Go Over in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice

Go over means to check, review or repeat something carefully, and it works in a sentence as an inseparable phrasal verb. The pattern is go over plus a noun, as in let us go over the plan. The same verb also keeps a literal sense of crossing something.

Go over at a glance

• Go over is an inseparable phrasal verb; its forms are goes over, went over, going over and gone over.
• The review sense is transitive, so the thing being checked follows over, as in go over the notes.
• The literal sense means to cross something, as in the ferry goes over the strait.
• The register is neutral and common in study, work and everyday planning.
• The commonest error is splitting the verb, as in go the notes over.

What does go over mean?

Go over is a phrasal verb meaning to check or repeat something carefully, or to cross from one side to another. The Cambridge entry for go over records both the review sense and the crossing sense, and the context decides which one a reader hears. Explaining a lesson uses the first, so review the notes is the closest single-word substitute.

One limitation is worth stating plainly. Go over does not mean to read through every page in order, and it does not mean to finish something. Where you want a slow, thorough reading, peruse or scrutinize is the sharper verb. The phrasal verb also does not take the particle to the other side of its object, so the word order is fixed.

How do you use go over in a sentence?

Keep over fixed to the verb and let the object follow. Five patterns cover almost every real sentence, and the literal crossing sense is the one place where the structure changes to take a preposition.

The practitioner rule is simple: pronouns go after over, not before it. A learner who says go it over is splitting a phrasal verb that does not split; the correct order is go over it. Only the literal crossing sense adds to, because there the word over behaves as a preposition rather than a particle.

Go over in a sentence: examples across contexts

Go over keeps one meaning but moves easily between study, work and travel. The eight sentences below keep the same phrasal verb while shifting the setting, and each one makes the reason for the review clear.

Notice that only the travel sentence uses the literal sense. When a place follows over, the word is a preposition; when an idea or a document follows, the whole phrase is one inseparable verb.

Go over vs review, examine and rehearse

Go over overlaps with three verbs and fits each context differently. examine the figures is a close look at detail; rehearse a speech is to practise it aloud; scrutinize the accounts is a suspicious, line-by-line search.

Verdict: choose go over for a friendly second look, review when a judgement follows, and examine or scrutinize when the detail matters more than the repetition. A teacher goes over a rule, but an inspector examines a site.

Word forms and grammar of go over

Go over is built from the irregular verb go, so the past form is went, not goed. The same base verb builds go away, go back and go down with different particles. The table lists the full set of forms and marks the split order that learners wrongly produce.

Keep the particle beside the verb, because the review sense does not separate. Only the literal crossing sense allows a prepositional phrase, as in go over to the window, where over belongs to the place rather than to the action.

Common mistakes with go over

• Incorrect: Please go the report over before the meeting. Correct: Please go over the report before the meeting. Rule: The review sense is inseparable, so over stays next to go.
• Incorrect: We went it over again. Correct: We went over it again. Rule: A pronoun object never splits an inseparable phrasal verb.
• Incorrect: She went over about the schedule with me. Correct: She went over the schedule with me. Rule: Go over takes a direct object, so no about is needed.
• Incorrect: I have went over the list. Correct: I have gone over the list. Rule: The past participle of go is gone, so have goes with gone.
• Incorrect: The lesson went over to the students well. Correct: The lesson went over well with the students. Rule: The received sense takes well or badly and the preposition with.

Practice using go over

Work through the six items, then check the reasoning rather than only the answer.

1. Fill the gap: The twins ______ their lines one last time before the play.
2. Choose the better word: The auditor was asked to (go over / review) every entry for possible fraud.
3. Correct the error: Please go the schedule over after lunch.
4. Build a sentence: use go over + object + with about a teacher checking homework with a parent.
5. Spot the register: which belongs in a work email — shall we go over the draft, or shall we have a look-see at the draft?
6. Rewrite in the past tense with a pronoun: We go over it. Use went and keep the order correct.

Answers

1. went over — the past tense of go is went, and over stays attached to the verb.
2. review — a suspicious line-by-line check is a review, which is more formal than go over.
3. Please go over the schedule after lunch — the object cannot sit between go and over.
4. Model answer: The teacher went over the homework with the parent for twenty minutes.
5. Shall we go over the draft — a work email keeps the neutral phrasal verb; look-see is too casual.
6. We went over it — the pronoun follows over, and the verb takes its irregular past form.

The bottom line

Use go over in a sentence for a careful check, a repeated study pass or a literal crossing, and keep over fixed to the verb in the review sense. The two nuances that settle most sentences are these: the review sense is inseparable, so go over it is right and go it over is wrong, and the literal sense is the only one that adds a place after to. For a slow, detailed reading, examine or scrutinize is the more precise choice.

Frequently asked questions about go over

Is go over separable?

No, not in the review sense. You say go over the notes and go over them, never go the notes over or go them over. The particle stays beside the verb because the whole unit carries one meaning. Only the literal crossing sense behaves differently, because there over works as a preposition leading to a place.

What does go over well mean?

Go over well means to be received positively by an audience, as in the new logo went over well with customers. The opposite is go over badly. In this pattern over is fixed to the verb and the phrase takes well or badly plus with, which names who reacted. It never means to cross something well.

Is go over formal or informal?

Go over is neutral and belongs to both speech and writing, which is why it fits a quick chat and a workplace email. Formal documents often prefer review or examine, since a single Latinate verb sounds more official. In a classroom or a casual plan, go over is the natural choice and never sounds out of place.

What is the difference between go over and go through?

Go over focuses on repeating or checking something, as in go over the rules. Go through suggests working from start to finish, often in order, as in go through the whole file. A teacher goes over a rule to fix it in memory, while a clerk goes through a stack one item at a time.

Have you ever heard the phrase “go over” and wondered what it meant? In English, the expression “go over” is often used to describe the act of reviewing, examining, or discussing something in detail.

When we “go over” something, we are taking the time to go through it carefully, whether it’s information, a plan, or a set of instructions. This can be done in various contexts, such as in a meeting, during a study session, or when clarifying a concept.

7 Examples Of Go Over Used In a Sentence For Kids

• Go over the alphabet with colorful flashcards.
• Let’s go over our numbers by counting out loud.
• We can go over our shapes and colors together.
• Go over the days of the week by singing a fun song.
• It’s time to go over our animal names and sounds.
• Let’s go over the names of fruits and vegetables.
• We will go over the names of different vehicles in our book.

14 Sentences with Go Over Examples

• Make sure to go over your notes before the exam.
• Let’s go over the project requirements together.
• It’s important to go over the syllabus for each course at the beginning of the semester.
• Don’t forget to go over the class schedule for any changes.
• We should go over the presentation one more time for practice.
• I need to go over the essay prompt before starting my research.
• The professor will go over the grading rubric to clarify expectations.
• Before submitting your assignment, always go over it for errors.
• Let’s go over the recommended reading list for the upcoming assignment.
• It’s a good idea to go over the lecture slides after class to reinforce concepts.
• Before the group project meeting, let’s go over our individual tasks.
• Make sure to go over the reference material for the exam.
• During study sessions, students often go over key concepts together.
• Before attending the workshop, I want to go over the topics that will be covered.

How To Use Go Over in Sentences?

To use Go Over effectively in a sentence, you should keep in mind the following tips:

• Definition: The term “Go Over” means to review, examine, or inspect something carefully.

• Example Sentence: “I need to go over my presentation one more time before the meeting.”

• Placement: The phrase “Go Over” is commonly used before a noun (e.g., go over the details) or at the end of a sentence (e.g., I will go over it).

• Usage: When you go over something, you are typically looking at it with more attention to ensure accuracy, understanding, or completeness.

• Other Words/Phrases: You can also use synonyms such as review, check, analyze, or scrutinize in place of “Go Over” to convey a similar meaning.

• Tense: “Go Over” is most commonly used in the present tense (goes over, going over).

• Context: It is important to consider the context in which you are using “Go Over” to ensure it fits appropriately within the sentence.

• Practice: To become more comfortable with using “Go Over” in sentences, try incorporating it into everyday conversations or writing exercises.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can effectively incorporate “Go Over” into your vocabulary and communicate more clearly in both spoken and written English.

Conclusion

In writing or speaking, it is essential to ensure that sentences with “go over” are clear, concise, and impactful. By using this phrase effectively, you can emphasize the act of reviewing, exceeding, or explaining something thoroughly. Whether you are presenting information, discussing a topic, or summarizing key points, incorporating sentences with “go over” helps to convey your message with precision and clarity.

By incorporating sentences with “go over” in your communication, you can engage your audience and ensure that your ideas are effectively conveyed. Remember to focus on the key points you want to emphasize and use this phrase strategically to highlight the importance of thoroughly examining or explaining a subject. This approach will enhance the quality of your writing or speech, making it more compelling and memorable for your audience.