Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Man-e-faces]

I'm having a bad morning (overslept) and just got asked a question in class.
I'm looking at the grade 6 lesson 'What do you want to do?'

What is the difference between
I want to swim/ski
and
I want to go swimming/skiing

Can someone please help me?

Thanks!

[edwardcatflap]

There�s no real difference in meaning. However functionally we tend to use go + gerund when we are talking about the activity in general in answer to questions such as �what did you do at the weekend? �I went skiing.� �I go swimming every Sunday�. We use the verb on its own when we talk more specifically, �I swam 30 lengths at the pool today, �I was skiing down the mountain when I hit a tree. �

So with the examples you gave the second one would be more natural as an answer to the question, �what do you want to do today?� While the first could be an answer to the question �How do you want to get down this mountain?�

[jizza]

That explanation is way too long and complicated. Good luck getting a 6th grade class to understand that...

In this case, the law of diminishing returns applies. There is simply no real need to spend time explaining it in so much detail.

The two are effectively the same with slight nuances in meaning. Simply tell them to use "go swimming" because it's more natural and be done with it. Your students will thank you for it, trust me.