go or go for

[Winwin2011]

1. Go two blocks and turn left
2. Go for two blocks and turn left

Are they both correct?

Thanks for your helps!

 

[bhaisahab]

1. Go two blocks and turn left
2. Go for two blocks and turn left

Are they both correct?

Thanks for your helps!

#2 is not natural English.

 

[Winwin2011]

#2 is not natural English.

Go straight one block.
Go straight for one block.

Are they both correct?

 

[bhaisahab]

Go straight one block.
Go straight for one block.

Are they both correct?

They are OK, I prefer the second.

 

[emsr2d2]

I agree with Bhaisahab. When giving directions, we would normally say something like "Go straight on for...", "Carry on for...", "Go straight ahead for..." etc.

Having said that, someone asked me for directions today and I did actually say "It's on this road on the left. Just go about 3 blocks and you'll find it."

More proof (if it were needed) that there's very little consistency in English, especially spoken English!

 

[Winwin2011]

I agree with Bhaisahab. When giving directions, we would normally say something like "Go straight on for...", "Carry on for...", "Go straight ahead for..." etc.

Having said that, someone asked me for directions today and I did actually say "It's on this road on the left. Just go about 3 blocks and you'll find it."

More proof (if it were needed) that there's very little consistency in English, especially spoken English!

Many thanks to all of you!

Does it mean that when we say "Go straight for two blocks", we use the preposition "for" because it has a "straight" (adverb) in front of 'for"? However talking about "go two blocks", the sentence does contain a "straight" (adverb).. Am I right?

 

[emsr2d2]

I think the difficulty here comes from the use of "go" instead of any other verb of movement that you might use with directions.

I think "Go three blocks..." sounds slightly unnatural as I said, but I would not have the same problem with "Walk three blocks then...", "Drive three blocks then...", etc.

The more I think about it, the less difference I see between the sentences with and without the preposition.

- Go three blocks then turn left.
- Go for twenty metres straight ahead then turn right.
- Keep walking about half a mile and you'll find it.
- Drive for five minutes and turn left at the first roundabout.

I think it's a matter of personal choice.