Phrasal verbs with GO
Phrasal verbs are made of a verb and a small word (like a preposition or an adverb). When you add these words to a verb, the meaning changes. With go (which usually means “to move” or “to walk”), these extra words create new meanings. In this article, you’ll learn several common phrasal verbs with go.
GO ON
The phrase go on means “to happen” or “to continue.”
This asks someone to continue talking.
This asks what is happening.
GO OUT
Go out can mean either “to leave home for social activities” or “to be extinguished” (for something like a light or fire).
This means we leave home to have fun on weekends.
This means the light stopped working because of the storm.
GO UP
The phrasal verb go up means “to increase” or “to rise.” The past tense of “go” is “went”.
This means the cost of rent increased last month.
This means the balloon rose into the air.
GO DOWN
Go down means “to decrease” or “to sink.”
This means it became colder last night.
This means the price decreased following a sale.
GO OFF
The phrasal verb go off has several meanings: “to explode,” “to stop working,” or “to start making a sound” (like an alarm).
This means the alarm started ringing early in the morning.
This means the TV turned off on its own.
GO OVER
Go over means “to review,” “to analyze,” or “to check something again.”
This means we should review or explain the rules again.
This means she reviewed her homework with a friend.
GO THROUGH
The phrasal verb go through can mean either “to experience something” (usually something difficult) or “to search through something.”
This means he experienced difficulties last year.
This means I searched inside my bag for my keys.
GO BACK
The phrase go back means “to return somewhere.”
This means I will return home when work is finished.
This means she returned to the job she had before.
GO WITH
Go with means “to match” (as in clothing) or “to choose” something.
This means the tie matches my suit.
This means I choose the chocolate cake over other options.
GO WITHOUT
The phrasal verb go without means “to manage without something.”
This means I can manage without my phone for one day.
This means they did not have any water during their hike.
