Mastering Phrasal Verbs with “Go”: A Comprehensive Guide

Phrasal verbs are one of the most dynamic and expressive parts of English—and mastering them is key to sounding natural and fluent. Among the most frequently used are phrasal verbs with “go,” which appear in everyday conversations, writing, and even idiomatic expressions.

From go on to go over and go through, each phrasal verb carries a unique meaning that may not always be obvious from the words alone. That’s why understanding how these combinations work—and when to use them—is so important.

This guide will help you break down the structure and usage of “go” phrasal verbs in a clear, organized way. We’ll look at definitions, examples, and common patterns, and we’ll highlight the difference between transitive and intransitive uses, as well as separable and inseparable forms.

Whether you’re a beginner building your vocabulary or an advanced learner refining your fluency, this article will give you the tools and confidence to use phrasal verbs with “go” accurately and effectively.

Ready to go over the details and go beyond the basics? Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition of Phrasal Verbs with “Go”
3. Structural Breakdown
4. Types and Categories of Phrasal Verbs with “Go”
   • Intransitive Phrasal Verbs with “Go”
   • Transitive Phrasal Verbs with “Go”
   • Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs with “Go”
5. Examples of Phrasal Verbs with “Go”
   • Go Away
   • Go On
   • Go Out
   • Go Through
   • Go Up
   • Go Down
   • Go Back
   • Go Over
   • Go Along With
6. Usage Rules
7. Common Mistakes
8. Practice Exercises
9. Advanced Topics
10. FAQ
11. Conclusion

Introduction

Phrasal verbs are an essential component of the English language, often presenting a challenge for non-native speakers. These verbs, formed by combining a verb with a preposition or adverb, frequently have meanings that differ significantly from the individual words that comprise them.

Mastering phrasal verbs is crucial for both understanding and effectively communicating in English. Among the many phrasal verbs, those that incorporate the verb “go” are particularly prevalent and diverse, appearing in a wide range of contexts and carrying various nuances.

This article aims to demystify phrasal verbs with “go,” providing a comprehensive guide to their meanings, usage, and common pitfalls. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this resource will help you confidently navigate the complexities of these versatile expressions.

Definition of Phrasal Verbs with “Go”

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that together create a new meaning. The meaning of the phrasal verb is often idiomatic, meaning it cannot be easily deduced from the individual meanings of the verb and particle.

Phrasal verbs with “go” are those that use “go” as the main verb, followed by a particle. These phrasal verbs can express a wide range of actions, states, and processes, from physical movement to emotional states to the progress of events.

Classification: Phrasal verbs can be classified based on their transitivity (whether they take an object) and separability (whether the particle can be separated from the verb by an object). These classifications are crucial for understanding how to use phrasal verbs correctly in sentences.

Function: The function of phrasal verbs with “go” is to provide more specific and nuanced meanings than the verb “go” alone. They allow speakers to express complex ideas concisely and idiomatically. For example, “go on” can mean “continue,” “happen,” or “begin,” depending on the context.

Contexts: Phrasal verbs with “go” are used in a wide variety of contexts, including everyday conversation, formal writing, and technical discussions. Their versatility makes them an indispensable part of the English lexicon.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure of a phrasal verb with “go” is: Go + Particle (Preposition or Adverb). The particle modifies the meaning of “go,” creating a new verb with a distinct meaning. Understanding this structure is fundamental to recognizing and using phrasal verbs with “go” correctly.

Verb + Adverb: In this structure, the particle is an adverb that modifies the verb “go,” often indicating direction, manner, or state. For example, in “go away,” “away” is an adverb indicating direction.

Verb + Preposition: In this structure, the particle is a preposition that connects the verb “go” to a noun or pronoun, forming a prepositional phrase. For example, in “go through,” “through” is a preposition that connects “go” to an object (e.g., “go through a difficult time”).

Verb + Adverb + Preposition: Some phrasal verbs with “go” include both an adverb and a preposition, creating a more complex meaning. For example, “go along with” includes the adverb “along” and the preposition “with.”

Types and Categories of Phrasal Verbs with “Go”

Phrasal verbs with “go” can be categorized based on their transitivity and separability. These categories help to understand how the phrasal verbs function grammatically within a sentence.

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs with “Go”

Intransitive phrasal verbs do not take a direct object. The action of the verb is complete in itself and does not need an object to receive the action.

Many phrasal verbs with “go” are intransitive.

Examples of intransitive phrasal verbs with “go” include: go away, go on, go out, go up, go down, go back. These verbs describe actions or states without acting upon something else.

Transitive Phrasal Verbs with “Go”

Transitive phrasal verbs take a direct object. The action of the verb is performed on an object.

While less common than intransitive phrasal verbs with “go,” some do exist.

Examples of transitive phrasal verbs with “go” include: go through (something), go over (something). These verbs describe actions that affect a specific object.

Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs with “Go”

Separable phrasal verbs allow the object to be placed between the verb and the particle. Inseparable phrasal verbs do not allow the object to be placed between the verb and the particle; the object must follow the particle.

Generally, phrasal verbs with “go” are inseparable. This means that the particle cannot be separated from the verb by an object pronoun.

For example, you would say “go through it” and not “go it through.”

Examples of Phrasal Verbs with “Go”

This section provides detailed examples of common phrasal verbs with “go,” illustrating their meanings and usage in context. Each phrasal verb is explained with multiple examples to ensure clarity.

Go Away

“Go away” means to leave or depart. It can also be used to tell someone to leave or stop bothering you.

The following table provides examples of “go away” in various contexts:

Example	Meaning
I told him to go away and leave me alone.	Leave me alone.
We’re planning to go away for the weekend.	Take a short trip.
The pain will eventually go away.	Disappear.
Just go away! I don’t want to see you.	Leave immediately.
They decided to go away to college.	Move to attend college.
The bad memories never really go away.	Do not disappear.
Go away, you’re bothering me.	Stop bothering me.
Did you go away on vacation this year?	Take a vacation.
The storm seems to be going away.	The storm is ending.
I wish these headaches would just go away.	I want the headaches to end.
She told the dog to go away.	She commanded the dog to leave.
We need to go away and think about this.	We need to leave and consider this.
The feeling of sadness will eventually go away.	The feeling will disappear.
Tell the kids to go away and play.	Tell the kids to leave and play.
He wanted to go away from the city.	He wanted to leave the city.
The opportunities will not go away.	The opportunities will not disappear.
Please go away, I’m trying to work.	Leave me alone so I can work.
They went away to a tropical island.	They traveled to a tropical island.
The fear will go away with time.	The fear will disappear over time.
Just go away and let me be happy.	Leave and let me be happy.
We went away for our anniversary.	We took a trip for our anniversary.
The cold will eventually go away.	The cold will disappear.
Go away, you’re not helping.	Leave, you are not useful.

Go On

“Go on” has several meanings, including to continue, to happen, or to begin. The specific meaning depends on the context.

The following table provides examples of “go on” in different contexts:

Example	Meaning
The meeting will go on until 5 PM.	Continue.
What’s going on here?	Happening.
The show must go on.	Continue despite difficulties.
Please go on with your story.	Continue telling your story.
The party went on late into the night.	Continued late into the night.
What’s going on with your project?	Progressing.
If the rain stops, the game will go on.	Continue.
Go on, tell me what happened.	Continue speaking.
The construction work will go on for months.	Continue for months.
What exactly went on at the meeting?	Happened.
Don’t let me interrupt, please go on.	Continue talking.
Life must go on, even after a loss.	Life must continue.
What’s going on with the negotiations?	What is happening?
The investigation will go on until we find the truth.	The investigation will continue.
Go on, try it! It’s delicious.	Try it!
The festival will go on regardless of the weather.	The festival will continue.
What’s going on in your mind?	What are you thinking?
The project will go on as planned.	The project will continue as planned.
Go on, tell me everything.	Tell me everything.
The discussions will go on next week.	The discussions will continue next week.
What’s going on with your health?	How is your health progressing?
The tradition will go on for generations.	The tradition will continue for generations.
Go on, open the present!	Open the present!

Go Out

“Go out” can mean to leave a place, especially to go for entertainment, or to stop burning or shining.

The following table provides examples of “go out” in different situations:

Example	Meaning
Let’s go out for dinner tonight.	Leave home for dinner.
The fire went out.	Stopped burning.
They go out every Saturday night.	They leave for entertainment every Saturday night.
The lights went out during the storm.	Stopped shining.
Do you want to go out with me?	Date me.
The sun went out behind the clouds.	Disappeared behind the clouds.
We should go out and celebrate.	Leave home and celebrate.
The candle went out because of the wind.	Stopped burning because of the wind.
She likes to go out dancing.	She likes to leave home to dance.
The power went out in the whole neighborhood.	The power stopped working.
We went out for a walk.	We left for a walk.
The stars went out as the sun rose.	The stars disappeared.
Let’s go out and have some fun.	Let’s leave the house and enjoy ourselves.
The flame went out suddenly.	The flame stopped burning suddenly.
They go out for coffee every morning.	They leave the house for coffee every morning.
The signal went out during the transmission.	The signal was lost.
I don’t want to go out tonight.	I don’t want to leave the house tonight.
The spark went out quickly.	The spark disappeared quickly.
They went out to see a movie.	They left to see a movie.
The pilot light went out on the stove.	The pilot light stopped burning.
She asked him to go out.	She asked him on a date.
The fire eventually went out.	The fire eventually stopped burning.
Let’s go out and explore the city.	Let’s leave the house and explore the city.

Go Through

“Go through” can mean to experience something difficult or unpleasant, or to examine something carefully.

The following table provides examples of “go through” in various contexts:

Example	Meaning
She had to go through a lot of pain.	Experience pain.
We need to go through these documents.	Examine documents.
He went through a difficult divorce.	Experienced a difficult divorce.
Please go through the report carefully.	Read the report carefully.
They went through a financial crisis.	Experienced a financial crisis.
I need to go through my emails.	Check my emails.
She went through a lot of changes.	Experienced many changes.
Let’s go through the plan one more time.	Review the plan.
They went through a period of uncertainty.	Experienced a period of uncertainty.
We need to go through the data.	Analyze the data.
He went through a tough training program.	Experienced a tough training program.
Please go through the contract.	Read the contract.
They went through a lot together.	Experienced a lot together.
I need to go through my closet.	Organize my closet.
She went through a personal transformation.	Experienced a personal transformation.
Let’s go through the steps again.	Review the steps again.
They went through a challenging project.	Experienced a challenging project.
We need to go through the details.	Examine the details.
He went through a lot of stress.	Experienced a lot of stress.
Please go through the instructions.	Read the instructions.
They went through a difficult time in their lives.	Experienced a difficult time in their lives.
I need to go through my notes.	Review my notes.

Go Up

“Go up” means to increase or rise.

The following table provides examples of “go up” in various contexts:

Example	Meaning
The prices went up.	Increased.
The temperature will go up tomorrow.	Rise.
The elevator will go up to the tenth floor.	Move upwards.
The rent might go up next year.	Increase next year.
The stairs go up to the attic.	Lead upwards.
The cost of living continues to go up.	Continues to increase.
The balloon went up into the sky.	Rose into the sky.
Interest rates are expected to go up.	Expected to increase.
The path goes up the mountain.	Leads up the mountain.
Demand for the product will go up.	Demand will increase.
The plane went up smoothly.	Took off smoothly.
Taxes are likely to go up.	Likely to increase.
The road goes up a steep hill.	Leads up a steep hill.
Sales figures went up significantly.	Increased significantly.
The rocket went up into space.	Rose into space.
The price of gas will go up soon.	Will increase soon.
The path goes up to the summit.	Leads up to the summit.
Profits went up last quarter.	Increased last quarter.
The drone went up to take aerial photos.	Rose to take aerial photos.
The cost of education continues to go up.	Continues to increase.
The trail goes up through the forest.	Leads up through the forest.
The stock price went up today.	Increased today.

Go Down

“Go down” means to decrease or descend.

The following table provides examples of “go down” in various contexts:

Example	Meaning
The prices went down.	Decreased.
The sun will go down soon.	Descend.
The elevator will go down to the first floor.	Move downwards.
The temperature is expected to go down tonight.	Decrease tonight.
The path goes down to the river.	Leads downwards.
The plane will go down soon.	Will land soon.
The balloon went down slowly.	Descended slowly.
The stock market went down today.	Decreased today.
The road goes down a steep hill.	Leads down a steep hill.
Sales figures went down last month.	Decreased last month.
The submarine went down into the ocean.	Descended into the ocean.
The cost of gas is expected to go down.	Expected to decrease.
The trail goes down through the valley.	Leads down through the valley.
Interest rates might go down next year.	Might decrease next year.
The elevator went down to the basement.	Descended to the basement.
The number of visitors has gone down.	Has decreased.
The path goes down to the beach.	Leads down to the beach.
His voice went down to a whisper.	His voice decreased to a whisper.
The anchor went down into the water.	Descended into the water.
The price of coffee might go down.	Might decrease.
The staircase goes down to the cellar.	Leads down to the cellar.
The fever finally went down.	The fever finally decreased.

Go Back

“Go back” means to return to a place or state.

The following table provides examples of “go back” in various contexts:

Example	Meaning
I need to go back home.	Return home.
Let’s go back to the beginning.	Return to the beginning.
She decided to go back to school.	Return to school.
We should go back and get it.	Return and get it.
They went back to their old habits.	Returned to their old habits.
I want to go back to that time.	Return to that time.
He had to go back to work.	Return to work.
Let’s go back to the original plan.	Return to the original plan.
She decided to go back to her hometown.	Return to her hometown.
We need to go back and review it.	Return and review it.
They went back to their previous agreement.	Returned to their previous agreement.
I wish I could go back in time.	Return in time.
He had to go back and fix the mistake.	Return and fix the mistake.
Let’s go back to the main topic.	Return to the main topic.
She decided to go back to her roots.	Return to her roots.
We need to go back and analyze the data.	Return and analyze the data.
They went back to their traditional values.	Returned to their traditional values.
I want to go back to being a child.	Return to being a child.
He had to go back and apologize.	Return and apologize.
Let’s go back and consider all options.	Return and consider all options.

Go Over

“Go over” means to review or examine something.

Example	Meaning
Let’s go over the details again.	Review the details again.
The teacher went over the lesson.	The teacher reviewed the lesson.
We need to go over the contract.	We need to examine the contract.
The manager went over the report.	The manager reviewed the report.
Let’s go over the agenda.	Let’s review the agenda.
The committee went over the proposal.	The committee examined the proposal.
We should go over the budget.	We should review the budget.
The supervisor went over the employee’s performance.	The supervisor reviewed the employee’s performance.
Let’s go over the key points.	Let’s review the key points.
The board went over the financial statements.	The board examined the financial statements.
We must go over the safety procedures.	We must review the safety procedures.
The editor went over the manuscript.	The editor reviewed the manuscript.
Let’s go over the schedule one more time.	Let’s review the schedule one more time.
The auditor went over the accounts.	The auditor examined the accounts.
We need to go over the presentation.	We need to review the presentation.
The reviewer went over the document.	The reviewer examined the document.
Let’s go over the checklist.	Let’s review the checklist.
The inspector went over the building.	The inspector examined the building.
We should go over the guidelines.	We should review the guidelines.
The examiner went over the test results.	The examiner reviewed the test results.

Go Along With

“Go along with” means to agree with or support something.

Example	Meaning
I don’t go along with that idea.	I don’t agree with that idea.
She decided to go along with the plan.	She decided to support the plan.
He didn’t go along with the proposal.	He didn’t agree with the proposal.
We have to go along with the decision.	We have to accept the decision.
They didn’t go along with the suggestion.	They didn’t support the suggestion.
I can’t go along with his behavior.	I can’t accept his behavior.
She had to go along with the majority.	She had to support the majority.
He refused to go along with the scheme.	He refused to support the scheme.
We should go along with the expert’s advice.	We should support the expert’s advice.
They didn’t go along with the proposed changes.	They didn’t agree with the proposed changes.
I can’t go along with this injustice.	I can’t accept with this injustice.
She chose to go along with her friend’s idea.	She chose to support her friend’s idea.
He wouldn’t go along with the unethical practices.	He wouldn’t support the unethical practices.
We must go along with the regulations.	We must comply with the regulations.
They didn’t go along with the controversial policy.	They didn’t support the controversial policy.
I can’t go along with such a risky venture.	I can’t support such a risky venture.
She decided to go along with the tradition.	She decided to adhere to the tradition.
He wouldn’t go along with the unfair treatment.	He wouldn’t support the unfair treatment.
We should go along with the consensus.	We should support the consensus.
They didn’t go along with the radical proposal.	They didn’t support the radical proposal.

Usage Rules

Understanding the usage rules for phrasal verbs with “go” is essential to using them correctly. These rules cover aspects such as word order, transitivity, and the use of pronouns.

• Word Order: Generally, the word order is “go” + particle. However, with transitive separable phrasal verbs (which are rare with “go”), the object can sometimes be placed between “go” and the particle, especially when the object is a pronoun.
• Transitivity: Intransitive phrasal verbs do not take an object, while transitive phrasal verbs require one. Knowing whether a phrasal verb is transitive or intransitive is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences.
• Pronouns: When using pronouns as objects of transitive phrasal verbs, the pronoun typically comes between “go” and the particle (though this is less relevant since most “go” phrasal verbs are inseparable).
• Tense and Agreement: The verb “go” must agree with the subject and be in the correct tense. The particle does not change.

Common Mistakes

Even advanced learners make mistakes with phrasal verbs. Being aware of these common errors can help you avoid them.

• Incorrect Word Order: Placing the object in the wrong position, especially with separable phrasal verbs.
• Literal Translation: Assuming the meaning of the phrasal verb can be directly derived from the individual words.
• Using the Wrong Particle: Substituting one particle for another, which can completely change the meaning of the verb.
• Ignoring Transitivity: Using a transitive phrasal verb without an object or an intransitive phrasal verb with an object.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of phrasal verbs with “go” by completing the following exercises.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, exploring the nuances and less common usages of phrasal verbs with “go” can further enhance their proficiency.

• Idiomatic Expressions: Some phrasal verbs with “go” are used in highly idiomatic expressions, where the meaning is not immediately obvious.
• Regional Variations: The usage and meaning of certain phrasal verbs can vary by region or dialect.
• Formal vs. Informal Usage: Some phrasal verbs are more appropriate for informal conversation, while others are suitable for formal writing.

FAQ

Conclusion

Phrasal verbs with “go” are a vital part of the English language, offering a wide range of meanings and applications. By understanding their structure, usage rules, and common pitfalls, English learners can significantly enhance their communication skills.

This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of these versatile expressions, equipping you with the knowledge and practice needed to use them confidently and accurately. Continue to practice and explore these verbs in various contexts to achieve true mastery.