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Phrasal verbs "to go"

Phrasal verbs "to go"

Date: Oct 04 2007

Topic: Vocabulary

Author: rhyme_reason

Lesson

Using the verb 'to go' combined with particles.

'to go about' means to deal with or tackle a task or job.

  • Do you know how to enrol on the course? I don't know how to go about it.
  • How can I go about getting a copy of my birth certificate?
'to go after' means to try to get.
  • I sent in my application today. I'm going after that job.
  • He went after a very well paid job but didn't get it.
'to go after' can also mean to follow or chase.
  • Michelle left suddenly then Pierre went after her.
  • I didn't go after her when she left. I think she needed to be on her own.
'to go ahead' means to begin or proceed with something.
  • Even though the risks were high, we decided to go ahead with the project.
  • It went ahead without any problems. We're very happy.
'to go along with' means to agree with a person or idea.
  • I said it wouldn't work. I didn't go along with it from the beginning.
  • In the end, he went along with Jack even though he had said he agreed with me.
'to go away' means to leave a place or a person's company.
  • Did you stay at home or did you go away over the holidays?
  • Please go away. I'd like to be alone for a while.
'to go back' means to return to a place.
  • We had a great holiday in Spain last year. We are going back this year.
  • I had forgotten my passport and had to go back to get it.
'to go back on' means to change your position on a promise or agreement.
  • I said I would do it. I can't go back on it now.
  • He went back on his promise and didn't help me out.
'to go by' for time means to pass
  • A couple of hours went by before he phoned me back.
  • Twenty years went by before I saw him again.
'to go by' can also mean to go past or pass
  • I love sitting at a street café watching the world go by.
  • He didn't see me. He just went by without saying a word.
'to go on doing something' means to continue doing something.
  • He didn't even look at me. He just went on working.
  • I can't go on working so hard. I'm going to make myself ill.
'to go on to do something' means to move on to something after you have finished.
  • First he told us about the present situation, then he went on to tell us about the future.
  • If you have no further questions, I'd like to go on to the next part of my talk.
'to go on' means to happen.
  • What's going on outside? There's a lot of noise.
  • There's not much going on this afternoon. It's very quiet.
'to go out' means to leave home to go to the cinema or the pub for example.
  • I won't be home tonight. I'm going out with Kelly.
  • We're going out for a beer tonight. Would you like to come?
'to go over' means to review something to check it.
  • I'm not sure my figures are accurate. Can we go over them again?
  • He went over the main points again to be sure we had understood.
'to go through' means to experience an unpleasant or difficult time.
  • It was terrible. I don't want to go through that again.
  • He's going through a very difficult time what with his divorce etc.
'to go through' also means to examine something carefully.
  • The customs officer went through their bags looking for drugs.
  • I've been through his papers but I can't find the one I'm looking for.
'to go under' means to fail or go bankrupt.
  • Three thousand companies have gone under so far this year.
  • Cash flow is the reason that most companies go under.
'to go up' means to increase or rise.
  • The number of jobless went up 0.5 percent last month.
  • It's very expensive now. The price has gone up by ten percent since January.
'to go with' means to support an idea or the people proposing a plan.
  • I think Jack's right. I have to go with him.
  • We should go with Sue's idea. It's the best idea yet.
'to go down' means to get smaller or decrease.
  • They are much cheaper than before. The price has gone down by at least ten percent.
  • The price of laptop computers has gone down considerably over the last five years.
'to go down' can also mean be received or be reacted to.
  • Everybody laughed. I think my speech went down well.
  • The news didn't go down well. Everyone is now worried about their jobs.
'to go for' means to choose.
  • He doesn't like spending money so he went for the cheapest option.
  • We have decided to go for the house in Dunbar Street. It's lovely.
'to go in' means to enter.
  • He went in his office and closed the door.
  • She didn't knock on the door, she just went in.
'to go in' can also mean to fit in something.
  • I've got too many clothes. They won't go in my suitcase.
  • The sofa is too big. It won't go in the sitting room.
'to go into' means to describe something in detail.
  • We can talk about the problem later. I don't want to go ;into it now.
  • We don't have time to go into all the details.
'to go into' can also mean to enter a place.
  • She often goes into that shop and tries on lots of clothes but never buys anything.
  • We'll go into the sitting room. We'll be more comfortable there.
'to go off' means to stop functioning (of a light, electricity or heating).
  • I was only half way up the stairs when the light went off.
  • The heating goes off at midnight and comes back on before we get up.
'to go off' can also mean to stop liking someone or something.
  • I used to love this café but I've gone off it since the waiter changed.
  • I don't want to do it now. I've gone off the idea.
'to go off' can also mean to decay or go bad.
  • I think the milk has gone off. It smells.
  • Don't eat it, it has gone off.

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