[Grammar] He is going swimming

[Kondorosi]

What does it mean?

 

[bhaisahab]

What does it mean?

What do you think it means?

 

[euncu]

What do you think it means?

I don't think that Kondorosi might not be knowing its literal meaning. I've checked the internet if it is an idiom but I couldn't find anything.

 

[Kondorosi]

What do you think it means?

I think it means the same as 'He is going to swim'. He is going there (= to a place where he can swim). However, I read somewhere that the -ing form and the to form convey different meanings.

1. He [is going to] swim.
2. He is going [to swim].
3. He is going swimming.

I know only #1 for sure

 

[Kondorosi]

I don't think that Kondorosi might not be knowing its literal meaning. I've checked the internet if it is an idiom but I couldn't find anything.

Hello euncu,

Thanks for joining this thread. I have an idea about what it could mean but I am far from being "half sure".

 

[Kondorosi]

I changed my mind:

He is going to swim.
Where is he going? To swim. :cross:

He is going to swim.
Why is he going? To swim, that is why. :tick:

Correct?

 

[Raymott]

I changed my mind:

He is going to swim.
Where is he going? To swim. :cross:

He is going to swim.
Why is he going? To swim, that is why. :tick:

Correct?

Maybe, but you were asking about "He's going swimming".
He's going swimming means he's going [to participate in the activity of] swimming.
He's going to have a swim.

 

[euncu]

He is going to swim.

Correct?

It sounds like a future reference;

What is he going to do?
He is going to swim.

----------------------------

He is going swimming.

What is he doing?
He is going swimming.

Less confusion like this.

 

[Kondorosi]

Thanks guys. Your answers are an answer to my prayer. :up:

One final question:

He is going swimming =? He is going to swim?

 

[bhaisahab]

Thanks guys. Your answers are an answer to my prayer. :up:

One final question:

He is going swimming =? He is going to swim?

Yes, it means the same.

 

[Raymott]

Thanks guys. Your answers are an answer to my prayer. :up:

One final question:

He is going swimming =? He is going to swim?

More or less. "He is going to swim" has a wider range of uses.

Here are some examples of where 'He's going swimming' doesn't work:
A: Why is John going to the London Olympics?
B: He's going to swim. (This can be understood two ways: i) He's going there to swim ii) His intention is to swim).

A: Has Mary decided what sport to do yet?
B: She's going to swim.

 

[Kondorosi]

A: Why is John going to the London Olympics?
B: He's going to swim. (This can be understood two ways: i) He's going there to swim ii) His intention is to swim).

i. He is going [to swim].
ii. He [is going to] swim.

Right?
---------------
He is going swimming.
Where is he going? swimming. :tick:
Why is he going? swimming. :tick::?:

He is going [to swim].
Why is he going? to swim. :tick:
Where is he going? to swim. :tick: :?:

What do you think?

 

[Raymott]

i. He is going [to swim].
ii. He [is going to] swim.

Right?

Yes, I think your understanding is the same as mine in this case.
---------------
He is going swimming.
Where is he going? swimming. :tick: Yes.
Why is he going? swimming. :tick::?: No

No. For 'why', you'd have to say "To swim".
Or "the swimming" "He's going [there] for the swimming"
"He is going for swimming" would not be said by a native speaker.

He is going [to swim].
Why is he going? to swim. :tick: Yes
Where is he going? to swim. :tick: :?: Maybe
The second is possible if it's understood where "to swim" indicates.
A more usual answer: "To have a swim".

What do you think?
I think that a lot of phrases are grammatical, but wouldn't be natural ways of saying something.

R.

 

[Kondorosi]

Thanks Ray. I am going mull it over.

 

[Kondorosi]

This is natural:

Where are you going?

I am going swimming.
I am going for a swim.
I am going to have a swim.

Why are you going?

I am going to swim.
I am going for the swimming.

:up::?:

 

[philo2009]

A brief observation concerning tense which may well be redundant, but: in line with any present progressive, the VP [be going] can, depending on sense/context, be construed as referring to an ongoing present action or to one arranged for a future date.