Phrasal Verbs
Introduction
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language, combining verbs with particles (usually prepositions or adverbs) to create new meanings. These constructions can often be idiomatic, meaning their meanings aren't always obvious from the individual words. Phrasal verbs are widely used in both spoken and written English, making them crucial for effective communication.
Structure of Phrasal Verbs
A phrasal verb consists of two main components:
- Verb: The base word that carries the main action or meaning.
- Particle: A preposition or adverb that modifies the meaning of the verb.
Examples and Meanings
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Give up | To quit or stop doing something | She decided to give up smoking. |
| Look after | To take care of someone or something | Can you look after the kids tonight? |
| Break down | To stop working (often for machines) | My car broke down on the highway. |
| Turn off | To switch off a device or appliance | Please turn off the lights when you leave. |
| Find out | To discover or learn information | I need to find out what happened. |
| Set up | To arrange or establish something | They set up a new business last year. |
| Take off | To remove something (especially clothing) or to leave the ground (for planes) | He took off his jacket. The plane took off at noon. |
| Run out of | To exhaust the supply of something | We've run out of milk. |
| Put on | To dress in or wear something | She put on a beautiful dress. |
| Call off | To cancel something | The meeting was called off due to the storm. |
Common Phrasal Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Back up | To support or reinforce | Can you back up my story? |
| Blow up | To explode or become very angry | The bomb blew up unexpectedly. |
| Break up | To end a relationship | They broke up last year. |
| Carry on | To continue doing something | Carry on with your work. |
| Come across | To find or meet by chance | I came across an old friend yesterday. |
| Cut down | To reduce something | I need to cut down on sugar. |
| Drop off | To deliver someone or something | I’ll drop off the package at your house. |
| Get along | To have a good relationship | They get along well with each other. |
| Get over | To recover from something (an illness or disappointment) | She got over the flu quickly. |
| Give in | To reluctantly stop resisting | He finally gave in to their demands. |
| Go on | To continue | Please go on with your story. |
| Hang out | To spend time relaxing (informally) | Do you want to hang out this weekend? |
| Hold on | To wait or pause | Hold on a minute, I’ll be right back. |
| Look into | To investigate or examine | I’ll look into the matter and get back to you. |
| Make up | To invent or create (often a story or excuse) | She made up an excuse for being late. |
| Pass out | To faint or lose consciousness | He passed out from the heat. |
| Pick up | To lift something or to collect someone | Can you pick up the kids from school? |
| Point out | To highlight or indicate something | She pointed out the mistake in the report. |
| Put off | To postpone or delay | Don’t put off your homework until the last minute. |
| Show up | To appear or arrive | He showed up late to the meeting. |
| Take after | To resemble a family member | She takes after her mother in looks and behavior. |
| Turn around | To change direction or reverse a situation | The company turned around its losses last year. |
| Work out | To exercise or to solve a problem | I work out every morning. We need to work out this issue. |
| Zoom in | To focus closely or magnify | Zoom in on the details in the photograph. |
Tips for Learning Phrasal Verbs
- Context is Key: Phrasal verbs often have idiomatic meanings, so understanding them in context is crucial.
- Practice Regularly: Use phrasal verbs in sentences to become more familiar with their meanings and usage.
- Create Flashcards: This can help you memorize common phrasal verbs and their meanings.
- Group by Particle: Many phrasal verbs share similar meanings when they use the same particle (e.g., "up" often implies completion or intensification).
- Listen and Read: Pay attention to how native speakers use phrasal verbs in conversations, movies, books, and articles.
Note
Phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable:
- Separable: The object can come between the verb and the particle.
- Example: "Turn off the light" or "Turn the light off."
- Inseparable: The object must follow the phrasal verb.
- Example: "Look after the children."
Conclusion
Phrasal verbs are a dynamic and flexible part of English, often carrying meanings that are more nuanced or entirely different from the individual words that compose them. By learning and practicing phrasal verbs, you can enhance your fluency and express yourself more naturally in English.