In this mini episode, you will learn a surprising way to use the word “go.”
Episode 306 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you a surprising way to use the word “go.” Send your questions about English and your suggestions to EverybodyESL@gmail.com! (And let me know if you’d like to record the introduction to a future episode.)
Intro
“Hi, everybody! This is Kirsten, from China. And you are listening to Everybody ESL.”
Welcome to episode 306 of Everybody ESL, the podcast for everybody who wants to improve their English, practice their English, or just learn more English. My name is Ben, and I have a mini episode for you today, where I am going to teach you about one English topic. You can subscribe to the Everybody ESL podcast at Apple podcasts, on the Stitcher app, and wherever you find your podcasts. If you like Everybody ESL, leave it a good review so other people can find out about it too. And if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me, please send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. Okay! Let’s get on with this mini episode.
The episode
In this episode, I am going to teach you a very surprising way that we can use a very common word. The word is go. Go, g-o. This is a very common word in English, and sometimes people use it in a strange way.
Have you ever heard anyone use the word go—or went, which is the past tense of the word go—to mean “say”?
It sounds a little bit strange, doesn’t it? But this is a very common way to use go in casual conversation. I don’t think you will ever see this in written English. You will certainly never see this in formal English. But in everyday casual conversation, it is very common.
Let me give you an example of what this can sound like. Imagine that you have a coworker who is often late. And one day your coworker says this to you:
“I was sitting at my desk, and the boss walked up to my desk. And then he went, ‘Why were you late today?’ And then I went, ‘There was a problem with my bus. That’s why I was late.’ And then the boss, he went, ‘You need to be on time every day.’ And then I went, ‘Yes, I know. I’m sorry. I understand.’”
Did you hear that? Did it sound strange to you to hear the word went used to mean “said”? I think you will hear this more often with younger English speakers. But it is not only younger speakers who use go—or went—in this way.
There is another way that we use go or went that is very similar. We can also use it to mean “to make a certain sound.”
Here is an example of go used in that way:
“I was sitting in my house when the wind made the door go slam!” I was sitting in my house when the wind made the door go slam.
And that means “I was sitting in my house when the wind closed the door, and the door made that sound.” The door made that sound: slam! I was sitting in my house when the wind made the door go slam. So the wind caused the door to make that sound.
This is a very informal and natural way to use the word go, and I think it’s something you should know.
Outro
This is the end of episode 306 of Everybody ESL. Remember: if you have questions about English, or if you have comments for me, or if you are interested in private lessons, or if you would like to record an introduction that I can play at the beginning of future episodes—the same way Kirsten recorded the introduction you heard at the beginning of this episode—send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. I’ll be back soon with a new episode. And until then, keep going, keep practicing, and keep learning. I’ll see you soon. Goodbye!