Collocations With Go
Language is a fascinating puzzle where words come together to form pictures of our thoughts, experiences, and the world around us. Among these words, “go” is a workhorse, pairing with prepositions, nouns, and adjectives to create collocations that are essential to English fluency. In this article, we’ll explore the most common and vivid collocations with “go” and how they enhance our communication.
Table of Contents
The Basics of “Go” Collocations
Collocations are habitual combinations of words that native speakers use without thinking. With “go,” these pairings can denote actions, intentions, or states of being. Let’s delve into some categories where “go” collocations shine.
Actions and Activities
Go shopping: To visit one or more shops to buy things.
Example: We need to go shopping for groceries this evening.
Go fishing: To spend time catching fish as a hobby or profession.
Example: They decided to go fishing at the lake this weekend.
Go hiking: To take a long walk in the countryside for pleasure.
Example: We’re planning to go hiking in the national park next month.
Go swimming: To spend time in the water for exercise or leisure.
Example: It’s so hot outside; let’s go swimming in the pool.
Go dancing: To engage in dancing as a social activity.
Example: After dinner, many guests wanted to go dancing at the local club.
Physical Movement
Go abroad: To travel to a foreign country.
Example: She’s excited to go abroad for her semester exchange program.
Go upstairs/downstairs: To move to a higher or lower floor of a building.
Example: Please go upstairs and see if the kids are asleep.
Go forward/backward: To move ahead or return to a previous position.
Example: The car wouldn’t go forward because it was stuck in the mud.
Go left/right: To turn in a particular direction.
Example: When you reach the intersection, go left and you’ll see the museum.
Changes in State or Condition
Go bad: When food becomes inedible due to spoilage.
Example: The milk will go bad if you leave it out of the fridge overnight.
Go blind: To lose one’s ability to see.
Example: The accident caused him to go blind in one eye.
Go crazy: To act in an uncontrolled or wild manner.
Example: The fans will go crazy if their team wins the championship.
Go bankrupt: To become unable to pay one’s debts.
Example: The company had to go bankrupt after losing its major clients.
Expressing Intentions or Plans
Go for it: To try something with enthusiasm.
Example: You’ve been preparing for this opportunity for years, so go for it!
Go to war: To engage in a conflict or battle.
Example: The two countries went to war after the breakdown of diplomatic talks.
Go on a diet: To start eating less or only particular kinds of food to lose weight.
Example: After the holiday season, many people decide to go on a diet.
Go to sleep: To engage in the act of sleeping.
Example: It’s late, and you have an early morning tomorrow, so you should go to sleep.
The Nuance of “Go” Collocations
The beauty of collocations with “go” lies in their ability to convey specific meanings with efficiency and clarity. But there’s more to these phrases than meets the eye; they can carry connotations and nuances beyond their literal meanings.
Go public: To reveal something to the general population, often used in the context of companies.
Example: The tech startup decided to go public to raise more capital.
Go missing: To become lost or disappear.
Example: Panic ensued when the camper went missing in the forest.
Go wrong: To fail or have problems.
Example: Despite careful planning, the event went wrong due to the unexpected storm.
Go wild: To become very excited or lose control of normal behavior.
Example: The crowd went wild when the band played their favorite song.
Collocations with “Go” in Idiomatic Expressions
Collocations often form the backbone of idiomatic expressions—phrases where the meaning isn’t directly deducible from the words themselves.
Go the extra mile: To make a special effort or to try very hard to achieve something.
Example: She always goes the extra mile to ensure her customers are satisfied.
Go through the motions: To do something because you are expected to do it and not because you want to.
Example: He’s been going through the motions at work ever since he lost his promotion.
Go down in flames: To fail in a spectacular or dramatic way.
Example: The project went down in flames after the lead designer resigned.
Go against the grain:To act contrary to what is normal or expected.
Example: It goes against the grain for him to conform to any kind of rules.
The Role of “Go” Collocations in Learning English
For English learners, mastering collocations with “go” is a step toward sounding more like a native speaker. These phrases, used correctly, can make dialogue more natural and understandable. They serve as a bridge between learning the basics of vocabulary and grammar and being able to express oneself fully and effectively.
Final Thoughts
The word “go” is a chameleon in the English language, blending into a multitude of situations and sentences through the art of collocation. These pairings are not just about linguistic correctness; they are the threads that weave the fabric of communication, providing richness and depth to our conversations. From “go shopping” to “go the extra mile,” these collocations help us to navigate the complexities of language with greater ease and confidence.
Whether we’re talking about actions, movements, changes in state, or expressions of intention, “go” collocations are a testament to the dynamic and evolving nature of language. They demonstrate how even the simplest words can be transformed into powerful tools for connection and understanding.
By exploring and using these collocations in everyday speech and writing, we can enhance our language skills and engage more authentically with others. So, as we continue to learn and grow in our linguistic journeys, let’s not forget to go beyond the basics and embrace the full potential of collocations with “go.”
