"Go surfing to / at"

1) Mary went surfing to the beach. (X)

2) Mary went surfing at the beach. (O)

My English teacher says #1 is wrong because there is no meaning "move" or "go" in "go surfing", "go swimming", etc.

Do you native English speakers agree with this? Thank you so much as usual.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sky3120

1) Mary went surfing to the beach. (X)

2) Mary went surfing at the beach. (O)

My English teacher says #1 is wrong because there is no meaning "move" or "go" in "go surfing", "go swimming", etc.

Do you native English speakers agree with this? Thank you so much as usual.

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'Mary went surfing to the beach' implies that was her mode of transport to get to the beach, while 'Mary went surfing at the beach' implies that is the activity she did while at the beach.

They are both activities, but both provide very different meanings. Depending on further context, both sentences could be assumed as correct.

Thank you, and then we can say the structures such as go surfing, etc imply "move" and "do" but sometimes we cannot infer "move",but "do" like #2 and "Jack climbed up the hill with all his gear but didn't go hang-gliding because he was too afraid"? Am I right? Thank you so much again.