Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Go
Go phrasal verbs cover continuing, checking, failing, and doing without something.
go about
approach
She went about the problem in a simple way.
She approached the problem in a simple way.
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go after
pursue
He went after a place on the nursing course.
He pursued a place on the nursing course.
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go against
contradict
The new rule goes against what we agreed.
The new rule contradicts what we agreed.
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go ahead with
proceed with
They decided to go ahead with the project.
They decided to proceed with the project.
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go along with
agree with
I usually go along with the team’s plan.
I usually agree with the team’s plan.
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go back on
break a promise
He went back on his promise to help.
He broke his promise to help.
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go by
pass
The afternoon went by quickly in the library.
The afternoon passed quickly in the library.
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go down
decrease
Laptop prices have gone down this month.
Laptop prices have decreased this month.
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go for
choose
I’ll go for the blue jacket.
I’ll choose the blue jacket.
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go into
start a career in
She decided to go into teaching after college.
She decided to start a career in teaching after college.
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go off
sound
The alarm went off at 6 a.m.
The alarm sounded at 6 a.m.
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go off
spoil
The milk went off because it sat out all day.
The milk spoiled because it sat out all day.
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go on
happen
What’s going on in that room?
What’s happening in that room?
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go on
continue
The speaker went on talking after the bell.
The speaker continued talking after the bell.
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go out with
date
She’s been going out with him since March.
She’s been dating him since March.
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go over
review
Let’s go over the notes before the test.
Let’s review the notes before the test.
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go around
circulate
A rumor went around that the shop would close.
A rumor circulated that the shop would close.
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go through
experience
She went through a tough first year on the job.
She experienced a tough first year on the job.
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go up
increase
Rents have gone up this year.
Rents have increased this year.
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go with
match
That scarf goes with your coat.
That scarf matches your coat.
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go without
manage without
They went without lunch to catch the train.
They managed without lunch to catch the train.
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About this set
Use this page when you keep meeting go on, go over, and go through in other topics and want the contrasts in one list.
Go off is the split meaning to watch: food can go off, and an alarm can go off — two different everyday uses.
Usage notes
- go on. Can mean continue or happen. What is going on? is the “happen” use. Go on with your work is the “continue” use.
- go over. Review, as in the school and office sets. Inseparable in that meaning: go over the answers.
- go through. Can mean experience something difficult or examine something in detail. Both are inseparable.
- go off. Food goes off when it spoils. An alarm goes off when it sounds. Neither meaning is “leave” — that is often go away or set off.
Common questions
Is go over the same as go through?
Go over is a review, often fairly quick. Go through can be a harder experience (go through a divorce) or a detailed check (go through the files). If someone had a difficult time, go through is the usual verb.
Why does go off have two meanings in this pack?
English kept both. Context tells them apart: milk goes off; a bomb or an alarm goes off. Learners who only know “leave” for off often misread both.