wouldn't 'go ahead' work jsut as well as 'go on'?

[Lotuss]

English Error, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #22 "Read before you sign", question 7

A. Oh that's nothing. It just says what you have to do. Just sign it. Go off.

(a) nothing
(b) it
(c) off

English Error, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #22 "Read before you sign", answer 7

A. Oh that's nothing. It just says what you have to do. Just sign it. Go on.

Correct entry: on
The error was: (c) off

You have found the error but your entry is incorrect.
A. Oh that's nothing. It just says what you have to do. Just sign it. Go ahead.
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wouldn't 'go ahead' work jsut as well as 'go on'?

Lotuss

[Yankee]

Yes, 'Go ahead' would also work there.
.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Alan]

Hi English Learner,

There is a slight difference between 'go on' and 'go ahead' particularly in the test sentence. In that sentence the speaker is anxious for the other person to finish the paperwork and sign and in that sense 'Go on' is a strong encouragement to do so - in the sense of: Don't waste any more time - just do it. 'Go ahead' is often used when you are giving permission to someone to do something or simply to proceed - there isn't necessarily this sense of pushing someone to do something.

A I just wanted to say - em well, you see.
B Go ahead -I'm listening.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Yankee]

.
There is also a very well-known usage of 'Go ahead' as a very strong dare to do something: