Phrasal verb
go past
Definition
phrasal verb. to move from one side of something to the other side, or to travel further than a specific point.
phrasal verb. to move beyond a spatial or temporal point; functions as an intransitive phrasal verb or a verb followed by a prepositional phrase indicating movement beyond a limit.
Examples
“You need to go past the bank and turn left.”
“We watched the parade go past our window while we were eating breakfast this morning.”
“The driver failed to notice the speed limit sign as he went past the intersection, resulting in a heavy fine.”
Examples
simple
“You need to go past the bank and turn left.”
contextual
“We watched the parade go past our window while we were eating breakfast this morning.”
complex
“The driver failed to notice the speed limit sign as he went past the intersection, resulting in a heavy fine.”
Usage
often used when giving directions to indicate a landmark that should be passed.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'pass' which is a single verb; 'go past' is more common in spoken directions and emphasizes the movement relative to a stationary object.
Pitfall
He went passed the house.
He went past the house.
'passed' is the past tense of the verb 'pass', whereas 'past' is the required preposition/adverb in this phrase.
Phrasal verb
Particles
past
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
go + past + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/go-past