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Meaning trap

go over

explain or examine in detail

To discuss or explain something step by step, often so that everyone understands.

phrasal verbB2common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

explain or examine in detail

To discuss or explain something step by step, often so that everyone understands.

go over (review carefully)

Another meaning of 'go over' is 'review carefully'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

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Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • Let me go over the instructions so everyone knows what to do.work
  • In my last job, my manager would always go over the weekly tasks with the team to make sure we understood our responsibilities.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: go over + noun

WrongCan you go over with the plan again?

RightCan you go over the plan again?

'Go over + thing' directly — no 'with'.

Patterngo over + noun

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff Let us examine the procedure in a step-by-step manner.

Natural Let's go over the steps one by one.

'Go over' is the everyday verb for walking through something. The formal version is textbook-y.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • go over + material
    the planthe detailsthe figuresit again

Don't confuse it

Different from 'go over' meaning to review; here, it means to explain or discuss in detail.

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