What Does “Go into doing sth” Mean?
“Go into doing sth” means to start or become involved in a particular activity or work, often after some consideration or preparation.
Introduction
The phrase “go into doing sth” is commonly used in English to describe someone beginning to engage in a specific action or profession. The “sth” is a placeholder for “something,” so the phrase can be used with many verbs or activities. Understanding the “go into doing sth” meaning helps learners express how someone decides to start or enter a field or activity. It often implies a thoughtful or deliberate choice to begin doing something. This phrase is useful in both everyday conversations and formal writing when talking about careers, hobbies, or new projects.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: go into doing something
- Type: Inseparable
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to start or become involved in an activity or profession
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Go into doing sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means the particle “into” cannot be separated from “go.”
Common grammatical patterns include:
- Subject + go into + doing + something
- He/She/They go into + verb+ing (gerund)
Example: She went into teaching after university.
How to Use “Go into doing sth”?
Use “go into doing sth” when you want to talk about starting or entering a particular activity, especially a job or profession. It often suggests a deliberate choice or decision. It is usually followed by a gerund (verb+ing).
For example, if someone decides to become a doctor, you can say, “He went into medicine” or “He went into becoming a doctor.”
Examples
People often use “go into doing sth” to describe their career paths or new hobbies.
- After college, she decided to go into teaching.
- Many students go into studying law because they want to help others.
- He plans to go into starting his own business next year.
- They went into investing after learning about the stock market.
- My brother went into working as a chef because he loves cooking.
These examples show how “go into doing sth” fits naturally in sentences about beginning activities.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the phrase by separating “go” and “into” or using the wrong verb form.
- Incorrect: She went in to teaching.
- Correct: She went into teaching.
- Incorrect: He go into to start a business.
- Correct: He went into starting a business.
Remember, “go into” is inseparable, and it must be followed by a gerund (verb+ing) when talking about “doing sth.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Go into doing sth” is similar to phrases like “start doing sth,” “begin doing sth,” or “enter into sth,” but there are subtle differences.
- Start doing sth: More general and immediate; no emphasis on decision.
- Go into doing sth: Suggests a deliberate choice or career path.
- Enter into: More formal, often used for agreements or contracts.
For example, “She started teaching last year” means she began the activity, while “She went into teaching” implies she chose that career path.
Common Collocations
When using “go into doing sth,” certain activities or professions often appear:
- Go into teaching: Start a career as a teacher
- Go into business: Begin working in business or start a company
- Go into medicine: Start studying or working as a doctor
- Go into law: Begin a legal career
- Go into farming: Start working in agriculture
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of go into doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “go into doing sth”:
Anna: What do you want to do after graduation?
Ben: I think I’ll go into marketing. It sounds interesting.
Anna: That’s great! Marketing is a good field with lots of opportunities.
Practice
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
After finishing school, she decided to _______ teaching.
- a) go into
- b) go on to
- c) go out
Answer: a) go into
Fill in the blank: They plan to _______ starting their own company next year.
- go into
- go on
- go up
Answer: go into
FAQs
- Q: Can “go into doing sth” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, for example, “She went into teaching last year.” - Q: Is “go into” separable?
A: No, “go into” is inseparable; the words stay together. - Q: Can I use “go into” with nouns instead of verbs?
A: Yes, you can say “go into business” or “go into medicine.” - Q: What verb form follows “go into”?
A: When followed by a verb, use the gerund form (verb+ing). - Q: Is “go into doing sth” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and works well in both formal and informal settings.
