Come Down, Go Ahead, Go Up ✨Most Common Phrasal Verbs (31-33)

Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer from English with  Jennifer. Let's start with a quiz to review  

some of the phrasal verbs we covered in earlier  lessons. Ready? I'll ask you ten questions.

One. When you pick up a new word or phrase,  

does that mean you learn it directly from a  clear explanation or indirectly from context?

Indirectly.

Two. If a problem comes up, does that mean  it happens, it gets worse, or it ends?

It happens. It arises.

Three. Does going out of business  mean that sales have been really good  

or sales have been really bad?

Sales have been really bad. To  go out of business means you stop  

operating because you can't  run your business anymore.

Four. Before I film a new video, do I set  up my equipment or turn out my equipment?

I set it up. I assemble everything,  and I get it ready for use.

Five. If you take on responsibility, does  that mean you accept it or reject it?

You accept it. Taking something  on means you handle it.

Six. In one of my live streams,  I shared an original story.  

I wrote it, so did I give it up or make it up?

I made it up. I created the  story. I used my imagination.

Seven. If you figure something out, does  it confuse you or do you understand it?

You understand it. To figure out a  problem means you arrive at the answer.

Eight. When you take out money from your bank  account, is that a withdrawal or a deposit?

A withdrawal. To take something out  means you obtain it. You get it.

Nine. If crime goes down in  a city, is that good or bad?

It's good. It means the  number of crimes decreased.

Ten. If you take a day off from work,  does that mean you work more or less?

Less. When you take a day off from work,  

you spend time away from your job, so  you can relax or do something else.

How did you do? Let me remind you what's important.  Your success with phrasal verbs comes down to  

one thing: practice. I'm not saying how much  you practice decides everything. I'm saying how  

you practice is a key factor. You can study long  lists of phrasal verbs and work with flashcards  

for 20 or 30 minutes every day. That doesn't mean  you'll actually be ready to understand and use  

those phrasal verbs in real life situations. It's  better to focus on a short list of phrasal verbs  

and then make time to review. That's why I'm  presenting only three phrasal verbs at a time.  

Go ahead and make flashcards if  that study tool works for you,  

but don't just memorize definitions. Take the  time to learn the possible meanings of a single  

phrasal verb and the grammar it requires. Is  the phrasal verb transitive or intransitive?  

Meaning, does it take an object? If  it takes an object, is it separable?  

Lastly, pay attention to the context or contexts  in which a phrasal verb is used. Your accuracy  

with phrasal verbs will go up if you understand  when it's appropriate to use them. Right now it's  

time to learn three of the most common phrasal  verbs in English: come down, go ahead, go up.  

"Come down" is an intransitive phrasal verb. The  simple meaning is to move from a higher place  

to a lower one, or it could be a geographical  location, moving from north to south.  

The rain came down hard last night,  meaning it poured down from the sky.

Our friends came down from Montreal to  visit us. They visit Boston once a year.

Another common intransitive meaning of this  phrasal verb is similar to "go down." In 2020,  

gas prices in the U.S went down. People  were happy. Then the prices went up in 2021.  

The question is, "Will the prices  come down again?" Will they decrease?

When we use "come down to," we need an object.  Like this, the phrasal verb isn't separable,  

but what does it mean? Think of politics and  elections. People listen to views, policies,  

and promises, but often it comes down  to whether voters like a candidate  

or not. So it comes down to character.  If an election comes down to character,  

does that mean that character is one of many  factors or character is the deciding factor?

The deciding factor. When it comes down to  something, that something is what's most  

important. We're reducing a complex  matter to the most essential thing.

In conversation, you may hear a pronoun used and  then a longer explanation. It comes down to this.

Well, it comes down to this. You want  to be human in the eyes of the law.  

We also use "when it comes down to it" as a way  to focus a statement on what's most essential.  

Answer this question in the  comments. When it comes down to it,  

what do you want out of life? Or when it comes  down to it, what do you want most out of life?

"Go ahead" is intransitive. What does it  mean? Go ahead. I'll see you down there.  

Is the older man the father telling  his son to wait or go without him?

Go without him. "Go ahead" means "proceed."  

"Go ahead" can mean to proceed to a  place. You don't wait for someone.  

It's often said to give permission to someone  to leave you behind. Go ahead without me.  

Go ahead. I'll see you later. A variation  is, "You go on ahead. I'll come a bit later."

"Go ahead" can be said as an invitation  or permission to do something. Take a  

look. Go ahead. Don't be shy. Go ahead.  Don't be shy. Go ahead. Help yourself.

Please do. Go right ahead. These are all things  we might say in conversation. By the way, you  

may know Clint Eastwood's famous line with this  phrasal verb. If you do, put it in the comments.

Note that we can tag on another  verb to say what you actually do.  

For example: Go ahead and  choose. Go ahead and ask.  

Here's a question. If your friend is away from  the table when it's time to order at a restaurant,  

would you go ahead and order for them?  Tell me your answer in the comments.

"Go up" is intransitive and it means to rise  or increase. We already saw one example when I  

talked about gas prices. In 2020, gas prices went  down. Then they went up in 2021. What else can go  

up? The unemployment rate, productivity,  approval ratings, customer satisfaction.

"Go up" can also mean that you physically move  upwards. Here's a question. Would you go up  

three flights of stairs or use the elevator if  one were available? Tell me in the comments.

Another common meaning of "go  up" in everyday spoken English  

is to approach. You can go up to a  movie star and ask for an autograph.  

You can go up to a digital kiosk and use the  touch screen to order food in some restaurants.  

Notice how we use the preposition "to":  go up to someone, go up to something.

Here's a final meaning I'll share.  A cheer went up from the crowd.

What do you think happened and why?

If a cheer or chant goes up from a  group or crowd of people, it arises. It  

builds, and then it's shouted. A cheer  goes up after a goal at a sports game  

or when the band takes the stage  and performs their first song.

In this lesson we studied the phrasal verbs COME  DOWN, GO AHEAD, and GO UP. So go ahead and review  

as needed. I'll continue to add more lessons and,  hopefully, the series will go up to number 150  

on the list of the most common phrasal verbs in  English. It all comes down to time, and I don't  

have much of that, but I'll continue to do my  best. Will you do the same? I hope so. Please  

like the video if you found the lesson useful.  As always, thanks for watching and happy studies!

Hey everyone! Did you know that you  can join and become my YouTube member?  

It's only one dollar a month. You get  practice tasks two times a week as well  

as an exclusive playlist of recorded live  streams and all my audio gifs on Emojam.

I'd like to say a special thank  you to two Kind-Hearted Patrons,  

Mayela and Mokha pledged two  dollars a month. Thank you!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and  Instagram. Why not join me on Patreon?  

And don't forget to subscribe on YouTube.