go on
phrasal verb·5 senses·particle on
Meanings
Continue happening or doing something
Why “on”? Sliding forward along the surface. Motion that keeps going on and on.
“Please go on with the story.”
“Go on with your explanation.”
“The meeting went on for hours.”
Happen or take place
“What's going on here?”
“What is going on outside?”
Talk for a long time, often in a tedious way
“He goes on about his car.”
“She goes on about prices every day.”
Use information as the basis for an opinion
Why “on”? One thing supports another. A plan can depend on people, facts, money, or past success.
“There's not much to go on.”
“The police had very little to go on.”
Begin to operate
Why “on”? The connection starts. The machine, light, or device begins working.
“The lights went on at dusk.”
“The fan went on when the room got hot.”
Don't confuse with
Go on means continue happening or doing something. Go in means enter a place.
Go on means continue happening or doing something. Go forward means continue with a plan or proposal.
Go on means continue happening or doing something. Go ahead means begin or continue with a planned action.
Test yourself
“Please go on with the story.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
go ahead
A contrast learners often mix up
Begin or continue with a planned action
go forward
A contrast learners often mix up
Continue with a plan or proposal
go in
A contrast learners often mix up
Enter a place; (of the sun, moon or stars) become hidden behind clouds; Be understood or accepted into the mind
go off
A contrast learners often mix up
Stop working or be cut
act on
Same on pattern: power start
Take action because of advice or information
base on
Same on pattern: support
Use something as the foundation or starting point
bring on
Same on pattern: power start
Cause something, especially an illness or feeling, to start; Help someone or something develop or improve
build on
Same on pattern: support
Use a previous success as a foundation for more
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “go on”.
Practice “go on” in Sink In
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