What are the definitions of “go over”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Look at something, revise.
We WENT OVER our notes before the exam.
- 2Visit.
I hadn't seen her for a while, so I WENT OVER on Friday night.
- 3Be approved or accepted.
My plans WENT OVER well.
- 4Repeat or explain.
Could you GO OVER that point again, please?
- 5Clean.
I WENT OVER the living room with the vacuum cleaner before they arrived.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “go over”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb go over is to review or examine something carefully. It is often used when talking about studying for exams, checking work for mistakes, or reviewing a plan or proposal.
What are the different verb forms of “go over”?
| Root Verb | go over |
| Third Person Singular Present | goes over |
| Present Participle | going over |
| Simple Past | went over |
| Past Participle | gone over |
Example
Before the meeting, I will go over the report.
Example
She goes over her notes every evening.
Example
He is going over the contract before signing it.
Example
Yesterday, we went over the project details.
Example
The proposal has been gone over by the committee.
What kind of phrasal verb is “go over”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“go over” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She went over the report carefully.
Example
He went over his notes before the exam.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“go over” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She went over the report carefully.
Example
He went over his notes before the exam.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “go over”?
Good things to know
Does “go over” have an informal or formal tone?
Go over is a neutral phrasal verb. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In a formal setting, it might be used in a business meeting or academic context to mean 'review' or 'examine'. In an informal context, it could be used to mean 'visit' or 'clean'.
