What Does “Go off with sb” Mean?
“Go off with sb” means to leave a place together with someone, often secretly or suddenly.
Introduction
The phrase “Go off with sb” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the action of leaving somewhere accompanied by another person. It often implies leaving quickly, sometimes without permission or quietly. Understanding the “Go off with sb meaning” helps learners use it in different contexts, such as storytelling or everyday conversations. This phrase can suggest anything from going away for a short time to running away together. It is useful for describing situations involving movement with someone else, making your English more natural and expressive.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Go off with somebody
- Type: Intransitive (with preposition)
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To leave a place together with someone, often suddenly or secretly
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Go off with sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot separate “go off” and “with sb”.
Patterns:
- Subject + go off + with + somebody
- Example: They went off with their friends after the party.
How to Use “Go off with sb”?
You use “go off with sb” to describe leaving a place accompanied by another person. It often implies a sense of secrecy or suddenness but can also be neutral depending on context. This phrase fits well in stories, casual conversations, and descriptions of events involving two or more people leaving together.
Examples
Imagine you are telling a story about a party. You might say:
- After the party, Sarah went off with Tom to a quiet café.
- The children went off with their grandparents for the weekend.
- He suddenly went off with his best friend without saying goodbye.
- She went off with the stolen goods before the police arrived.
- The couple went off with no one noticing.
These sentences show how “Go off with sb in a sentence” can describe different situations.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse “go off with sb” with other phrasal verbs or use incorrect word order. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: She went with off him.
Correct: She went off with him. - Incorrect: They go off him with.
Correct: They go off with him. - Incorrect: He went off to with her.
Correct: He went off with her.
Remember, “go off” and “with sb” must stay together in this order.
Differences / Synonyms
“Go off with sb” is similar to “leave with sb” or “run off with sb,” but each has its nuances.
- Leave with sb: Neutral, simply means going away together.
- Run off with sb: Implies escaping, often secretly or suddenly, sometimes with negative connotations.
- Go off with sb: Can be neutral or imply secrecy or suddenness, depending on context.
For example, “run off with sb” often suggests a more dramatic or secretive action than “go off with sb.”
Common Collocations
Here are common objects or contexts used with “go off with sb”:
- Go off with a friend: Leave together casually.
- Go off with someone secretly: Emphasizes secrecy.
- Go off with stolen goods: Suggests taking something illegally.
- Go off with a partner: Implies leaving together in a romantic or personal context.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of go off with sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “go off with sb”:
Anna: Where did John go?
Mark: He went off with Lisa right after the meeting.
Anna: Oh, I didn’t see them leave.
Mark: Yeah, they left quietly.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “go off with sb”:
- Yesterday, they _______ _______ their friends to the park.
- She suddenly _______ _______ her brother after dinner.
- Did you see who he _______ _______ after the concert?
FAQs
- Q: Is “go off with sb” formal or informal?
A: It is informal and commonly used in everyday English. - Q: Can “go off with sb” mean running away?
A: Yes, sometimes it implies running away together, often secretly. - Q: Is “go off with sb” separable?
A: No, it is inseparable; you cannot separate “go off” and “with sb.” - Q: Can “go off with sb” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, e.g., “They went off with their friends.” - Q: What is the difference between “go off with sb” and “run off with sb”?
A: “Run off with sb” usually suggests a more secretive or sudden escape than “go off with sb.”
