Going on: continuing an activity

The idea

Use go on to continue. Add an -ing form to name the activity: go on reading. The past is went on.

Examples

• Please go on reading.
• The rain went on all night.
• We went on working after lunch.
• The meeting went on until five.
• Can we go on tomorrow?
• The children went on playing outside.

Watch out

Go on to read can mean moving to a different next action; go on reading means continuing the same activity.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. They went on ___ during the walk. (talking / talk)

   Show answer or example answer

   talking

   talking names the continuing activity.

2. Choose the correct option. The concert ___ on late yesterday. (went / go)

   Show answer or example answer

   went

   went places the continuing event in the past.

3. Choose the correct option. We can ___ on after tea. (go / went)

   Show answer or example answer

   go

   After can, use the base form go.

Use it today

Describe an activity that continued after a break.