[Grammar] go + verb without and/to

[vcolts]

Ex1. Go ask the officials.

Ex2. Go see the movie.

Ex3. The fans would advise you to go see the play at the theater instead.


Go + Verb (omitting and/to).

Q1. I am assuming it's go "and" see. If so, what is the grammatical reason for missing "and" (construction wise)?

Q2. Is this particular type of phrase/construction allowed in academic writing (formal writing)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[NorwichEnglish]

Yes you're right, 'and' has been omitted. This is very informal English. I guess the reason for dropping the 'and' is to simplify/shorten the sentence. Use it with friends but not in any formal writing.

Also there isn't a past form. You can never say: He went ask the officials, We went see the movie, etc.

But you can use it for the future/modals (informal):
We'll go see the movie tomorrow
We're gonna go see the movie tomorrow.
We could go see a movie...
etc.

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER


Hello, Vcolts:

I have checked my books and found some ideas that may interest you:

1. I will come to visit you tomorrow.

a. Some people suggest that you consider this kind of sentence for formal writing.

2. I will come and visit you tomorrow.

a. "Everyone" agrees that this is good colloquial language (that is, such a sentence is regularly used in American and

British English).

b. One rather strict expert is not too happy with this use of "and." He feels that No. 1 is better because the infinitive phrase

"to see you tomorrow" is used in an adverbial sense to tell the purpose of your coming. He feels that using "and" gives

the idea that "come" and "visit" are of equal importance.

c. One world-famous book says that "I'll try and come tomorrow" is informal for "I'll try to come tomorrow."

3. I will come see you tomorrow.

a. One expert says that this kind of sentence was considered "good" British English until the 17th century. He gives this

example from Shakespeare: "I must go buy Spices for our sheepe-shearing."

b. This kind of sentence is still very common in the United States.

c. That "strict expert" whom I mentioned earlier thinks that it is simply an ellipsis (the "to" is missing).

*****

Conclusion? Maybe (repeat: maybe) if you are doing formal writing, it might be a good idea to use sentences like No. 1

(the to- infinitive). Reserve Nos. 2 and 3 for informal occasions.


HAVE A NICE DAY!


Sources:

Dr. John B. Opdycke, Harper's English Grammar (1965), page 205.
New Fowler's Modern English Usage (1996), page 334.
A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (1985), page 978.