Thursday, June 5, 2014

Go through (something)

When you go through something, you use, consume or finish it. 

1. Newborn infants and babies go through a lot more diapers than older kids because they need to be changed more often. This would only be a point of interest if you were a parent!

2. Do you think you go through a roll of toilet paper quicker or slower than the average person? It also depends on what you use the toilet paper for.

3. I go through about four or five LaserJet printer cartridges a year. When the prints start to get light or get streaks, I know the ink is running out.


4. Imagine how many light bulbs Las Vegas goes through every year… I know they have neon lights… but many hotels still use screw-in light bulbs, especially for their huge signboards. 

5. What household items do you go through a lot quicker than the average household? Is it because you have a big family or because you simply consume a lot of whatever it is? I go through a lot of bananas and oatmeal because I eat that for breakfast every day.

6. Brazilians go through a lot of coconut water… So there is an industry devoted to using the coconut husks. What do people in your country or region go through a lot of?


7. I have been through three Windows laptops in the last five years. I'm not sure if it is because they were made to be broken or if it’s the hot and humid climate where I live. Maybe it's time that I get a MacBook…

8. If you are a professional musician, you may go through a lot of guitar strings. If you are a chocoholic, you no doubt go through a lot of chocolate. Soldiers go through a lot of ammunition (during wartime). Great Dane owners go through a lot more dog food then poodle owners. Also clowns go through a lot more balloons than you and I, unless you are a professional children's party planner.

9. How many sets of tires have you gone through in the last year? Of course, it depends on your mileage and the driving conditions. Formula One racecar drivers go through many sets of tires weekly... or even during one race.

10. I go through a lot of cheap pens because my students always take them home. Do you usually economize on the things you go through a lot of?


3 comments :

  1. I'm learning English as a 2º language and I didn't understand this sentence:
    "7. I have been through three Windows laptops in the last five years."
    My question is: Why is used "been through" instead of "gone through", because in my mind the correct to be used in this case is "gone through".
    Please, clear my mind!
    Thank you

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  2. You are absolutely right... You can say "gone through". You can also say "been through". For the sake of uniformity (and to avoid confusion), maybe I should have used "gone through".

    An interesting observation: The participles "been" and "gone" can often be used interchangeably - especially in the present perfect tense: "Have you been to Spain?" = "Have you gone to Spain?"

    Another interesting thing to consider is that there is also an overlap in Spanish and Portuguese with the verb "to be" and "to go" in the past simple tense. If you speak Spanish or Portuguese you would understand what I am talking about (fui/ fue/ foi, etc).

    So both can be used in this case (example #7). I wrote it unconsciously... And although not consistent with all the other examples, it is a valid possibility.

    I hope that helps! :-)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much! Now I learned something new ;)

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