PHRASAL VERBS in english

Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of: verb + adverb verb + preposition verb+ adverb + preposition. It can have a literal meaning easy to understand. It can also have an idiomatic meaning: E.g. 'give up' is a phrasal verb that means 'stop doing' something, which is very different from 'give'.

Examples: run into, ran away, gang up, gear up, back up, back off, see through, see about, send off, settle down, settle for, show through, show up, tag along, take on, talk into, talk out of, talk back, tone down, touch up, top off, turn up, etc.

Phrasal verbs with verb + adverb are called “particle verbs”. Phrasal verbs with verb + preposition are called “prepositional verbs”. Prepositional verbs with two prepositions are possible: e.g. We talked to the minister about the crisis.

Types Of Phrasal Verbs: There are four basic types of phrasal verbs: Verb + particle Verb + particle + object/ verb + object+ particle Verb + particle + object (verb + particle inseparable) Verb + particle + preposition+ object (verb inseparable from particle and preposition) 1. Verb + particle  e.g. look out! (= be careful); We set off on our journey (=started)

2. Phrasal verb with an object either after the particle or between the verb and particle: 2a) Verb + object + particle  e.g. I’ll throw the rubbish away. Take your shoes off. 2b) Verb + particle + object  e.g. I’ll throw away the rubbish. Take off your shoes. Note: When object is a pronoun, e.g. them, it can only go before the particle, not after it. e.g. I’ll throw it away (NOT: I’ll throw away it.) Take them off (NOT: Take off them.)

Phrasal verb with object, but verb and particle inseparable: Verb + particle + object e.g. She takes after her mother. (Not: She takes her mother after.) Looking after a baby is hard work. (NOT: Looking a baby after is hard work.)

Phrasal verbs with three parts: verb+ particle+ preposition. In this case, the verb cannot be separated from the other parts. Verb + particle + preposition + object e.g. I’m looking forward to the weekend. You go now, I’ll catch up with you later. Going back on promises is not a good habit.

Phrasal verbs can be: 1. Intransitive (cannot be followed by an object) e.g. He suddenly showed up. “show up” cannot take an object. 2. Transitive (followed by object) e.g. I made up the story. "story" is the object of "make up"

Phrasal verbs Meaning Examples intransitive Phrasal verbs transitive Direct object intransitive Phrasal verbs 1.Get up Rise from bed I don’t like to get up early. 2. Break down Cease to function/ not function He was late as his car broke down. transitive Put off Postpone We will have to put off the meeting. Turn down refuse They turned down my offer.

Transitive phrasal verbs are separable subject verb object particle Separable Phrasal Verbs: When phrasal verbs are transitive (that is, they have a direct object), we can usually separate the two parts. For example, "turn down" is a separable phrasal verb. We can say: "turn down my offer" or "turn my offer down" Transitive phrasal verbs are separable subject verb object particle They turned down my offer. my offer down.

Ali switched on the radio. the radio on. it it. However, if the direct object is a pronoun, we must separate the phrasal verb and insert the pronoun between the two parts: Direct object pronouns must go between the two parts of transitive phrasal verbs Ali switched on the radio. the radio on. it it.

Phrasal verbs have a literal and an idiomatic meaning: Verb and Adverb (run + around) to run around (something) - to run in a circle around something (literal) e.g. The dog ran around the fire hydrant. to run around (somewhere) - to go to various places to do something (idiomatic/figurative) e.g. I spent the day running around town.

Verb and a Preposition (run + into) to run into (someone or something) - to hit or crash into someone or something (literal) e.g. The car ran into the truck on the busy street. to run into (someone) - to meet someone by chance (idiomatic/figurative) e.g. I ran into my friend in a restaurant yesterday.

Verb and Adverb and Preposition (run + along/around + with) to run along with (someone or something) - to run beside or at the same pace as someone or something (literal) e.g. The dog ran along with the bicycle. to run around with (someone) - to be friends and do things with someone or with a group (idiomatic/ figurative) e.g. The boy is running around with a bad group of people.

Phrasal Verbs Exercises

1. Identify the placement of verb, particle and object in the following sentences. 1. I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car. 2. I ran into an old friend yesterday. 3. They are looking into the problem. 4. She looked the phone number up. 5. I looked up the number in the phone book. 6. I looked it up in the phone book. 7. Cheer up!

break out, break down, get up, switch on, 2. Complete the sentences using the correct form of phrasal verbs. Use each phrasal verb only once. break out, break down, get up, switch on, ring up, turn down 1. I have to speak to Mr. Mason. I’d better________ up. 2. Do you like ______________early in the mornings? 3. Could you _____________________ the light? 4. The lift has _______and isn’t working at the moment. 5. A fire ______in the offices of ABC cinema last night. 6. That music s rather loud. Can you ____________ it?

3. Replace the underlined words with the correct form of phrasal verbs. Come into, run into, come up with, look back on, go into, 1. We’ve examined the problem very carefully. 2. Jane inherited a great deal of money when her grandmother died. 3. I met an old friend by chance in town yesterday afternoon. 4. When you remember the past, it’s easy to see the mistakes you’ve made. 5. We must try to find a solution to the problem.

Relevant links/ sources: http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/phrasaldictionary.html http://www.englishclub.com/ref/Phrasal_Verbs/index.htm http://www.idiomsite.com/ http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/ phrasal-verbs/g.html Saadat Ali Shah. Exploring the World of English. Chapters 1-6.

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