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As you may know, 'go' is a common verb in the English language. In this lesson, we are going to learn all there is about it.
'Go' is a commonly used verb in the English language. In this lesson, we are going to discuss how to learn and use it.
Functions of 'Go'
- 'Go' as the main verb
- 'Go' as the dummy verb
- 'Go' as the linking verb
'Go' as the Main Verb
As you know, 'go' is commonly used as the main verb in the English language. Below, we are going to learn about the different meanings it can take when it is used in different contexts:
Use
- When we want to show movement from one place to another, we use 'go':
Andrea wants to
I
- When we want to show that we are headed to a particular destination with someone else, we use 'go':
The kids are
Rick is
- When we want to indicate that someone is moving in a specific way, we use 'go':
They were
I want you to
- When we want to show someone left a particular place, we use 'go':
I must get
Here, it indicates that that person must leave.
The guests arrived at 7 and
- When we want to indicate that someone is travelling to another place, we can use 'go':
Sarah is
Let's
- We can use 'go' to indicate visiting a particular place or attending a class, meeting, etc:
We must all
If they aren't at school, then where are they
He
The girls
- When we are checking websites on social media, we can use 'go on' to refer to it:
She
They
- When we want to show that something is sent somewhere, we use 'go':
These packages must
I want this letter to
- When something leads to a specific direction, we use 'go' to talk about it:
Where does this path
This road
- When we want to point out the position of something, we can use 'go':
These books
Where will this drum set
- When we want to start an activity, or tell some people to start it, we use 'go':
'One, two, three,
- When we want to indicate that we are removing something/someone or want to get rid of something, we use 'go':
I desperately want this bed to
If you become useless, you will have to
- When something is not working or getting worse, we use 'go' to refer to it:
Unfortunately, her cancer is starting to
He told me that his mind is beginning to
- When we want to politely talk about dying, we can use 'go':
Pa, you cannot take your money when you
- When we want to sell something, we can use 'go':
My family won't let this car
- When we want to talk about the time moving past, we can use 'go':
Don't you think that time has
Hours
- When we want to indicate that something/someone has disappeared, we use 'go':
Has your migraine
I left my phone on the table here and when I came back, it was
- We can also use 'go' to show that something does not fit into a particular place o thing:
Not all my clothes will
Well, you can try pushing your leg into the hole, but I don't think it
- When we want to talk about how something made progress, we use 'go':
With they way things are
So, did everything
- In mathematics, we can use 'go' to show that a number is contained in another an exact number of times. Look:
4 in 10 doesn't
10 into 100
- When we want to show that some things match or do not match, we use 'go':
This color does not
I don't think these heels
- When we want to point out how a poem, a song, or a story goes, we can use 'go':
I wonder how that story
Unfortunately, I do not remember how this song
- We can use 'go' informally to mean 'saying something' when we are narrating a story:
He says 'are you pregnant?' and I
- When we want to show that a machine, a system, etc. is working properly, we can use 'go':
Are all the engines
I want you to check and see if all the machines are
- When we want to indicate that something plays a part in something else, we can use 'go':
All these examples
All your comments
- We can use 'go' with many different nouns to talk about someone/something that has reached a particular condition. Look:
The countries
Shhh! The baby has just
This dress has
- When we want to talk about money that is used for something, we use 'go':
Most of my salary
This money will
Position in a Sentence
Since 'go' is the main verb here, it mainly comes after the subject. Please note that whenever we have an imperative sentence, we must put the verb at the beginning of the sentence. If we have an auxiliary verb, the main verb comes after it. Look at the following examples for more clarification:
I must
As you can see, the main verb has come after the auxiliary verb.
Jessica
'Go' as the Dummy Verb
As mentioned above, another function of 'go' is to be the dummy verb in some sentences. Below,we are going to learn all about it:
Use
As you might know, dummy verbs are used with particular nouns to have a specific meaning. If they are used alone, they are meaningless. Below is a list of the different meanings 'go' can take when it is used as a dummy verb:
- When we have some nouns like 'shopping', 'swimming', etc. we use 'go' before them:
I like to
They wanted to
- When we want to indicate that we are doing something while moving, we can use 'go':
A strong wind suddenly blew and all the letters
Anna went
Here, it is clear that the person is shouting while going up the stairs.
Position in a Sentence
As you know, dummy verbs are used with particular nouns to have a different meaning. So, when 'go' is functioning as a dummy verb, it must always come before a noun. Look at the following examples:
My sister and I
As you can see, a noun has been used after the dummy verb.
Dad
'Go' as a Linking Verb
We can also use 'go' as a linking verb. Below, we are going to learn all about it:
Use
As you might know, linking verbs are used to connect the subject to an adjective. 'Go' can sometimes function as a linking verb and connect the subject to an adjective. Look at the following examples:
- We can use 'go' before some adjectives to talk about the condition of something/someone:
The only thing you can to is to
The children
I hate it when my coffee
- When we want to indicate that something has been unreported, unnoticed, etc. we use 'go':
People fear that many homicides
Why do I have the feeling that many crimes
Position in a Sentence
As it was clear in the examples above, linking verbs connect the subject to an adjective. So, when 'go' is functioning as a linking verb, it must always come before an adjective. Look at the following examples for more clarification:
My coffee has
As you can see, 'go' has come before an adjective.
I know it sounds crazy but she
Tip!
It might come in handy to know that in spoken English, we can use 'go' with 'and' to show the purpose of an action or to tell someone to do something. Sometimes, this 'and' can be implied. Look below:
Here, 'and' is implied.
Idioms and Expressions
We have many different idioms and expressions with 'go'. Below, we are going to analyze them all:
- Anything goes: This one is used when we want to indicate that nearly anything that someone says or does is accepted:
In these days that
- As things/people go: This one is used when we want to compare some things/people with each other:
- Don't go doing something: This one is used as a warning to tell someone not do something:
Please just
I warned Anne to
- Enough to be going on with: We use this one to indicate that something is enough just for a short period of time:
For your trip, this suitcase is
- Go all out for something: When we are trying our best to get something/ or do something, we use this expression to talk about it:
He
- Go and do something: When we want to show that someone feels annoyed or angry because of someone else's action, we use this idiom:
Did you really have to
I'm sick of the fact that my sister
- Go off on one: This one is used to show someone is very angry:
It is not okay to
He suddenly
- Have a lot going for oneself: When we want to indicate that someone has many advantages:
With all the intelligence, beauty and generosity, you
- What goes around comes around: This one is used to mean how someone treats others is a reflection of how people will treat them later:
Although I feel bad for her,
- Do not even go there: When we want to indicate that we are no interested in talking about a particular subject, we use this:
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