go
A1Universal
Definition
Meaning
to move from one place to another; to travel.
To leave; to function or operate; to become; to be stated, said, or sung in a particular way; to match or suit; to be spent or used; to be accepted or valid.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
One of the most common verbs in English with an exceptionally wide range of meanings and phrasal verb combinations. Its basic meaning of movement is often extended metaphorically (e.g., time goes by, a machine goes).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'go to hospital/university' is standard (without 'the'), whereas US English often uses 'go to the hospital'. In sports, UK: 'go to a match'; US: 'go to a game'. The past participle 'gone' vs. 'been': 'He's gone to Paris' (he is still there) vs. 'He's been to Paris' (he went and returned) is more consistently distinguished in UK usage.
Connotations
The phrase 'go missing' is far more prevalent in UK English. 'Go and' + verb (e.g., 'go and see') is common in both, but sometimes reduced to 'go see' in informal US English.
Frequency
The word is equally frequent in both varieties, but the specific phrasal verbs and collocations can vary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
go + adverb/preposition (go away, go home)go + -ing (go swimming, go shopping)go + adjective (go bad, go quiet)go + to-infinitive (go to see, go to find)go + that-clause (the story goes that...)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go without saying”
- “go the distance”
- “go against the grain”
- “go down in flames”
- “go belly up”
- “go cold turkey”
- “go bananas”
- “go for broke”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Project timelines must go according to plan. The company will go public next year.
Academic
The argument goes as follows. As time goes on, the evidence becomes clearer.
Everyday
I need to go to the supermarket. My phone battery is going flat.
Technical
The program failed to go into sleep mode. The engine won't go.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Let's go to the cinema tonight.
- This milk has gone off.
- How did the meeting go?
American English
- I go to college in Boston.
- The lights went out suddenly.
- He went and told everyone.
adverb
British English
- I've been on the go since 6 am.
American English
- She's always go, go, go!
adjective
British English
- Is the system go for launch?
- All systems are go.
American English
- We have a go decision from management.
- The project is a go.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I go to work by bus.
- We go to the park on Sundays.
- She goes to school at 8 o'clock.
- The plan went perfectly.
- He went pale when he heard the news.
- Are you going to apply for the job?
- The company went bankrupt after the scandal.
- This old machinery could go at any moment.
- Their relationship went through a difficult phase.
- The melody goes something like this.
- Their evidence wouldn't go unchallenged in court.
- He went so far as to threaten legal action.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a traffic **GO** sign giving you permission to **move** forward.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION (The years go by). LIFE IS A JOURNEY (She's gone through a lot). CHANGE IS MOVEMENT (The milk went sour).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'go' for 'attend' in all cases (e.g., 'I go to lectures' vs. Russian 'ходить на лекции' is okay, but 'I go to a concert' is better as 'I am going to a concert/I attend concerts').
- Confusing 'go' + adjective (state change) with 'become'. 'He went mad' is natural; 'He became mad' is more formal/literary.
- Overusing 'go' for simple future. English uses 'will' or 'be going to', not just 'go'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'He goed to school' (correct: 'went').
- Using 'go' without 'to' before a noun destination: 'I go school' (correct: 'I go to school').
- Confusing 'go' and 'come': 'I will go to you' (if speaker is moving to listener's location, 'come' is often correct).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The company decided to go public', what does 'go' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Have gone' means someone is at the place now or is on the way there. 'Have been' means someone visited the place and has now returned. Example: 'She has gone to Paris' (she is in Paris). 'She has been to Paris' (she visited Paris in the past).
We use 'go' + -ing for many recreational and sporting activities, especially those done outside the home. Common examples: go swimming, go running, go fishing, go skiing, go hiking. It implies movement to a location to perform the activity.
Yes, 'be going to' + base verb is a very common structure for expressing future intention or a prediction based on present evidence. Example: 'I am going to visit my grandparents tomorrow.' 'Look at those clouds, it's going to rain.'
Yes, 'go' + adjective is often used to describe a (usually negative) change of state, especially with colours, or certain conditions. Examples: go blind, go bad, go crazy, go red, go quiet. It is more informal than 'become'.
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