[fface]

Hi susan,

Is there any subtle difference between these sentences below?

1. Let's go to see Ann this Sunday.
2. Le's go and see Ann this Sunday.
3. Let's go see Ann this Sunday.

Thanks a million.

[susan53]

No - the same. 3 sounds a bit more informal to me and more likely in US than UK English (??) But I'd say all of them.

Sue

[fface]

Hi susan,

What's the difference between go shopping and do the shopping and go window shopping?

Thanks a lot.

[susan53]

It might have been better to start a new thread for this one as you've changed topic slightly and this is getting rather long. However :

1. Do the shopping : means for food, household stuff etc. Eg I'm going to the supermarket to do the shopping. What do you want for dinner tonight? / I forgot to get the milk when I did the shopping this morning / My husband and I always go to the supermarket on Saturday morning and do the shopping for the week.

2. Go shopping : Could be for food etc as above but could also be eg for clothes and other things : examples...
a) I forgot to get the milk when I went shopping this morning. I spent so long in the bookshop that it went right out of my head.
b) I went shopping in the centre of town yesterday and bought a new pair of trousers.

3. Go window shopping is quite different - it means to wander around the shops looking at things but without the intention of actually buying anything that day - possibly because you don't have enough money at the time, or because you want to look at things before deciding, or simply because you enjoy wandering round the shops. Eg I went window shopping in town this morning and saw a pair of trousers which I really liked. They were expensive though. I might go back and get them next week after I get paid. I'll think about it.

[fface]

Hi susan,

Can we also use 'have a swim' in a situation like 'planning in advance'? For example, 'Would you like to have a swim with me tomorrow?'

Thank you so much for your great help.

[susan53]

As always, it's a matter of context. If the concept of "going" somewhere was irrelevant in the situation, then yes - possibly. For example : two friends A and B are at the lake. A has just been for a swim while B is sunbathing. A comes out of the water and says...
A : Oh that was nice! Aren't you going in?
B: No. I know it's silly, but i'm terrified of water. I can swim a bit - my parents made me learn - but if I can't put my feet on the bottom I just panic.
A: Oh I didn't know that! What a pity. Listen, I have to go now as I'm working this evening but why don't we come back tomorrow and you can have a swim with me. I promise we won't go out of your depth, and I'll be there to support you. The water's so nice - it's a pity not to go in.
B : All right. Let's have a swim tomorrow. Just a little one though!
A : I promise!

Here the two are already at the lake and know that tomorrow it will be the same. So the focus is on the idea of having a swim - not on "going somewhere" for a swim.

[fface]

Hi susan,

What's the difference between

'I like to swim.'
'I like swimming.' and
'I like to go swimming?

Thanks a lot.