ENGLISH
REFERENCE

go on

phr. v..
A2 Elementary Oxford General-service

phr. v.. to continue doing something or to happen.

phr. v.. to continue an action or state; to occur or take place. Often used as a continuative aspectual marker or to describe events in progress.


SIMPLE

Please go on with your story.

CONTEXTUAL

The meeting went on for three hours because there were so many problems to discuss.

COMPLEX

While the investigation into the financial discrepancy was going on, the CEO refused to make any public statements regarding the company's future.

Etymology 1

Structurally equivalent to go onward.

Etymology 2

Structurally equivalent to go upon.

Particles
on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
go + on
Usage

often followed by 'with' plus a noun or by a gerund (verb + -ing).

Teaching tip

contrast with 'keep on' (which emphasizes repetition) and 'continue' (which is more formal); use 'What's going on?' to teach the 'happen' sense.

Pitfall

He went on talk for hours.He went on talking for hours.when 'go on' means to continue an activity, it must be followed by a gerund or 'with + noun'.

© 2026 English Reference