Phrasal Verbs with "Go" (part 2 of 2)
Do you ever read an English sentence and think, “I know all the words in this sentence… but I still don’t understand what it means.”?
The likely culprit: phrasal verbs.
What are phrasal verbs? A phrasal verb is when a verb with a specific preposition means something totally different than the verb alone.
You already probably know some phrasal verbs, even if you don’t know that you know them - like ‘throw up’ (which involves no throwing), turn on (which involves no turning), and ‘give up’ (which involves no giving).
Phrasal verbs are hard. They may look and feel like something you should know, but every combination is its own special, rule-breaking, illogical beast.
How do you learn them, then?
Slowly. One by one. Practice makes perfect – well… practice makes better.
Today, let’s look at some common phrasal verbs with the verb ‘go’.
PHRASAL VERBS WITH “GO” (part 2 of 2):
CAUTION: Most phrasal verbs can also be used literally, so you need to look at the context of each sentence to decide whether or not it is actually a phrasal verb.
GO INTO
- When you ‘go into' a topic, you explain it more deeply or with more detail
ex/ I hope this class goes into Shakespeare's person history and not only his writing.
GO OVER
- When you ‘go over’ something, you review it.
ex/ After the class' terrible test scores, the teacher went over the lesson on mitochondria
again.
- When something 'goes over' well or poorly, an audience thought it was good or bad.
ex/ The 4th grade school play being "The Terminator" didn't go over well with parents.
GO OFF
- When something 'goes off', it starts making a sound like an alarm.
ex/ I hate waking up before my alarm clock goes off! I want to sleep as much as possible!
GO OFF OF
- When you ‘go off of’ something, you base an idea or action on that thing.
ex/ Q: Why do you think Jim doesn't like you?
A: Well, I'm going off of the way he glares at me every time I walk by him.
GO OFF ON
- When you ‘go off on' someone, you yell at them angrily
ex/ After being suspended from school, Derek's mom really went off on him.
GO ON
- When you ‘go on’, you continue
ex/ I'm too badly hurt. I'm not gonna make it! Go on without me...
GO FOR
- When you ‘go for' something, you try to do it or get it
ex/ I'm gonna go for it! I'm gonna apply for that job!
GO BY
- When you ‘go by’ something, you judge based on that thing.
ex/ Q: Why do you think Jim doesn't like you?
A: Well, I'm going by the way he glares at me every time I walk by him.
- When you 'go by' a place, you go to that place, but don't stay there very long
ex/ Let's go by the café to see if Jada is working there today.
GO (ALONG) WITH
- When you ‘go with’ or 'go along with' something, you do it even if you disagree with it, don't understand it, or don't care much about it
ex/ Y: Let's stick gum in Oscar's hair! It will be so funny!
Z: I don't know if it will really be funny... but I'll go (along) with it, I guess.
GO DOWN
- When something 'goes down', it happens (usually dramatically)
ex/ Y: What went down between you and Keisha yesterday?
Z: She punched me, so I punched her back!
GO DOWNHILL
- When something 'goes downhill', it decreases in quality or gets worse
ex/ Jenny Jenkins' books used to be so good, but they've really been going downhill in
the last few years.
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Today's Question: Which of these are new for you?
Challenge: Use one or more in a real situation this week and/or type an example sentence in the comments below using the HARDEST 'go' phrasal verb!
25. Oktober 2018
