Lecture: Understanding Phrasal Verbs with "Go" through Amelia's Story


Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to dive into the fascinating world of phrasal verbs, specifically those built around the versatile verb "go." Phrasal verbs are a crucial part of English, adding nuance and naturalness to our language. We'll explore these through a compelling narrative and then expand our understanding with more examples.

Let's start with "Amelia's story," which beautifully illustrates several phrasal verbs in action.

Amelia's story begins with her "going through" a difficult time at work.

  • Go through (1): This means "experiencing an unpleasant or difficult situation." Amelia was experiencing a tough period, which led her to seek a distraction.

To cheer herself up, she decided to "go in for" a competition.

  • Go in for (2): Here, it means "doing or competing in" something. She entered the competition hoping for a win.

The prize was a luxury holiday, something Amelia really desired because she had had to "go without" a holiday for several years.

  • Go without (3): This phrase means "not having something which you usually have." She was deprived of a holiday, highlighting her strong motivation to win.

The competition required a story beginning, "Suddenly the lights went out..."

  • Go out (4): In this context, "went out" means "stopped giving light." This is a very common phrasal verb, often used when electricity fails.

Amelia struggled for ideas and asked, "How can I go about getting a good idea?"

  • Go about (5): This means "starting to do or deal with something." She was seeking a method or approach to begin her creative process.

She wanted something special so that the judges would "go for" her story.

  • Go for (6): Here, "go for" means "to choose." She wanted her story to be selected over all others.

I suggested she "went to the library to go through" some books of short stories.

  • Go through (7): Notice that "go through" has a different meaning here. In this instance, it means "to examine the contents of something carefully." She needed to meticulously review the books for inspiration.

So, she "went off" to see what she could find.

  • Go off (8): This means "left a place to go to somewhere else." She departed for the library.

At the library, she read one story, then another, and she "went on" reading all afternoon.

  • Go on (9): In this context, "went on" signifies "continued." She continued her reading without interruption.

Then, strikingly, she noticed a strange smell, and suddenly the lights went out again. This provided the perfect idea for her story.


Expanding Our Understanding: More Phrasal Verbs with "Go"


Beyond Amelia's story, there are several other important phrasal verbs with "go" that are worth knowing:

  • Go along with (sth/sb): This means to "support an idea, or agree with someone's opinion." For example, "Whatever you say, Maggie will go along with you." It signifies agreement or compliance.

  • Go on (10): We saw "go on" meaning "continued" in Amelia's story. However, it also has another very common meaning: "continue to exist or happen." Think of the classic example: "It went on raining all day." The rain persisted.

  • Go on (11): Another crucial meaning of "go on" is "happen." If you see a police car outside a shop and ask, "Do you know what's going on?" you're asking what event or situation is unfolding.

  • Go through with (sth): This means "to do something unpleasant or difficult which you planned or promised to do." For instance, "I don't want to do the exam now but I'd better go through with it." It implies completing a commitment despite reluctance.

  • Go together: This phrase is used when "two types of thing or people go together, they are usually found with each other." A perfect example is: "A bad cough and a sore throat often go together." They frequently appear as a pair.

Important Note on Phrasal Verbs: As you can see with "go on" and "go through," many common phrasal verbs have multiple meanings when combined with a single particle. Always be mindful of the context when you encounter a phrasal verb, as its meaning can change significantly depending on the situation.

Thank you! I hope this lecture has clarified some of the common and important phrasal verbs involving "go."


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