The verb to go is one of the first verbs we learn and one of the most useful. But it can be more complex when used with a particle as a phrasal verb, as we can see below.
A Video Summary about ‘GO’ phrasal verbs
A few explanations about ‘GO’ phrasal verbs
WHAT IS A PHRASAL VERB?
A phrasal verb is the combination of two or three words from different grammatical categories – a verb and a particle, such as an adverb or a preposition – to form a single phrase.
The particle often changes the meaning of the verb. Many students translate both words separately rather than see the whole phrase, this can be confusing as the meaning translated this way will often not make sense.
TWO OR MORE MEANINGS
Often phrasal verbs will have more than one meaning, therefore, it’s important to select the correct phrasal verb for context of the sentence.
to go off | 1. to explode |
2. to ring or make a loud noise | |
3. to no longer like or enjoy something | |
4. to stop working a shift | |
5. to stop enjoying eating something |
USING GO
to go after | pursue an object or goal |
to go along | continue an activity |
to go along with | agree, accept, or support an idea |
to go away | to disappear or to leave a place |
to go back | return to a place, physically or mentally |
to go by | pass, sometimes at speed |
to go down | 1. decrease or reduce 2. descend a mountain, hill, or stairs |
to go down with | become ill with a disease |
to go for | try to achieve something or apply for something |
to go in | enter a place |
to go into | enter a place, a profession, or research something in detail |
to go in for | be interested in something (normally a hobby) |
to go on | continue |
to go out | 1. pursue an object or goal 2. leave home for entertainment or activity 3. stop burning, extinguish |
to go out with | 1. meet friends for a social activity 2. date someone |
to go over | to review something |
to go up | 1. increase, rise 2. ascend stairs, hill, or mountain |
to go through | 1. experience something 2. go over or examine something |
to go through with | proceed with a plan or project |
to go together | attend an event or travel with someone |
to go with | attend an event or travel with someone |
to go without | abstain from, skip, deprive |
Exercises About ‘GO’ Phrasal Verbs
Exercise 1: Complete these sentences with the correct phrasal verb of go:
Exercise 2: Select the correct phrasal verb
Exercise 3: Choose the correct phrasal verb of go to use in the following sentences:
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