[NEW] Learn English Grammar | past tense of go – NATAVIGUIDES

It is more common to use “going to + verb” to talk about the future, but we can make sentences in the past tense.

These sentences talk about things that were planned but did not really happen. For example,

• I was going to see a movie.
  (Really, I did not see the movie, but it was my plan.)
• He was going to exercise.
  (He did not exercise, but he had planned to exercise.)
• They were going to come.
  (Really, they did not come, but they had intended to come.)

This sentence can be very useful in daily life because this kind of situation happens a lot.

Here is the sentence pattern.

Subject + was/were + going to + verb…

• I was going to watch a movie.
• He was going to call his mother.
• They were going to visit.

It is very common to tell why you did not do your plan. We just need to add “but + reason/excuse”.

Subject + was/were + going to + verb, but…

• I was going to watch the movie, but I fell asleep.
• She was going to call her mother, but she forgot.
• He was going to exercise, but he was too tired after work.
• They were going to come, but they had to stay late at work.
• We were going to eat out, but it started raining so we stayed in.
• They were going to get a new dog, but then Mary got pregnant, so they decided not to.

This is a very useful sentence and it can help you naturally express yourself in English. It is definitely worth your time to study it.

Example Sentences

• I was going to study art in college, but I decided to study engineering instead.
• I was going to go to the party, but I felt sick.
• I was going to buy a new guitar, but I didn’t have enough money.
• He was going to bring a cake to the party, but he totally forgot.
• Nick was going to play with us, but he hurt his back working out yesterday.
• She was going to bring her sister, but her sister got sick.
• The store was going to open last week, but they delayed the opening until next week.
• They were going to get married, but something happened.
• The children were going to give a presentation about dinosaurs, but then they changed their minds and decided to give a presentation about sharks.

English Conversation 1

A) I thought you were going to come to the party last night.
B) I was going to come, but I fell asleep watching TV.
A) You are only 25, but you act like you are 55!
B) I know. It’s just that I have been so busy lately.
A) I understand. I was going to call you, but I figured you were sleeping.
B) You know me very well.

English Conversation 2

A) I was going to call you last night.
B) Why?
A) There was a great concert in the park. I wanted to see if you wanted to come.
B) I heard about that. I was going to come, but I didn’t.
A) Why didn’t you?
B) I’m not sure.
A) Well, who told you about it?
B) My sister was there. She called me.

Learn to speak better English by simply doing this basic practice exercise. First, complete the sentences with your own answers, and then practice making your own sentences.

Tip: Say the sentences aloud. This will help you practice speaking and improve your English fluency. It will help your tongue get used to speaking English and making English sounds.

I was going to _______________, but _______________.
We were going to _______________, but _______________.
He was going to _______________, but _______________.
She was going to _______________, but _______________.
They were going to _______________, but _______________.
The company was going to _______________, but _______________.
The boy was going to _______________, but _______________.
The girls were going to _______________, but _______________.

A to Z Grammar Lessons Index

If English students are going to memorize irregular verb forms, they’ll need to include the verb “go.” These example sentences offer “go” in all tenses, including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms. You’ll notice that there are many tenses where there is no form of “go.” Test your knowledge with the quiz at the end.

Basic Verb Form Conjugations

• Base Form: go
• Past Simple: went
• Present Participle: going
• Past Participle: gone
• Gerund: going
• Infinitive: to go

Present Tenses

• Present Simple: “Peter goes to church on Sundays.”
• Present Continuous: “We are going shopping soon.”
• Present Perfect: “Peter has gone to the bank.”
• Present Perfect Continuous: “Susan has been going to classes for three weeks.”

Present Tenses With No “Go”

In the present tense, the simple passive, continuous passive, and perfect passive verb forms do not have conjugation for “go.”

Past Tenses

• Past Simple: “Alexander went to Denver last week.”
• Past Continuous: “We were going to visit some friends but decided not to go.”
• Past Perfect: “They had already gone to the show so we didn’t go.”
• Past Perfect Continuous: “We had been going to that school for a few weeks when it was chosen as the best school in the city.”

Past Tenses Missing “Go”

As with the present tense, several past tenses lack a version of “go,” and they are all passive. These are the past simple passive, continuous passive, and perfect passive.

Future Tenses

• Future (will): “Jennifer will go to the meeting.”
• Future (going to): “Peter is going to go to the show tonight.”
• Future Continuous: “We will be going to dinner this time tomorrow.”
• Future Perfect: “She will have gone to visit her parents by the time you arrive.”
• Future Possibility: “Jack might go out this weekend.”

Future Tenses Without “Go”

There are no future passive “go” tenses, either using “will” or “going to.”

Conditional and Modal Tenses

• Real Conditional: “If she goes to the meeting, I will attend.”
• Unreal Conditional: “If she went to the meeting, I would attend.”
• Past Unreal Conditional: “If she had gone to the meeting, I would have attended.”
• Present Modal: “You should go out tonight.”
• Past Modal: “They might have gone out for the evening.”

Quiz: Conjugate With Go

Use the verb “to go” to conjugate the following sentences. Quiz answers are below. In some cases, more than one answer may be correct.

1. Peter _____ to the bank.
2. Alexander _____ to Denver last week.
3. They _____ already _____ to the show so we didn’t go.
4. Jennifer _____ to the meeting.
5. If she _____ to the meeting, I will attend.
6. We _____ but decided not to go after all.
7. Peter _____ to church on Sundays.
8. Susan _____ to classes for three weeks.
9. Peter _____ to the show tonight.
10. She _____ to visit her parents by the time you arrive.

Quiz Answers

1. has gone
2. went
3. had gone
4. will go
5. goes
6. were going to go
7. goes
8. has been going
9. is going to go
10. will have gone

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