Goes vs. Went

Attribute	Goes	Went
Tense	Present	Past
Verb form	Present simple	Past simple
Subject	Third person singular	Any person or number
Usage	General present tense	Specific past action

Definition and Usage

The words "goes" and "went" are both forms of the verb "go," which is used to indicate movement from one place to another. "Goes" is the present tense form of the verb, while "went" is the past tense form. In general, "goes" is used when referring to actions that are currently happening or are habitual, while "went" is used to describe actions that have already occurred in the past.

Conjugation

When conjugating the verb "go," the present tense form "goes" is used with third-person singular subjects, such as he, she, or it. For example, "He goes to the gym every morning." On the other hand, the past tense form "went" is used with all other subjects. For example, "I went to the store yesterday." It is important to note that "went" is also the past participle form of the verb, which is used in perfect tenses.

Usage in Context

One key difference between "goes" and "went" is their usage in context. "Goes" is often used to talk about present or future actions, while "went" is used to discuss past actions. For example, "She goes to school every day" indicates a habitual action, while "She went to the store yesterday" describes a completed action in the past.

Formality

Another aspect to consider when comparing "goes" and "went" is their formality. "Goes" is generally considered more formal than "went." In formal writing or speech, it is common to use the present tense form "goes" to describe actions that are currently happening or are habitual. On the other hand, "went" is often used in informal contexts or when recounting past events in a casual manner.

Common Phrases

Both "goes" and "went" are used in various common phrases and idioms in the English language. For example, "time goes by quickly" and "the show must go on" both use the present tense form "goes." On the other hand, phrases like "I went the extra mile" and "he went above and beyond" use the past tense form "went" to indicate actions that have already taken place.

Irregular Verbs

It is important to note that "go" is an irregular verb, which means that its past tense form "went" does not follow the typical pattern of adding "-ed" to the base form of the verb. Other irregular verbs in English include "eat" (ate), "drink" (drank), and "see" (saw). While irregular verbs can be challenging to conjugate, they add variety and nuance to the English language.