PHRASAL VERBS

PHRASAL VERBS

UNIT 6 PCA 2

A phrasal verb is a verb + a particle (preposition or adverb). The same verb may be used with a number of different particles. The meaning of the verb changes each time: Look out! (= be careful) I've been looking for you all morning! (= trying to find) I'll look it up on the computer. (= try to find information)

There are some verbs that are often followed by prepositions. The meaning of the verb isn't changed. It is believed that chess originally comes from India. Other verb + preposition combinations have an idiomatic meaning. You cannot predict the meaning from the meanings of the verb and the particle.

Verb + adverb combinations almost always have an idiomatic meaning.

I had to give up tennis after I injured my elbow. (give up = stop doing)

VERB + ADVERB

Verb + adverb combinations can be transitive or intransitive. Intransitive phrasal verbs do not have an object. She grew up in Los Angeles.

They can describe actions or states:

• Shut up!
• I got up late.
• He slept on through all the noise.

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Transitive phrasal verbs are separable phrasal verbs. We can put the object after the adverb or before it, with no difference in meaning.

Can you turn the TV down? = Can you turn down the TV?

Common separable phrasal verbs include: bring out, call off, drop off, give up, look up, make up, pass around, pick up, put across, put out.

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However, when the object is a pronoun, we always put it before the adverb. Can you call me back later? (not: Can you call back- me later?)

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Other verbs like this include: bring round, call (someone) over, invite out, talk (someone) round, tell (two or more things) apart.

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With inseparable phrasal verbs, the object must go after the particle. It cannot go between the verb and the particle.

Common inseparable phrasal verbs include: call for, come after, count on, get over, go into, look after, look for, look through, make of, run after, side with.

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VERB + PREPOSITION

Verb + preposition combinations always have an object. They are inseparable phrasal verbs. We always put the object, including pronouns, after the preposition. It took two months for me to get over the injury. = It took me two months to get over it.

VERB + ADVERB + PREPOSITION

Three-part phrasal verbs are made up of a verb + adverb + preposition. We always put an object after the preposition. He doesn't get along with some of his colleagues.

All three-part phrasal verbs are transitive, i.e. they have an object. When the verb has only one object, the object comes after the second particle: They soon got on with their work.

I think you stood up to him very well. Other verbs that follow this pattern include: come up with, come down with, face up to, get away with, get down to, go through with, live up to, look up to.

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A small number of three-part phrasal verbs take two objects. We put the first object after the verb, and the second object after the preposition. I've decided to take you up on the job offer.

Other verbs that follow this pattern include: put (something) down to (something), put (somebody) up to (something), talk (somebody) round to (something).

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thanks!