We went swim every day

[Dougertie]

ESL/EFL Test "Elementary English Grammar", question 8

We went ......... every day in our neighbors' swimming pool.

(a) swim
(b) swam
(c) had swam
(d) swimming

ESL/EFL Test "Elementary English Grammar", answer 8

We went swimming every day in our neighbors' swimming pool.

Correct answer: (d) swimming

Your answer was: incorrect
We went swim every day in our neighbors' swimming pool.
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why?

[Fredy]

If you say you went swimming you mean you got the place by swimming (instead of walking or by car) while if you went swim you mean you got the place just for that fact.

[Mister Micawber]

.
Sorry, Fredy-- you missed this one.

to go swimming = to (go and) swim. We often use this formation for activities that include some sort of travelling, but it needn't be actual movement to the location, or by any specific method:

I went swimming at the Sports Centre today; I took my bicycle.

I went golfing/skiiing/shopping/dancing yesterday; I drove there.

(X) Went swim is bad grammar. This form can only be used in the imperative: Go (and) swim; it is good exercise. (This is a command to go and a command to swim.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber