What are the definitions of “go past”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Pass without stopping.
She WENT PAST me without saying hello.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “go past”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb go past is to move or travel beyond a certain point or place without stopping. For example, it can mean walking by someone without greeting them, or a vehicle moving beyond a specific location.
What are the different verb forms of “go past”?
| Root Verb | go past |
| Third Person Singular Present | goes past |
| Present Participle | going past |
| Simple Past | went past |
| Past Participle | gone past |
Example
Every morning, I go past the bakery on my way to work.
Example
The bus goes past my house every hour.
Example
She is going past the park right now.
Example
Yesterday, he went past the library without noticing it.
Example
The opportunity has gone past; we missed our chance.
What kind of phrasal verb is “go past”?
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.)
Intransitive verb
“go past” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.
Example
The car went past at high speed.
Example
She went past without noticing me.
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 past” 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
The car went past at high speed.
Example
She went past without noticing me.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “go past”?
Good things to know
Does “go past” have an informal or formal tone?
Go past is a neutral phrasal verb. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations as well as in written English. For example, in a formal report, one might write, 'The deadline has gone past.' In a casual conversation, one might say, 'I went past the bakery but forgot to buy bread.'
