Do you have a minute to spare to learn some English? Watch Phil finalise the use of ‘play’, ‘do’ and ‘go’ for sports! Give us 60 seconds and we’ll give you the English!
Phil
Hi, I’m Phil from BBC Learning English. Today, I’m going to tell you how we use play, do and go with different sports.
So, for team sports or ball games, we use play. So, I can say: I play football. I don’t play tennis.
For more individual activities, we use do. So, we can say: I do exercise. I don’t do judo.
Then, for activities ending in –ING, we often use go. So, I can say: I go running. Or: I don’t go swimming.
Of course, there are some exceptions, but try to remember. Play for team sports or ball games. Do for individual activities and go for activities ending in –ING.
Play, do and go for sports
Play
We use play for team sports or ball games.
- I play football.
- I don’t play tennis.
- Will we play hockey tomorrow?
Do
We use do for more individual activities.
- I do exercise.
- I don’t do judo.
- Have you ever done aerobics?
Go
We often use go for activities ending in -ING
- I go running.
- I don’t go swimming.
- I would never go skydiving.