Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Go
Go phrasal verbs cover continuing, checking, failing, and doing without something.
Not sure when the object goes in the middle? Read separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
go about
approach
She went about the problem in a simple way.
She approached the problem in a simple way.
0 of 5 practices
go after
try to achieve something
He went after a place on the nursing course.
He tried to get a place on the nursing course.
0 of 5 practices
go against
contradict a rule or decision
The new rule goes against what we agreed.
The new rule contradicts what we agreed.
0 of 5 practices
go ahead with
continue with a plan
They decided to go ahead with the project.
They decided to proceed with the project.
0 of 5 practices
go along with
agree with
I usually go along with the team’s plan.
I usually agree with the team’s plan.
0 of 5 practices
go back on
break a promise
He went back on his promise to help.
He broke his promise to help.
0 of 5 practices
go by
pass
The afternoon went by while we were in the library.
The afternoon passed while we were in the library.
0 of 5 practices
go down
decrease
Laptop prices have gone down this month.
Laptop prices have decreased this month.
0 of 5 practices
go for
choose
I’ll go for the blue jacket.
I’ll choose the blue jacket.
0 of 5 practices
go into
start a career in
She decided to go into teaching after college.
She decided to start a career in teaching after college.
0 of 5 practices
go off
start sounding
The alarm went off at 6 a.m.
The alarm sounded at 6 a.m.
Here an alarm goes off when it sounds; food goes off when it spoils. Go off can also mean leave in other contexts.
0 of 5 practices
go off
become bad and unsafe to eat
The milk went off yesterday.
The milk spoiled yesterday.
Here an alarm goes off when it sounds; food goes off when it spoils. Go off can also mean leave in other contexts.
0 of 5 practices
go on
happen
What’s going on in that room?
What’s happening in that room?
0 of 5 practices
go on
continue
The speaker went on talking after the bell.
The speaker continued talking after the bell.
0 of 5 practices
go out with
date
She’s been going out with him since March.
She’s been dating him since March.
0 of 5 practices
go over
review
Let’s go over the notes before the test.
Let’s review the notes before the test.
A careful review. Run through is the quicker version.
0 of 5 practices
go around
spread among people
A rumor went around that the shop would close.
A rumor circulated that the shop would close.
0 of 5 practices
go through
experience
She went through a tough first year on the job.
She experienced a tough first year on the job.
0 of 5 practices
go up
increase
Rents have gone up this year.
Rents have increased this year.
0 of 5 practices
go with
match
That scarf goes with your coat.
That scarf matches your coat.
0 of 5 practices
go without
not have something
They went without lunch to catch the train.
They did not have lunch so they could catch the train.
0 of 5 practices
21 meanings of 19 go phrasal verbs at a glance
Separable means the object can sit in the middle, and a pronoun has to. Inseparable means it never can. No object means the verb does not take one. Full explanation here.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| go about | approach | Inseparable |
| go after | try to achieve something | Inseparable |
| go against | contradict a rule or decision | Inseparable |
| go ahead with | continue with a plan | Inseparable |
| go along with | agree with | Inseparable |
| go back on | break a promise | Inseparable |
| go by | pass | No object |
| go down | decrease | No object |
| go for | choose | Inseparable |
| go into | start a career in | Inseparable |
| go off | start sounding | No object |
| go off | become bad and unsafe to eat | No object |
| go on | happen | No object |
| go on | continue | No object |
| go out with | date | Inseparable |
| go over | review | Inseparable |
| go around | spread among people | No object |
| go through | experience | Inseparable |
| go up | increase | No object |
| go with | match | Inseparable |
| go without | not have something | Inseparable |
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 everyday uses sharing one form.
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. Go off can also mean leave. These examples teach two senses, not an exhaustive list.
Mistakes to avoid
Incorrect: The alarm went at six off.
Correct: The alarm went off at six.
Keep went off together and put the time phrase after it: the alarm went off at six.
Incorrect: She went back her promise.
Correct: She went back on her promise.
Go back on needs the on, and nothing splits it.
Incorrect: Let us go the figures over once more.
Correct: Let us go over the figures once more.
Go over is inseparable, so nothing sits between the verb and the particle.
Incorrect: They decided to go ahead the project.
Correct: They decided to go ahead with the project.
Go ahead with needs the with before whatever you are proceeding with.
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.