Phrasal verbs are essential to understanding and speaking English fluently. One of the most common verbs that combine with prepositions or adverbs to form phrasal verbs is the verb “go.” “Go” is a versatile verb used in many contexts, and when combined with different particles, it takes on new meanings that can sometimes be quite different from its original sense of “moving from one place to another.” Learning phrasal verbs with go will not only improve your English vocabulary but also help you sound more natural and native-like in your conversations.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most useful phrasal verbs with go, how they are used in sentences, and why they are important for everyday communication. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced learner of English, understanding these phrasal verbs will definitely add depth and variety to your language skills.
Go ahead: To proceed or continue with something.
Example: You can go ahead and start the meeting without me.
Go off: To explode or make a sudden loud noise.
Example: The fireworks went off at midnight.
Go on: To continue or proceed with an action or activity.
Example: Please go on with your presentation.
Go out: To leave one’s home or usual place to socialize or attend an event.
Example: They decided to go out for dinner tonight.
Go over: To review or examine something carefully.
Example: Let’s go over the details of the contract one more time.
Go for: To attempt to acquire or achieve something.
Example: I’m going for a promotion at work.
Go up: To increase or rise in value, price, or quantity.
Example: The cost of living is going up every year.
Go down: To decrease or decline in value, price, or quantity.
Example: Sales tend to go down during the winter months.
Go along with: To agree or comply with something.
Example: She decided to go along with their plan.
Go through: To experience or undergo a process or situation.
Example: He went through a difficult time after losing his job.
Go around: To move from one place to another.
Example: We need more chairs to go around for everyone.
Go against: To oppose or resist something.
Example: It goes against my principles to lie.
Go without saying: To be understood or implied without needing to be stated explicitly.
Example: It goes without saying that we need to be respectful to each other.
Go back on: To fail to keep a promise or commitment.
Example: He went back on his word and didn’t help us after all.
Go by: To pass or elapse, especially time.
Example: The days seem to go by so quickly.
Go on about: To talk continuously or excessively about something.
Example: He kept going on about his new car.
Go after: To pursue or chase someone or something.
Example: The police went after the suspect but lost him in the crowd.
Go along: To accompany someone.
Example: She asked if I wanted to go along with her to the concert.
Go overboard: To do something excessively or to an extreme degree.
Example: He went overboard with the decorations for the party.
Go for it: To encourage someone to pursue something enthusiastically.
Example: If you want to apply for the job, go for it!
Go off on: To become angry or upset with someone.
Example: He went off on me when I arrived late.
Go with: To choose or select something.
Example: I think I’ll go with the blue shirt for the interview.
Go out of your way: To make a special effort to do something.
Example: She went out of her way to help us find a solution.
Go on strike: To refuse to work as a form of protest.
Example: The workers decided to go on strike for better pay.
Go by the book: To follow rules or procedures precisely.
Example: The company policy is to always go by the book.
Go up against: To compete or confront someone or something.
Example: Our team will go up against the defending champions next week.
Go in for: To have an interest in or participate in something.
Example: She’s always loved music and decided to go in for singing lessons.
Go off the deep end: To become irrational or overly emotional about something.
Example: He went off the deep end when he heard the news.
Go to waste: To be unused or not utilized effectively.
Example: Don’t let all that food go to waste; we can share it with our neighbors.
Go under: To fail or go bankrupt.
Example: The company may go under if they don’t secure more funding.
Â
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What are phrasal verbs with “go”?
Phrasal verbs with “go” are combinations of the verb “go” and one or more prepositions or adverbs. These combinations create new meanings that can differ significantly from the verb “go” on its own. Some examples include “go on,” “go off,” and “go up.” Each of these expressions has its unique meaning and use in English.
2. How do phrasal verbs with “go” differ from the simple verb “go”?
While the verb “go” generally refers to physical movement from one place to another, phrasal verbs with “go” have more varied meanings. For instance:
- “Go on” means to continue.
- “Go off” can mean to explode or to stop functioning (e.g., a fire alarm going off).
- “Go up” refers to increasing in level or height.
These combinations help convey more specific actions or states that the simple verb “go” cannot express on its own.
3. Can you give examples of common phrasal verbs with “go”?
Certainly! Here are some of the most frequently used phrasal verbs with go:
- Go on: To continue or happen.
Example: The show will go on despite the rain. - Go off: To explode, stop working, or sound an alarm.
Example: The alarm went off in the middle of the night. - Go up: To increase in price or height.
Example: Prices for groceries have gone up recently. - Go over: To review or examine something carefully.
Example: Let’s go over the details before the meeting. - Go through: To experience or examine something.
Example: She went through a lot of challenges last year. - Go back: To return to a previous place or state.
Example: I want to go back to my hometown this summer. - Go off with: To leave with something or someone.
Example: He went off with her purse during the chaos.
