What are the definitions of “go to”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Allocate money.
About half of my income GOES TO pay the mortgage.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “go to”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb go to is to allocate or spend money on something. For example, it can mean spending money on bills, buying groceries, or paying for services.
What are the different verb forms of “go to”?
| Root Verb | go to |
| Third Person Singular Present | goes to |
| Present Participle | going to |
| Simple Past | went to |
| Past Participle | gone to |
Example
A large portion of my salary goes to paying bills.
Example
A significant part of his income goes to rent.
Example
A lot of our budget is going to marketing expenses.
Example
Last month, most of my paycheck went to car repairs.
Example
All the money has gone to paying off the debt.
What kind of phrasal verb is “go to”?
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 to” 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
Half of my income goes to rent.
Example
A lot of our budget went to marketing expenses.
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 to” 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
Half of my income goes to rent.
Example
A lot of our budget went to marketing expenses.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “go to”?
Good things to know
Does “go to” have an informal or formal tone?
Go to is a neutral phrasal verb. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, the formality can change depending on the context. For example, when discussing financial matters, such as a portion of my income goes to rent, it can have a more formal tone. But in phrases like go to town or go to the dogs, it is more informal.
