Advanced English Grammar

Phrasal Verbs with GO

Using the phrasal verbs with go properly will go a long way towards developing you English language proficiency.

Like all other phrasal verbs in English, go phrasal verbs can be both transitive and intransitive.

Below you'll find definitions of the phrasal verbs with go plus an exercise that follows.

Look over the list and then do the exercise to see how well you know these phrasal verbs.

GO AWAY = leave

I made the neighbor kids go away by yelling at them.

GO AROUND = avoid contact, circumvent

We can't go in the back door we got to go around to the front.

GO BACK = return

When are you going back to school?

GO BACK ON = not keep a promise or ones word

It's hard doing business with them. They always go back on their promises.

GO DOWN = decrease or reduce

The cost of gasoline is going down.

GO FOR = A. try to achieve B. enjoy having, crave (idiomatically: hit the spot)

A. She is going for the gold medal at the national championships.
B. It's so hot out. I could really go for an ice cold glass of lemonade.

GO IN FOR = take part in; participate

Are you going in for football this year after school?

GO INTO = discuss in detail or at length

She didn't go into the reasons for the move.

GO OFF = A. explode B. begin, start (with alarms or signals) C. become angry quickly D. stop (of a machine)

A. The bomb could go off at any moment.
B. The air raid signal went off and scared everyone in the room.
C. He went off in a flash when he heard the news. I've never seen him so upset.
D. The generator went off and we can't get it started again.

GO ON = A. continue B. happen

A. Do go on! I could listen to you sing all day.
B. What's been going on here this morning? This place looks like a pig pen.

GO ON WITH = continue as planned

I think we should go on with the lesson after break.

GO OUT = A. fire stops burning B. social activities; a date

A. The fire went out because we ran out of fuel for it.
B. They love to go out on weekends to the movies.

GO OVER = A. review B. succeed; be received well

A. Do you usually go over the tests in class?
B. The comedian's joke didn't go over well with that crowd last night.

GO THROUGH = A. examine, study carefully B. endure; experience difficulties

A. I need to have my lawyer go through this contract before I sign it.
B. I would never want to go through what she has.

GO THROUGH WITH = proceed despite difficulties

I have decided to go through with the move to Berlin.

GO WITH = A. match or suit B. accompany someone C. have as boyfriend or girlfriend

A. That blouse doesn't go with that skirt.
B. I am going with Jill to school.
C. Sarah is going with John. They make a cute couple.

GO WITHOUT = abstain from; not use or need

A camel can go without water for many, many days.

Phrasal Verbs with GO exercise

1. She went ____ the wedding, even though it was against her father's will.
2. Prices went ____ after the holidays but nobody has any money to buy anything.
3. I went _____ food once for three days. It was actually kind of nice.
4. Let's go ____ the party as planned. I'm sure we'll find another band.
5. Don't go ____ mad. Just go away. Get out of here!
6. He went ____ his word and broke the contract he had signed.
7. He didn't go ____ any detail. He just said they were getting a divorce.
8. They have been going ____ for nearly a year. They may get married.
9. The bomb went ____ before many people were in the metro.
10. We had to go ___ as there was to much snow to go on.

For more information about phrasal verbs with go click on the preceding link.

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