GO

10 essential phrasal verbs with GO — meanings, examples & practice

go on · go back · go out · go up · go down · go away · go through · go over · go along with · go off
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Separable Object can go in the middle or after the particle.
Inseparable Object always goes after the particle — never in the middle.
Intransitive No object needed — the verb stands alone.
Phrasal verbs with GO
go onIntransitive
To continue doing something; to happen or take place.
"What's going on? Everyone looks worried." / "Go on, I'm listening."
go backIntransitive
To return to a place, person, or previous state.
"She went back to her hometown after ten years."
go outIntransitive
To leave home for entertainment or social activities; to date someone.
"We went out for dinner to celebrate the promotion."
go upIntransitive
To increase in price, level, or amount; to rise.
"Electricity prices went up again this month."
go downIntransitive
To decrease in price, level, or amount; to fall; to be received (well or badly).
"Sales went down by 15% last quarter."
go awayIntransitive
To leave a place; to disappear; to go on a trip or vacation.
"The pain didn't go away for three days."
go throughInseparable
To experience something difficult or unpleasant; to examine carefully.
"She went through a very hard time after losing her job."
go overInseparable
To review or examine something carefully; to check again.
"Let's go over the plan one more time before the meeting."
go along withInseparable
To agree with or accept someone's idea, plan, or decision.
"I didn't like the idea, but I went along with it anyway."
go offIntransitive
An alarm or device activates suddenly; food goes bad; a plan or event happens (or not).
"My alarm went off at 5 AM." / "The milk went off — don't drink it."
⚠️ "Go on" and "What's going on?" — two common uses!
"Go on, tell me!" → Continue! (encouraging someone to keep speaking or doing something)
"What's going on?" → What is happening? (asking about a situation)
Both uses are extremely common in everyday English. ✗ "What's going?" is incorrect — you need "on."
Reading: Diego's Big Decision

📖 Diego's Big Decision

Diego had been at his company for five years when prices went up sharply and sales began to go down. Nobody understood what was going on, but everyone felt the stress.

His manager called an emergency meeting to go over the financial numbers. The results were worrying. Diego went through days of anxiety, reading reports and searching for solutions. His alarm went off at 5 AM every morning so he could start early.

Some coworkers told Diego to just go along with management's cost-cutting plan and wait. But Diego didn't want the problem to go away on its own — he wanted to solve it.

He spent days reviewing old contracts and found a better approach. He presented his idea to management, and it worked. That Friday, the whole team went out to dinner to celebrate.

"I'm glad I didn't go back to my old way of thinking," Diego said, smiling. "Sometimes you just have to push forward, even when things are hard."

Reading comprehension — 10 questions