Meaning & use
do shopping
Last updated
UK/ˌduː ˈʃɒpɪŋ/
US/ˌduː ˈʃɑːpɪŋ/
Meaning
phraseintransitive
To go to shops and buy things, especially as a regular task.
Grammar: Used without an object; often followed by 'for' to say what you are buying.
Patterns
- do shopping for something
- do the shopping
I usually do shopping on Saturdays.
She did shopping for groceries yesterday.
We need to do shopping before the party.
Common combinations
- do the shopping
- I'll do the shopping after work.
- do shopping online
- Many people do shopping online these days.
- do shopping for groceries
- He did shopping for groceries at the local market.
- do shopping together
- Let's do shopping together this weekend.
Synonyms and how they differ
- go shopping
- More common in American English and suggests a leisure activity rather than a routine task.
- shop
- A simpler verb that means the same but is more general; 'do shopping' often implies a specific errand.
Word family
Commonly confused: do shopping or make shopping?
do shopping vs make shopping
Not correct in English; use 'do shopping' or 'go shopping'.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
'Do shopping for something' is the correct pattern. 'Make shopping' is not used, and the other options lack the necessary preposition 'for'.
Make it your own
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