|
|
 Fri May 19, 2006 13:10 pm Go laughing: Be happy now and go laughing |
|
|
| John wrote: | | What is go laughing or go crying or go running?" |
go laughing = to laugh while leaving
go crying = to cry while leaving
go running = to run away (to escape), or to go out for a run (for exercise)
If you go laughing, it means you are laughing while you depart. I think it's clearer to say "leave laughing", which also means you are laughing while you depart.
You can also say "to leave them laughing", which means that you make people laugh, and then you leave while they are still laughing. |
|
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 4227
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
|
|
| Fri May 19, 2006 13:39 pm Go laughing: Be happy now and go laughing |
|
|
.
The go + -ing form normally requires a verb with some distinct element of motion, John. We can go swimming/running/dancing/skiing/shopping etc, but we cannot go eating/sitting/laughing/thinking/writing etc.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
|
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 3976
Location: Yokohama, Japan
|
 |
| Fri May 19, 2006 16:22 pm Go laughing: Be happy now and go laughing |
|
|
Dear Alan/ Conchita/ Amy
Please Give Your Opinions About (Go Laughing Go Weeping)
I Am Terribly Baffled
Please Help Me Solve This Confusion
Mr.Jamie And Mr. Micawber Seem To Have Different Opinions
Waiting Waiting And Waiting
John |
|
John
Guest
|
|
| Fri May 19, 2006 18:41 pm Go laughing: Be happy now and go laughing |
|
|
Hi John
I think Mr. Micawber's opinion is the same as Jamie's.
Normally you cannot say "go laughing" or "go crying" or "go weeping". Mr. Micawber gave you the basic rule for when you can and cannot say "go + verb-ing". Jamie described a very special exception to that rule (where the sentence would describe what you're doing at the same time as when you leave a place). Jamie told you what your specific examples mean.
Your example sentence was "Be happy now and go laughing". What exactly do you want to say? Do you want to tell a sad person to cheer up and start laughing?
Possible alternatives:
- start laughing
- have a laugh
- put a smile on your face
In what context would you want to use "go weeping"? What exactly do you want to say?
Usually "go + verb-ing" is used when you go to a place (i.e. outside of your house) and actively do something. This is very often a sport and normally cannot be done in your house:
- Go to the beach and swim (go swimming).
- Go to a mountain and ski (go skiing).
- Go outside to the street and jog (go jogging).
- Go to the supermarket and shop (go shopping).
Does that help?
Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
|
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7464
Location: Northeast US
|
|
| Fri May 19, 2006 19:20 pm Go laughing: Be happy now and go laughing |
|
|
dear amy
thanks a lot-yes it did help a lot...
but you wrote: "normally you cannot say "go laughing" or "go crying" or "go weeping"."
why do you use the word "normally"? isn't it spicifically incorrect? and what about written english...?i mean with a comma?
he came in, crying------------she went away, laughing.
we left them laughing (by the way who was laughing? they or we?)
thanks a lot
john |
|
john
Guest
|
|
| Fri May 19, 2006 20:41 pm Go laughing: Be happy now and go laughing |
|
|
| john wrote: | dear amy
thanks a lot-yes it did help a lot...
but you wrote: "normally you cannot say "go laughing" or "go crying" or "go weeping"."
why do you use the word "normally"? isn't it spicifically incorrect? and what about written english...?i mean with a comma?
he came in, crying------------she went away, laughing.
we left them laughing (by the way who was laughing? they or we?)
thanks a lot
john |
Hi John
Now you're getting into some other areas.
I wrote "normally" because it often depends on the specific context to one degree or another. I understood that you wanted to know if you could use "go laughing" the same way you can use "go running" or "go shopping" or "go skiing". My answer to that question is NO.
But if your question is "Can 'go laughing' be used at all?", then my answer is YES. (Jamie gave you examples.) And I wanted more input from you as to what exactly you wanted to say. The sentence you gave as an example was not a good sentence, in my opinion. It was unclear what you wanted to say and why.
In your new crying/laughing examples, you can omit the comma:
"He came in crying" This is OK and it means "He was crying when he came in."
"She went away laughing." This is also OK and means "She was laughing when she went away."
"We left them laughing." I understand that they were laughing when we left.
"We left them, laughing." Here I would insert the comma if you want to say "We were laughing when we left them."
And finally, "go" can sometimes be used to mean "die". 
So, "He went laughing" could possibly mean "He was laughing when he died." It all depends on the context and what you want to say. 
Are you sorry you asked now? 
Have a nice Friday evening.
Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
|
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7464
Location: Northeast US
|
|
|
| Have married and Have been married | He can't put up with... |
