Pastsimple Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Going fishing / gone fishing / went fishing
Hi,
Suppose you're about to go fishing and you want to leave a note for someone. Which of these are you going to use:
1. Going fishing. (short for I'm going fishing)
2. Gone fishing. (short for I've gone fishing)
3. Went fishing. (short for I went fishing)
Well, I'd use 2. but a Brit once told me he would use 1. His explanation was something like: "I'd be thinking about the current moment and that's why I'd use the present progressive."
Still, I think that 2 could make sense - I'm thinking about the moment when someone's reading the note. At that time, my action is best described using the present perfect. (Q: Where is he? A: He's gone fishing.)
Thanks in advance.
Suppose you're about to go fishing and you want to leave a note for someone. Which of these are you going to use:
1. Going fishing. (short for I'm going fishing)
2. Gone fishing. (short for I've gone fishing)
3. Went fishing. (short for I went fishing)
Well, I'd use 2. but a Brit once told me he would use 1. His explanation was something like: "I'd be thinking about the current moment and that's why I'd use the present progressive."
Still, I think that 2 could make sense - I'm thinking about the moment when someone's reading the note. At that time, my action is best described using the present perfect. (Q: Where is he? A: He's gone fishing.)
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
I agree with you on 2) and the arguments for it. As a matter of fact, it's used jokingly when leaving someone a note with the meaning of I am out of here (now you do the work)
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I agree with you on 2) and the arguments for it.
As a matter of fact, it's used jokingly when leaving someone a note with the meaning of I am out of here (now you do the work)
As a matter of fact, it's used jokingly when leaving someone a note with the meaning of I am out of here (now you do the work)
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Absolutely, "gone fishing' is almost a cliche, uses to say "I'm not here working!"
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