[Grammar] "Go surfing to / at"

Status
Not open for further replies.

sky3120

Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
[FONT=&#46027]1) Mary went surfing to the beach. (X)[/FONT]
[FONT=&#46027]
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.

[/FONT]
 

HanibalII

Member
Joined
May 9, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
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.




'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.
 

sky3120

Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
Thank you, and then we can say the structures such as go surfing, etc imply "move" and "do" but sometimes we cannot infer "move",[FONT=&#46027]but "do"[/FONT] like #2 and "[FONT=&#46027]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.[/FONT]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top