definition 2 min read

how do you go about

A Definition of 'how do you go about', two example sentences, and a short boundary note distinguishing it from a near-miss phrasing.

A closer look

How do you go about... asks how someone starts or handles a task. The task is named with an -ing word after the verb: go about finding, go about doing.

How do you go about getting a library card? asks for the method, not yes or no.

When the verb that follows takes the -ing form, go about find is wrong; say go about finding, as in How do you go about finding a job in a new city?

It asks how someone starts or handles a task, naming the task with an -ing word: go about finding, go about doing. The question wants a method or the steps someone actually took, not a yes or no answer.

Planning a move to a new city, you might ask a friend who has done it: How do you go about finding an apartment there? You are not asking whether it is possible, you want their method.

At work, a new task arrives and nobody knows where to start: How should we go about organizing the files? The -ing word organizing names the task, and the question asks for a way of tackling it.

A nearby distinction: the verb that follows takes the -ing form, so How do you go about find an apartment? is wrong. Say go about finding. A close lookalike, go over, means to review or examine something, which is a different meaning entirely.

How do you go about getting a library card here?

That question asks for the method, the actual steps, so a useful answer would describe them rather than just say yes.

All articles

definition

how to go about

Miniature dictionary entry for 'how to go about'.

examples

how do we go about

How do we go about booking the venue for the party? This page is a quick guide to what "how do we go about" means, with real example sentences and a note on the -ing verb that follows it. **What it means** *How do we go about...* asks how to start or approach doing something. It works with question frames using *do*, *can* or *should*, and you can add a noun or pronoun object, as in *go about it* or *go about this*. **Example sentences** - How do we go about booking the venue for the party? - How do we go about fixing this? - How do we go about reporting the broken streetlight? - How can we go about solving this problem? (+ -ing verb) - How should we go about it? - How do we go about this? **One thing to watch** Go about is followed by an *-ing* verb, so avoid *How do we go about fix this?* Say *How do we go about fixing this?* instead. **Quick check** Complete the sentence: How do we go about ______ the broken printer? - Good answer: *fixing* ; the -ing verb follows go about. - Wrong answer: *fix* ; a plain verb doesn't fit here; go about needs the -ing form. Want to keep going with phrasal verbs? Try our guide to *get around* next.

definition

how can we use

Dictionary-style answer with two short examples

definition

does meaning with example

Does is the form of the verb do that you use when one other person or thing is the subject, in the present tense. Instead of I do or they do, you say he does, she does, or it does. [0][6][9]

definition

what does if you will mean

definition

what is used to be

Define the requested sense in one or two sentences.