English Reference

Phrasal verb

go through sth

Definition

phrasal verb. to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation; you can also use this when you check something carefully.

phrasal verb. to undergo a difficult period or experience; alternatively, to examine or search through a collection of items or a document systematically.

Examples

“She is going through a hard time at work.”

“We need to go through the contract one more time to make sure there are no mistakes.”

“The nation is going through a period of profound economic transformation that requires citizens to adapt to new digital realities.”

Examples

simple

“She is going through a hard time at work.”

contextual

“We need to go through the contract one more time to make sure there are no mistakes.”

complex

“The nation is going through a period of profound economic transformation that requires citizens to adapt to new digital realities.”

Usage

when meaning 'experience', the object is usually a negative event like a divorce, crisis, or surgery.

Teaching tip

help students distinguish between the physical sense (searching a bag) and the metaphorical sense (experiencing a hardship) by using different objects in drill exercises.

Pitfall

He went the documents through.

He went through the documents.

this phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must follow the particle 'through'.

Phrasal verb

Particles

through

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

go + through + object

Synonyms

Antonyms

Grammar

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference