Go on vs I wanted to go further

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Go on

Top 1,000 (very common)

I wanted to go further

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Go on
 Go onI wanted to go further
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ɡəʊ ɒn//🇺🇸 //ɡoʊ ɑn//🇬🇧 //ˈfɜːθə//🇺🇸 //ˈfɜrðər//
Meaningto continue doing somethingI wanted to go more ahead.
ExamplePlease go on with your story.I wanted to go further and explore more of the park.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
Collocationsgo on talking, go on with life, go on a trip, go on a mission, go on stagego further in learning, want to go further, continue to go further, decide to go further, try to go further
Antonymsstop, cease, halt-
Common mistakesUsing 'go on' with a direct object incorrectly., Confusing with 'go on with' — which has a different meaning., Incorrect use of verb forms after 'go on.'Confusing with 'farther' which is often used for physical distances., Using 'further' incorrectly in place of 'farther' when referring to actual distance.
Usage notesUsed in both spoken and written English. Avoid in very formal contexts. Common in informal conversations.Used to express a desire to continue or advance. Often appropriate in discussions about goals or plans.

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Go on
I wanted to go further

Frequently asked questions: Go on vs I wanted to go further

What's the difference between Go on and I wanted to go further?

Go on: to continue doing something I wanted to go further: I wanted to go more ahead.

Which is more common: Go on and I wanted to go further?

Go on is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Go on: Please go on with your story. I wanted to go further: I wanted to go further and explore more of the park.

Can I use Go on and I wanted to go further interchangeably?

Not always. Go on and I wanted to go further are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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