ENGLISH
REFERENCE

go up

phr. v..
A2 Elementary Oxford

phr. v.. to increase in price, level, or amount.

phr. v.. to increase in quantity, price, or level. This phrasal verb is intransitive.


SIMPLE

The price of coffee is going up again.

CONTEXTUAL

The temperature is expected to go up to 30 degrees Celsius this afternoon.

COMPLEX

As public awareness of the environmental crisis goes up, so too does the political pressure for legislative action.

Particles
up
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
subject + go + up
Usage

Commonly used for prices, numbers, temperatures, and other measurable levels.

Teaching tip

Contrast with 'raise', which is transitive: prices *go up* (on their own), but a company *raises* prices.

Pitfall

The shop went up the prices.The prices went up.'Go up' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object; use 'raise' for the action of increasing something.

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