Phrasal verb
go after
Definition
phrasal verb. to try to catch someone or to try to get something that you want very much.
phrasal verb. to pursue an objective or person; can function as a synonym for 'chase' or 'strive for' depending on the context.
Examples
“The police had to go after the thief.”
“She decided to go after the promotion even though the competition was very tough.”
“The federal agency announced its intention to go after major corporations that have been systematically evading environmental regulations for decades.”
Examples
simple
“The police had to go after the thief.”
contextual
“She decided to go after the promotion even though the competition was very tough.”
complex
“The federal agency announced its intention to go after major corporations that have been systematically evading environmental regulations for decades.”
Usage
always followed by an object, which can be a person, a goal, or a prize.
Teaching tip
help students distinguish between the physical sense of chasing someone and the metaphorical sense of pursuing a career goal or a dream.
Pitfall
He went the cat after.
He went after the cat.
this phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must come after the particle 'after'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
after
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
go + after + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/go-after