go past

USAGE SUMMARY

"go past" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of passing or moving beyond something or someplace. For example, "We drove past the old factory, and I saw it had been repurposed into an art gallery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I go past golf courses.

The New Yorker

There's another one to go past".

The Guardian - Sport

That was the strategy, just go past guys.

Independent

"Trucks carrying rice go past and don't stop.

Independent

He can go past players and commit people.

The Guardian - Sport

The England cricket team's about to go past".

The Guardian

"Go past that, and you'll lose them.

Science Magazine

"He can go past people as if they're not there.

BBC

Liam had ability to go past people on the pitch.

BBC

"He can go past players with or without the ball.

BBC

"We didn't think it'd go past 13.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing directions, use "go past" to clearly indicate moving beyond a specific landmark: "Go past the library, then turn right."

Common error

Avoid using "go past" when "bypass" is more appropriate. "Bypass" implies avoiding something entirely, while "go past" means moving alongside or beyond it. For example, "bypass the city center" instead of "go past the city center" if you are avoiding the city center.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "go past" is a verb phrase indicating movement beyond a certain point or boundary. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment that it is a correctly used phrase, as seen in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

21%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "go past" is a versatile verb phrase used to indicate movement beyond a specific point or limit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and appears frequently across various contexts, including news, academic writing, and general instructions. While similar phrases like "pass by" and "move beyond" exist, it's crucial to differentiate "go past" from "bypass", which implies avoidance rather than movement alongside. Remember to use "go past" when giving directions or describing journeys and avoid overuse in highly formal contexts, where more sophisticated alternatives might be preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pass by

Emphasizes a brief or casual movement alongside something.

go beyond

Highlights the act of exceeding expectations or established boundaries.

move beyond

Suggests a transition to a different stage or condition.

surpass

Implies exceeding or outdoing something in terms of achievement or quality.

exceed

Focuses on going beyond a specified limit or amount.

overstep

Indicates violating or crossing a boundary or limit, often in a negative context.

transcend

Suggests rising above or going beyond the limitations of something.

travel by

Describes the action of moving alongside something during a journey.

leave behind

Implies moving away from something, often in the context of progress or abandonment.

outstrip

Suggests surpassing in speed or progress.

FAQs

How can I use "go past" in a sentence?

You can use "go past" to describe movement beyond a specific point. For instance, "The train will "go past" several small towns on its way to the city."

What's a good alternative to "go past"?

Alternatives include "pass by", "move beyond", or "surpass", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "went past" instead of "go past"?

Yes, "went past" is the past tense of "go past" and is perfectly correct when referring to a past action.

What's the difference between "go past" and "get past"?

"Go past" refers to physical movement beyond a point, while "get past" often implies overcoming a difficulty or obstacle.