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Go Through in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice

    Cartoon friends help a classmate review a full day of activities, showing go through as experiencing something from start to finish.

    Go through means to experience something difficult, to examine something carefully, or to be approved, depending on the sentence. To use go through in a sentence, keep the two words together: “We went through the accounts” and “the plan went through.” The particle never separates from the verb.

    Go through at a glance

    • Go through is a phrasal verb made of the verb go and the particle through.
    • It is inseparable: the object follows through and never sits between the two words.
    • It has five common senses: experience, examine, use up, be approved and rehearse.
    • It can be transitive, as in go through the files, or intransitive, as in the deal went through.
    • The commonest error is splitting it, as in went the files through.

    What does go through mean?

    Go through is a phrasal verb with several related meanings, all built on the idea of passing from one end of something to the other. The Cambridge entry for go through records the main senses of examining, experiencing and being approved. The table keeps them apart, because the object that follows decides which meaning a reader will hear. Where the examining sense is even more selective, the near-synonym sift through is the sharper choice.

    SensePlain meaningExample sentence
    ExperienceLive through something, often hardShe went through a difficult year after the move.
    ExamineRead or check in detailWe went through the report line by line.
    Use upConsume a supplyHe goes through two notebooks a month.
    Be approvedPass through a process and succeedThe sale finally went through in March.
    RehearsePractise a sequence from start to finishThe cast went through the scene twice.

    One honest limitation belongs here. Go through is not a synonym for enjoy or complete. A deal that goes through has only been approved, and a person who goes through a hard time has experienced it, not necessarily overcome it. When completion is the point, the separate phrasal verb go through with adds the missing idea of carrying a plan to the end.

    How do you use go through in a sentence?

    Two rules govern every use. First, the verb is inseparable, so the object always follows through and never wedges between go and through. Second, transitivity depends on the sense: the examining, experiencing and use-up senses take an object, while the approved sense stands alone. The passive exists but sounds awkward, so the active voice is safer in almost every case.

    PatternExampleWhat it signals
    go through + an experienceThey went through a month of repairs.The object is a period or ordeal.
    go through + a thing, carefullyWe went through the contract clause by clause.The object is a document or record.
    go through + a supplyShe goes through a jar of coffee a week.The object is something consumed.
    go through, no objectThe application went through on Friday.Approval or completion; nothing follows.
    go through with + a planThey went through with the move.A different phrasal verb meaning finish.

    The test for separability is quick: if you can move the object to the middle, the verb is separable, and go through fails that test. You can say turn the light on but never go the report through, which is why learners who overgeneralise from separable verbs produce that error.

    Two cartoon cards show the verb go and the particle through locked together while an object card waits behind them.
    The object follows the particle, so go and through stay locked together.

    Go through in a sentence: examples across contexts

    Go through moves easily between registers, and the context usually makes the intended sense obvious. The nine sentences below move from a classroom to a finance desk, and several sit close to run through.

    ContextExample sentenceWhy this works
    ClassroomWe went through the poem line by line.Shows the careful examining sense.
    Workplace emailShe went through the invoices before signing anything.Routine checking in a professional setting.
    News reportThe country went through a decade of upheaval.Uses the experience sense with a long span.
    ConversationI do not want to go through that again.The idiomatic, emotional use in speech.
    Customer serviceYour application is going through its final checks.Names a process without promising an outcome.
    FinanceThe family goes through a fortune each year.Uses the use-up sense with a large amount.
    Legal writingThe merger went through after two reviews.Uses the intransitive approval sense.
    Academic writingHe went through the archive for any mention of the ship.Shows a search carried out in detail.
    Studio notesThe cast went through the scene twice before filming.Uses the rehearsal sense before a performance.

    The subject changes from a single person to a country to a merger, yet the two words stay locked in the same order every time. That fixed order is the most reliable signal that go through is inseparable.

    Go through vs skim through

    Go through and skim through both describe moving across a text, but they differ in how much attention the reader gives it. Go through means a full, careful pass; skim through means a fast, selective one. The table sets out the contrast.

    Attributego throughskim through
    Core meaningExamine or experience fullyRead or check quickly
    SpeedSlow or extendedFast and selective
    AttentionLine by lineJust enough for the gist
    Typical objectContracts, records, a period of timeMagazines, lists, a report
    RegisterNeutral to formalNeutral, common in study advice
    ExampleWe went through the contract clause by clause.I skimmed through the article before class.

    Verdict: choose go through when attention is thorough or the meaning is experience, and skim through when speed is the point; the two are not interchangeable because one promises detail and the other admits it is skipping.

    Word forms and grammar of go through

    Go through inflects through the verb go, with through staying fixed. The table also lists the compound go through with and the lookalike throughout, which cause most of the confusion in student writing.

    FormPart of speechExample
    go throughphrasal verb, baseWe go through the figures every Friday.
    went throughpast tenseShe went through a hard winter.
    gone throughpast participleThey have gone through every option.
    going throughpresent participleHe is going through the applications now.
    go through withphrasal verb, different senseThey went through with the wedding.
    throughoutpreposition and adverb, lookalikeRain fell throughout the night.

    The lookalike throughout is a single word and never a verb, so the deal went throughout is not English. Other verbs with the base go, such as go down, keep entirely separate meanings.

    Common mistakes with go through

    • Incorrect: We went the report through. Correct: We went through the report. Rule: Go through is inseparable, so the object follows the particle.
    • Incorrect: The deal went through the approval. Correct: The deal went through approval. Rule: The approval sense is intransitive, so nothing follows through.
    • Incorrect: She went through with a hard time. Correct: She went through a hard time. Rule: Go through with means complete a plan, not experience a period.
    • Incorrect: We have gone through about the problem. Correct: We have gone through the problem. Rule: The preposition about does not belong after this phrasal verb.
    • Incorrect: The proposal was gone through by the board. Correct: The board went through the proposal. Rule: The passive is rare and clumsy, so keep the doer as the subject.
    • Incorrect: I will go through the project by June. Correct: I will go through with the project by June. Rule: Add with when the meaning is to finish something already planned.

    Practice using go through

    Work through the six items, then read the reasons rather than only the answers.

    1. Fill the gap: The committee ______ the budget before the vote.
    2. Choose the better word: I did not read the whole leaflet; I just (went through / skimmed through) it.
    3. Correct the error: He went the list through twice.
    4. Build a sentence: use go through in the approval sense with the subject a loan.
    5. Spot the register: which belongs in a formal email — your request is going through the final stage, or we are going through it now?
    6. Rewrite with go through with: They decided to continue with the merger. Use go through with instead.

    Answers

    1. went through — the committee examined the budget in detail before voting.
    2. skimmed through — the reader admits skipping, and go through would claim a full careful pass.
    3. He went through the list twice — the object cannot sit between go and through.
    4. Model answer: The loan went through after two weeks.
    5. Your request is going through the final stage — a formal email avoids the contraction and the casual we are going through it now.
    6. They decided to go through with the merger — adding with signals carrying the plan to completion.

    The bottom line

    Use go through in a sentence when you mean experiencing something, examining it carefully, using it up, or being approved, and keep the verb and its particle together in that fixed order. Two nuances decide most sentences: go through is inseparable, so the object always follows through, and only the approval sense is intransitive. When the point is finishing a planned action rather than undergoing it, go through with is the phrase you need.

    A cartoon single scene contrasts a child reading a long checklist slowly with a child flicking quickly through a magazine.
    Go through promises a careful full pass; skim through admits a fast, selective one.

    Frequently asked questions about go through

    Is go through a phrasal verb?

    Yes. Go through is a phrasal verb made of the verb go and the particle through, and the two words work as a single unit of meaning. It can be transitive, as in go through the files, or intransitive, as in the deal went through, depending on which sense you are using.

    Can you separate go through?

    No. Unlike a separable phrasal verb such as turn on, go through keeps its two words together, so we went through the report is correct and we went the report through is not. The object always follows through, even when it is a pronoun, as in we went through it.

    What is the difference between go through and go through with?

    Go through describes experiencing or examining something, as in she went through the notes. Go through with means carrying out a plan to the end, as in they went through with the sale. Adding with shifts the meaning from undergoing to completing, and the object changes from a thing to a decision.

    What does a deal going through mean?

    When a deal goes through, it is approved or completed after delays or uncertainty. The phrase is intransitive: the deal is the subject, and no object follows through. A synonym is come off, as in the merger came off, and the opposite is fall through, when a plan collapses.


    Do you find yourself struggling to understand the concept of “go through”? This phrase is commonly used to describe experiencing or enduring a process, situation, or set of circumstances. When someone goes through something, they are usually facing challenges, emotions, or events that require them to navigate or endure them.

    Understanding how to use “go through” in a sentence can greatly enhance your communication skills. By incorporating this phrase into your vocabulary, you will be able to convey experiences, difficulties, or journeys more effectively. Let’s delve deeper into the usage and nuances of “go through” to help you master this versatile expression.

    7 Examples Of Go Through Used In a Sentence For Kids

    1. I will go through the tunnel in the playground.
    2. Let’s go through the alphabet together.
    3. We can go through the storybook at storytime.
    4. The teacher will help us go through the math problems.
    5. We must go through the maze to find the treasure.
    6. I like to go through my toy box to find my favorite toy.
    7. We can go through the garden to see the flowers.
    Examples Of Go Through Used In a Sentence For Kids

    14 Sentences with Go Through Examples

    • Go through your lecture notes before attending the class.
    • Make sure to go through the syllabus for all your subjects at the beginning of the semester.
    • It’s essential to go through past exam papers to understand the exam pattern.
    • Create a study timetable and go through it regularly to stay on track.
    • It’s advisable to go through reference books in addition to your textbooks for a better understanding of the topic.
    • Before submitting your assignment, go through it to correct any errors or typos.
    • Attending workshops and seminars can help you go through practical applications of your theoretical knowledge.
    • Constantly go through your notes and revise them to retain the information better.
    • Discussing study material with classmates can help you go through alternative perspectives on the topic.
    • Make sure to go through any feedback provided by your professors to improve your academic performance.
    • Utilize online resources to go through additional study material for a deeper understanding of the subject.
    • Join study groups to go through course material collaboratively and share insights with peers.
    • Use flashcards to help you go through important definitions and concepts for better retention.
    • Participate in mock exams to go through the exam experience and identify areas that need improvement.
    Sentences with Go Through Examples

    How To Use Go Through in Sentences?

    Go Through is a phrasal verb that can be used in different contexts to indicate the action of experiencing, examining, or completing something. To use Go Through in a sentence, follow these tips:

    1. Usage as experience: When you want to refer to a difficult or challenging experience, you can say, “I had to go through a tough time last year.”
    2. Usage as search or examination: If you want to describe the action of searching or examining something thoroughly, you can say, “I need to go through all the documents to find the report.”
    3. Usage as completion: When talking about completing a process or task, you can say, “We have to go through the entire presentation before the meeting.”
    4. Usage with objects: You can pair Go Through with various objects like files, papers, emails, or similar items to indicate the specific content you are experiencing, searching, or completing.
    5. Use in informal settings: Go Through can be used in both formal and informal settings, so feel free to use it in everyday conversations.

    Remember that the meaning of Go Through can vary based on the context, so pay attention to the surrounding words and the overall message you want to convey when using this phrasal verb in a sentence.

    How To Use Go Through in Sentences

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, when we go through challenging experiences, we often emerge stronger and more resilient. Adversity can be a teacher, guiding us to grow and adapt. By persevering through difficult times, we gain valuable insights and develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

    Despite the obstacles we may face, it is important to remember that we have the ability to navigate through them and come out on the other side. With each trial we go through, we have the opportunity to learn, improve, and ultimately thrive. Embracing the process of going through challenges can lead to personal growth, increased wisdom, and a greater appreciation for the journey of life.

    Written & edited by

    Founder & Editor, StartsWithy

    Robin founded StartsWithy in 2022 to make English words easier to understand and use. Robin oversees our 30,000+ guides, checks meanings and grammar against trusted dictionaries such as Cambridge, Oxford Learner’s and Collins, and is accountable for every correction we make.