When Do We Use ‘Play’ with Sports?

Nous utilisons le verbe play for sports that involve a ball. We also use play for team sports and competitive games.

Think about sports where you ‘play a game’.

• Utilisation play pour football.
• Utilisation play pour basketball.
• Utilisation play pour tennis.
• Utilisation play pour volleyball.
• Utilisation play pour golf.

When Do We Use 'Go' with Activities?

Nous utilisons le verbe go for activities that end with -ing. These are often individual activities or activities that involve moving from one place to another.

Think about activities where you 'go somewhere to do something'.

• Utilisation go pour swimming.
• Utilisation go pour sailing.
• Utilisation go pour horse riding.
• Utilisation go pour windsurfing.

Exemples

• I play football every Saturday.
• She wants to play tennis.
• They play basketball at school.
• We go swimming in the summer.
• He likes to go sailing.
• Do you go horse riding?

Entraînement

Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones

Many Spanish speakers sometimes use do ou make for activities where English uses go ou play.

For example, you might say hacer natación in Spanish. But in English, we say go swimming.

It is also common to forget the -ing ending after go.

Incorrect : I go swim.
Correct : I go swimming.

Remember, for sports with a ball, always use play.

Incorrect : I go football.
Correct : I play football.

Questions fréquemment posées

Why do we say 'play football'?

Nous utilisons play pour football because it is a sport with a ball and it is a team game.

Why do we say 'go swimming'?

Nous utilisons go pour swimming because it is an activity that ends in -ing.

Is there a simple rule to remember?

Yes! Use play for sports with a ball or team games. Use go for activities that end with -ing.