Do you have a minute to spare to learn some English? Phil’s going to clear up the confusion between go on doing and go on to do. Give us 60 seconds and we’ll give you the English!
Phil
Hi I’m Phil and I’m going to tell you the difference between go on doing and go on to do something.
Now, the meaning of go on depends on whether it’s followed by the gerund or the infinitive.
So if we have go on doing – that’s the gerund – it means ‘to continue doing something’. So, for example: I’d like to go on talking now. Or: I really like this city! I’d like to go on living here for years!
Go on to do – that’s the infinitive – means ‘to progress on to something’. For example: I’d like to go on to study more languages. Or: You could go on to have an even better job!
Just remember that if you go on doing something, you don’t change. And if you go on to do something, you do change. So, if you go on practising your English, you’ll go on to be even better than you are now!
Go on doing vs Go on to do
Phrasal verb
Go on is a phrasal verb. Phrasal verbs, or as they’re sometimes known, multi-word verbs, are very common in English. They’re formed of a main verb and a particle – a preposition or an adverb.
Go on doing
If you go on doing something, you continue doing it.
- After that interruption, I’d like to go on talking now.
- I really like this city! I’d like to go on living here for years!
- This is a false alarm. Please go on doing your work and do not evacuate.
Go on to do
If you go on to do something, you progress on to doing it – often in the future.
- I’d like to go on to study more languages.
- You could go on to have an even better job!
- After finishing university he went on to become a mathematician.