The Plural of ‘Go’: Forms, Usage, and Common Mistakes in English Grammar

Purpose and Scope

What is the plural of go? Most English learners are surprised to learn that this common word has both noun and verb forms, each with different rules for pluralization and subject-verb agreement. This article offers a comprehensive exploration of the plural of go, covering its use as both a noun and a verb, the historical background, irregularities, and practical applications. Whether you are a student, teacher, writer, or linguist, understanding these distinctions will help you speak and write English more accurately and confidently.

Importance

Correct usage of go and its forms—especially the plural—can affect clarity in both written and spoken English. Misusing the noun or verb forms is a common error, even among native speakers. Mastering this aspect of grammar helps learners avoid misunderstandings and communicate more precisely, which is crucial for academic, professional, and everyday contexts.

Who Will Benefit

This guide is designed for learners at all levels, English teachers seeking clear explanations, ESL students, writers, and anyone who wants to avoid common mistakes with go in English. The article offers extensive examples, tables, and exercises for thorough understanding and practice.

3. Definition Section
4. Structural Breakdown
5. Types or Categories
6. Examples Section
7. Usage Rules
8. Common Mistakes
9. Practice Exercises
10. Advanced Topics
11. FAQ Section
12. Conclusion

3. Definition Section

3.1. What Is “Go”?

Verb Form:

Go as a verb means “to move from one place to another” or “to proceed.” It is one of the most common and versatile verbs in English. The base form is go, and it takes different forms depending on tense and subject.

Base verb: go
Third person singular present: goes
Present participle: going
Past tense: went
Past participle: gone

Note: As a verb, go does NOT have a plural form in the same way as nouns.

Noun Form:

Go as a noun is much less common but is used in informal contexts to mean “an attempt,” “a turn,” or “an opportunity to do something.” For example: Let me have a go! or It took him three goes to finish the puzzle.

3.2. Grammatical Classification

**Table 1: “Go” as a Verb vs. Noun—Key Differences**
Feature	Verb	Noun
Meaning	To move, travel, proceed	An attempt or turn
Pluralization	Not applicable	Singular: go; Plural: goes
Example	They go to school	He had two goes at the game
Grammatical Role	Main verb	Countable noun

3.3. Function in Sentences

As a verb, “go” is often the main verb in a sentence:

We go to work every day.

It can also be used as an auxiliary verb in some constructions, especially in informal speech:

I’m gonna go get some coffee.

As a noun, “go” functions as a subject, object, or complement in sentences:

It’s your go.
He had three goes before he succeeded.

3.4. Contexts of Usage

The plural form of “go” as a noun is relevant in contexts such as:

Games and sports (e.g., She had two goes at bowling.)
Repeated attempts (e.g., He needed several goes to get it right.)
Opportunities or turns (e.g., Everyone gets a go.)

As a verb, “go” does not have a plural, but its form changes for subject-verb agreement.

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1. Pluralization of English Nouns: General Rules

Most English nouns form their plural by adding -s or -es. Some nouns have irregular plural forms.

**Table 2: Regular vs. Irregular Plural Forms**
Singular	Regular Plural	Irregular Plural
cat	cats	–
box	boxes	–
child	–	children
man	–	men
go	goes	–

Rule: For nouns ending in a consonant + “o”, add “-es” to form the plural. Thus, go becomes goes.

4.2. Plural Form of “Go” (Noun)

As a countable noun, go is pluralized as goes (NOT “gos”, NOT “go’s”). This follows the rule for nouns ending with a consonant + “o”.

Singular: go (e.g., “It’s your go.”)
Plural: goes (e.g., “She had two goes at it.”)

Spelling rule: Add “-es” when pluralizing nouns ending with a consonant + “o” (e.g., tomato → tomatoes, hero → heroes, go → goes).

4.3. “Go” as a Verb: Subject-Verb Agreement

Verbs in English do NOT have a plural form. Instead, they change form to agree with the subject, especially in the present tense:

I/you/we/they go
He/she/it goes

Other forms of the verb go include going (present participle/gerund) and gone (past participle).

4.4. Morphological Patterns

Go changes form depending on its grammatical role:

Noun: go → goes (plural)
Verb: go → goes (third person singular present), going, gone, went

Despite similar spelling, goes as a noun and verb are pronounced slightly differently and used in different contexts.

4.5. Pronunciation and Stress Patterns

**Table 3: Pronunciation Differences**
Form	IPA	Notes
go (noun or verb)	/ɡəʊ/ (BrE), /ɡoʊ/ (AmE)	Stressed on the only syllable
goes (noun)	/ɡəʊz/ (BrE), /ɡoʊz/ (AmE)	Similar to verb, but context is key
goes (verb)	/ɡəʊz/ (BrE), /ɡoʊz/ (AmE)	Identical to noun in speech

In both noun and verb forms, goes is pronounced the same way: /ɡəʊz/ or /ɡoʊz/. Only the sentence context reveals which is meant.

5. Types or Categories

5.1. “Go” as a Noun

Go as a noun is common in informal conversation, especially:

Games and sports: “It’s your go.”
Attempts: “She had three goes before succeeding.”
Opportunities: “Give it a go!”

5.2. “Go” as a Verb

Go as a verb is used for movement, travel, or change of state. In subject-verb agreement:

Goes is the form for third person singular present tense (he/she/it).
Go is used for all other present tense subjects.

5.3. “Goes” in Different Contexts

Goes can be either:

The plural of the noun go (e.g., “He had several goes.”)
The third person singular present of the verb go (e.g., “She goes to work.”)

**Table 4: “Goes” as Noun vs. Verb Side-by-Side**
Context	Example	Function
Noun (plural)	He had two goes at the quiz.	Countable noun
Verb (third person singular)	She goes to the store.	Verb

5.4. Regional and Informal Variations

There are some regional preferences:

British English: Often uses “go” or “goes” in games (It’s your go).
American English: More commonly uses “turn” (It’s your turn), but “go” is understood and sometimes used.

In informal or dialectal English, “go” can also appear in slang or special constructions.

6. Examples Section

6.1. Examples of “Go” as a Noun (Singular/Plural)

You had your go.
It’s my go next.
She took three goes to solve the puzzle.
He had two goes at the exam.
Everyone gets a go before the game’s over.
After several goes, he finally succeeded.
Let me have a go!
They each had two goes at the challenge.
The team had multiple goes but couldn’t score.
I want another go at the puzzle.

**Table 5: Singular vs. Plural Noun Examples**
Singular	Plural
It’s my go next.	They each had two goes.
Let me have a go.	After several goes, he succeeded.
You had your go.	He had three goes at the exam.

6.2. Examples of “Go” as a Verb

I go to the gym every morning.
She goes to school by bus.
They go to the park on weekends.
He goes for a walk after dinner.
We go shopping together.
The cat goes outside at night.
You go first, then I’ll follow.
It goes without saying.
The train goes every hour.
Does she go to the same class?

**Table 6: Subject-Verb Agreement Examples**
Subject	Verb Form	Example
I	go	I go to the gym.
He	goes	He goes for a walk.
We	go	We go shopping.
It	goes	It goes without saying.
They	go	They go to the park.

6.3. Examples of “Goes” as Noun vs. Verb in Context

**Goes as Noun vs. Verb: Side-by-Side**
Noun (plural)	Verb (third person singular)
He had three goes at the puzzle.	She goes to the store every day.
They took several goes to get it right.	The bus goes at 8 a.m.
After a few goes, he gave up.	He goes swimming every Friday.
Each player gets two goes.	It goes without saying.
She needed multiple goes to finish.	The clock goes tick-tock.

6.4. Complex and Advanced Usage

After several unsuccessful goes, Jane finally managed to open the lock.
If you give it a go, you might surprise yourself.
He made two goes at the high jump, both unsuccessful.
At one go, she completed all the tasks.
The students were given multiple goes at the experiment in the lab.

6.5. Regional/Colloquial Examples

BrE: “It’s your go!” (AmE: “It’s your turn!”)
BrE: “He had a few goes at the quiz before passing.”
AmE: “She gets another turn,” but “She gets another go” is also sometimes used.
Colloquial: “He’s got real go!” (slang for energy, sometimes uncountable)

6.6. Error/Correction Example Table

**Table 7: Incorrect vs. Correct Usage**
Incorrect	Correct
He had two gos.	He had two goes.
She go to school every day.	She goes to school every day.
Everyone gets go’s.	Everyone gets goes.
They goes to the park.	They go to the park.
She had three go at the puzzle.	She had three goes at the puzzle.

6.7. Summary Table

**Table 8: Summary of Example Categories**
Category	Example
Noun, singular	It’s your go.
Noun, plural	He had two goes at it.
Verb, present simple	She goes to work.
Verb, present simple (plural subject)	They go to the park.
Regional/colloquial	It’s your go! (BrE)
Error/correction	Incorrect: gos; Correct: goes

7. Usage Rules

7.1. Rule 1: Pluralization of “Go” as a Noun

Rule: Always add -es to form the plural: goes

He had two goes at the exam.
They took several goes to finish the task.
Everyone gets two goes in the game.
After three goes, she finally succeeded.
The children wanted more goes on the ride.

7.2. Rule 2: Subject-Verb Agreement with “Go” as a Verb

Third person singular (he, she, it): goes
All other subjects: go

Examples:

He goes to school.
They go to school.

7.3. Rule 3: Special Cases and Exceptions

Uncountable/slang: In some dialects, “go” can be used as an uncountable noun (“He’s got a lot of go!”). In this context, it is not pluralized.
Nonstandard/dialectal: Some nonstandard forms exist in regional varieties, but “goes” is standard for the plural noun.

7.4. Rule 4: Use in Idiomatic Expressions

Have a go (singular)
Give it a go (singular)
At one go (singular); NOT “at one goes”
Multiple goes at something (plural)

Use the plural goes only when referring to more than one attempt or turn.

7.5. Rule 5: Differences in American and British Usage

British English: “Go”/”goes” is common in games and conversation.
American English: “Turn”/”turns” is more usual, but “go” is still understood.

In American English, you might hear “She gets another turn,” while in British English, “She gets another go.”

8. Common Mistakes

8.1. Pluralizing “Go” Incorrectly

Incorrect: “He had two gos.”
Correct: “He had two goes.”
Incorrect: “Everyone gets go’s.”
Correct: “Everyone gets goes.”

8.2. Confusing Verb and Noun Forms

Incorrect: “She goes at the puzzle.”
Correct: “She has a go at the puzzle.” (noun) or “She tries the puzzle.” (verb)

8.3. Misapplying Regular Pluralization Rules

Incorrect: “gos” for plural noun
Correct: “goes”

8.4. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

Incorrect: “They goes to school.”
Correct: “They go to school.”

8.5. Regionalisms and Nonstandard Usage

Incorrect: “He had three go’s at it.” (using apostrophe for plural)
Correct: “He had three goes at it.”

8.6. Table: Common Mistakes and Corrections

**Table 9: Common Mistakes and Corrections**
Mistake	Correction
gos	goes
go’s	goes
She go to work.	She goes to work.
They goes home.	They go home.
He had three go at it.	He had three goes at it.

9. Practice Exercises

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank

She ________ to the library every week.
They had two ________ at the puzzle.
I ________ for a run in the mornings.
He ________ another try at the game.
It ________ without saying.
After three ________, she gave up.
We ________ to the movies on Fridays.
The dog ________ outside to play.
May I have a ________?
All the children want more ________ on the ride.

9.2. Identify the Correct Form

He (go/goes) to work by train.
The player had three (go/goes) at the ball.
We (go/goes) swimming every Sunday.
She (go/goes) home after class.
The cat (go/goes) outdoors at night.
After several (go/goes), he succeeded.
You (go/goes) first, then I’ll try.
It (go/goes) without saying.
They (go/goes) to the museum.
Each child gets two (go/goes).

9.3. Error Correction

They goes to school every morning.
She had two gos at the game.
Everyone gets go’s in this activity.
He go to the market every Sunday.
It go without saying.

9.4. Sentence Construction

Write sentences using the plural of “go” as a noun:

_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________

9.5. Categorization Exercise

Sort each sentence as “noun” or “verb”:

She goes to the store every day.
They had several goes at the game.
He goes for a walk in the evening.
Let me have a go!
We go to the park on weekends.

9.6. Table: Exercise Answers

**Table 10: Exercise Answers**
Exercise	Answers
9.1 Fill-in-the-Blank	1. goes 2. goes 3. go 4. has 5. goes 6. goes 7. go 8. goes 9. go 10. goes
9.2 Identify the Correct Form	1. goes 2. goes 3. go 4. goes 5. goes 6. goes 7. go 8. goes 9. go 10. goes
9.3 Error Correction	1. They go to school every morning. 2. She had two goes at the game. 3. Everyone gets goes in this activity. 4. He goes to the market every Sunday. 5. It goes without saying.
9.4 Sentence Construction (sample answers)	1. The children had three goes on the slide. 2. She needed several goes to complete the task. 3. After many goes, he finally won. 4. The team had two goes before scoring. 5. We all got two goes at the game.
9.5 Categorization	1. Verb 2. Noun 3. Verb 4. Noun 5. Verb

10. Advanced Topics

10.1. Historical Development

The verb go comes from Old English gān, with roots in Germanic languages. The noun form “go” (meaning “attempt” or “turn”) is much newer, first appearing in the 18th century. The plural form “goes” follows standard patterns for words ending in consonant + o.

10.2. Corpus-Based Frequency Analysis

Corpus studies show that goes is overwhelmingly used as a verb (third person singular present), with the noun plural “goes” being much less frequent and usually limited to informal or spoken contexts.

10.3. Idiomatic and Figurative Uses

“Go” appears in many idioms:

Give it a go (try something)
At one go (in a single attempt)
All systems go (everything is ready)
No go (not possible)

10.4. “Go” in Compound Nouns and Set Phrases

Go forms part of compounds:

Go-kart (a type of small racing car) – plural: go-karts
Go-ahead (approval to proceed) – plural: go-aheads
Go-between (an intermediary) – plural: go-betweens

In these compounds, standard pluralization rules apply to the last word.

10.5. Cross-Linguistic Comparisons

Other languages may use different structures for “go” as a noun. For example, in French, the noun “essai” (attempt) is used instead of a noun form of “go.” Pluralization patterns will depend on the target language’s rules.

11. FAQ Section

What is the plural of “go” as a noun?
The plural is goes (e.g., “He had three goes at the puzzle.”).
Why is the plural of “go” not “gos”?
English nouns ending with consonant + “o” usually add “-es” for the plural, so “go” becomes “goes.”
Is “goes” always the plural of “go”?
No. “Goes” can be either the plural noun (“two goes”) or the third person singular present of the verb (“She goes”). Context determines the meaning.
How do I know when “goes” is a verb or a noun?
If it describes an action (he/she/it goes), it’s a verb. If it means “turns” or “attempts” (two goes), it’s a noun.
Can “go” be uncountable?
Yes, in slang or informal expressions (“He’s got a lot of go!”), it’s uncountable and not pluralized.
What are some common mistakes with “go”/”goes”?
Using “gos” or “go’s” for the plural noun, confusing verb and noun forms, and making subject-verb agreement errors (“They goes” instead of “They go”).
Are there differences in usage between American and British English?
Yes. British English uses “go” or “goes” for turns in games, while American English prefers “turn” or “turns.”
How is “go” used in idioms and does it change form?
“Go” is common in idioms (“have a go,” “give it a go”). Use the plural “goes” only when referring to multiple attempts.
Can “go” be pluralized in other contexts (e.g., slang)?
In slang, “go” can be uncountable and is not pluralized (“He’s got go”), but standard pluralization is “goes.”
What is the difference between “goes” and “turns” in games?
“Goes” (BrE) and “turns” (AmE) both mean an opportunity to play or act, but “turn” is more common in American English.
How do you pronounce “goes” as a noun and as a verb?
Both are pronounced /ɡəʊz/ (BrE) or /ɡoʊz/ (AmE).
Is it ever correct to use “go’s” as a plural?
No. Apostrophe-s (“go’s”) is incorrect for plurals. Use “goes.”

12. Conclusion

Summary of Key Points

Go is a versatile word in English, functioning as both a verb and a noun. As a noun, its plural is goes, following standard rules for words ending in consonant + “o”. As a verb, goes is the third person singular present tense form. Distinguishing between these uses is essential for clear, accurate communication.

Final Thoughts

Practice is the best way to master the pluralization and usage of go. Review the rules, study the examples, and try the exercises above. For further learning, consult grammar reference books or reputable online resources. Understanding subtle grammar points like this enhances your ability to write and speak English with confidence and precision.