”
- Sentences Starting with “Here” or “There”: In sentences that begin with “here” or “there,” the subject follows the verb. Ensure the verb agrees with the actual subject. For example, “Here goes the bus” (singular) vs. “Here go the buses” (plural).
Common Mistakes with ‘Go’ and ‘Goes’
One of the most frequent errors is using “goes” with plural subjects or with the pronouns “I” and “you.” Another common mistake involves incorrectly identifying the subject in sentences that begin with “here” or “there.” Understanding these common errors can help you avoid them in your own writing and speaking.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| They goes to the park. | They go to the park. | “They” is a plural pronoun, so it should be followed by “go.” |
| I goes to school every day. | I go to school every day. | The pronoun “I” always takes the verb “go.” |
| You goes to the store. | You go to the store. | The pronoun “you” always takes the verb “go.” |
| John and Mary goes to the movies. | John and Mary go to the movies. | “John and Mary” is a compound (plural) subject, so it takes “go.” |
| Here goes the students. | Here go the students. | The subject is “the students” (plural), so the verb should be “go.” |
| Everyone go to the meeting. | Everyone goes to the meeting. | “Everyone” is a singular indefinite pronoun, so it takes “goes.” |
| The team go to the stadium. | The team goes to the stadium. | “The team” is a collective noun acting as a unit, so it takes “goes.” |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of “go” and “goes” with these practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb.
Exercise 1: Basic Subject-Verb Agreement
Complete the following sentences with either “go” or “goes.”
| # | Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I ______ to the gym three times a week. | go |
| 2 | She ______ to the library every afternoon. | goes |
| 3 | They ______ to the beach on weekends. | go |
| 4 | He ______ to work by bus. | goes |
| 5 | We ______ to the park to play soccer. | go |
| 6 | It ______ without saying that practice is important. | goes |
| 7 | You ______ to the party tonight, right? | go |
| 8 | John ______ to the store to buy milk. | goes |
| 9 | The cat ______ to sleep on the couch. | goes |
| 10 | My parents ______ to church every Sunday. | go |
Exercise 2: Identifying Subjects
Identify the subject in each sentence and then choose the correct verb form (“go” or “goes”).
| # | Sentence | Subject | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The students ______ to the cafeteria for lunch. | The students | go |
| 2 | My brother and I ______ to the movies together. | My brother and I | go |
| 3 | The dog ______ for a walk every evening. | The dog | goes |
| 4 | Everyone ______ to the meeting on time. | Everyone | goes |
| 5 | Few people ______ to that restaurant anymore. | Few people | go |
| 6 | Here ______ the bus to downtown. | The bus | goes |
| 7 | There ______ the children playing. | The children | go |
| 8 | Both of them ______ to the party. | Both of them | go |
| 9 | Each student ______ to the library after school. | Each student | goes |
| 10 | The team ______ to the stadium for the game. | The team | goes |
Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks (Advanced)
Complete the following sentences with the correct form of “go” or “goes,” paying attention to collective nouns and indefinite pronouns.
| # | Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The family ______ their separate ways after the holidays. | go |
| 2 | The committee ______ over the proposal carefully. | goes |
| 3 | Several of my friends ______ to Europe every summer. | go |
| 4 | Nobody ______ to that part of town after dark. | goes |
| 5 | The flock of birds ______ south for the winter. | goes |
| 6 | The crowd ______ wild at the concert. | goes |
| 7 | The members of the jury ______ back to deliberate. | go |
| 8 | Each of the participants ______ to a different workshop. | goes |
| 9 | The staff ______ on a coffee break at 3pm. | go |
| 10 | Every summer the students ______ to summer camp. | go |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, there are more complex aspects of subject-verb agreement with “go” and “goes” to explore. These include:
- Subjunctive Mood: In subjunctive constructions, the verb “go” is sometimes used regardless of the subject’s number. This is more common in formal or literary contexts. Example: It is essential that he go to the doctor.
- Inverted Sentences: In sentences where the subject follows the verb (inverted sentences), careful attention must be paid to ensure agreement. Example: Never do I go to that place.
- Relative Clauses: When a relative clause contains “go” or “goes,” the verb must agree with the noun that the relative clause modifies. Example: The man who goes to the gym is very strong. The men who go to the gym are very strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why does “I” take “go” instead of “goes”?
The pronoun “I” is an exception to the standard subject-verb agreement rules. Historically, the form of the verb used with “I” was different, and this usage has been retained in modern English. It’s simply a convention that learners must memorize.
- When is it correct to use “go” with a singular subject?
The most common exception is with the pronouns “I” and “you.” Additionally, in subjunctive constructions, “go” may be used with singular subjects. Also, when a collective noun is acting individually, you can use “go.”
- How do I handle compound subjects joined by “or” or “nor”?
When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject that is closest to the verb. For example, “Neither John nor his friends go to the party” (agrees with “friends”). “Neither his friends nor John goes to the party” (agrees with “John”).
- What if the subject is a long phrase?
Identify the core noun in the subject phrase. The verb should agree with this core noun. For example, “The quality of the apples goes down over time” (agrees with “quality”).
- How do I know if a collective noun is singular or plural?
Consider whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members. If the group is acting as a unit, it’s singular. If the members are acting individually, it’s plural.
- Are there any regional variations in the usage of “go” and “goes”?
While standard English dictates the rules outlined in this article, some non-standard dialects may have different usage patterns. However, it’s important to adhere to standard English in formal writing and speaking.
- Can “go” and “goes” be used in tenses other than the present simple?
“Go” is the base form of the verb and can be used in various tenses (e.g., past tense: went; future tense: will go; present continuous: is/are going). “Goes,” however, is only used in the present simple tense with third-person singular subjects.
- How does the use of “go” and “goes” change in questions?
In questions, the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” is used. “Do” is used with “go,” and “does” is used with “goes.”
Examples:
Do you go to school?
Does he go to school?
Conclusion
Mastering the distinction between “go” and “goes” is a foundational step in achieving fluency and accuracy in English grammar. By understanding the principles of subject-verb agreement, recognizing the different types of subjects, and practicing regularly, learners can confidently use these verb forms in their daily communication.
Remember to pay close attention to the subject of the sentence and choose the verb form that agrees with it in number and person.
Continue to practice with varied exercises and real-life examples to solidify your understanding. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process.
With consistent effort and attention to detail, you will master the nuances of “go” and “goes” and elevate your overall command of the English language. Keep practicing and exploring different ways to use these verbs in your writing and speaking!