To go, one of the smallest and arguably most complicated verbs in English—except for to be (because what other verb could it be?)—describes movement from one place to another, usually for a reason or purpose (We're going to dinner).
This verb has many associated uses. It can also mean to leave a place or depart: They've already gone home. Like to be, to go is complex, however its utility and inevitability in English should not be overlooked.
What's the past tense of go?
- The present tense is go.
- The simple past tense of "go" is went; the past participle is gone.
Go, and its past tense, went, are entirely different words in how they are spelled and sound. This is why people are so often confused with the verb forms of "go".
Tense Examples: forms of "go" used in sentences present I have to go to Rome on business. past She went into her room and shut the door behind her. past participle form She has gone to see her sister this weekend.
Forms of the verb "go"
present | past | future | |
simple | I go | I went | I will go |
continuous | I am going | I was going | I will be going |
perfect | I have gone | I had gone | I will have gone |
perfect continuous | I have been going | I had been going | I will have been going |
Irregular verbs like "go"
Here's a chart that illustrates other verbs in English with two past tense forms, like go/went/gone:
base verb | past tense | past participle |
go | went | gone |
fly | flew | flown |
blow | blew | blown |
draw | drew | drawn |
do | did | done |
When to use "went" vs. "gone"
Compare these sentences:
Past tense: She went into her room and shut the door behind her.
Past participle: I had gone to the store.
A key marker of the past participle form of a verb vs. the simple past tense is the use of an auxiliary/helping verb, such as had/have/has, or forms of 'to be'. The simple past tense, went, does not require an auxiliary verb because went is a complete verb tense.
Participles are not verb tenses per se. Rather, they are forms of verbs and they are used to form the perfect aspect + the passive voice. This means that the past participle uses a sentence object, and an auxiliary verb (as mentioned).
So, remember: participles participate and need a helping verb to function as a whole verb in a sentence. The simple past, on the other hand, does not require a helping verb and can standalone in sentences.
Phrases with go (or goes)
- What goes around comes around.
- Go without
- Go over
- Go together
- Go after
- Go along with
Origin of go
Old English gan “to advance, walk; depart, go away; happen, take place; conquer; observe, practice, exercise,” from West Germanic *gaian.
Practice: Go, went, gone
She ______ to the store an hour ago.
He has already ______ home for the day.
Where do you want to ______ for dinner tonight?
They ______ on vacation to Spain last summer.
By the time we arrived, the train had already ______.
FAQs
What is the simple past of go?
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What is the past participle of go?
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When to use went vs gone?
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Is go a regular verb?
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Why is the past tense of go confusing?
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Sources
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“Go, V.” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, June 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1165652367.
Yash, D. "How to Use Go, Went, Gone (Explained, With Examples)." Grammarflex, Aug 24, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/go-went-gone/.