Definition of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or two particles, such as prepositions or adverbs, that together create a new meaning. They are very common in everyday English and often have idiomatic meanings that differ from the original verb alone.
She gave up smoking last year.
She gave up smoking last year.
She stopped smoking last year.
Here, "gave up" means "stopped," which is different from the verb "give" alone.
Structure of Phrasal Verbs
A phrasal verb consists of a main verb followed by one or two particles. These particles can be prepositions or adverbs, and they change or complete the meaning of the verb.
Common structures include:
- Verb + Adverb (e.g., look up)
- Verb + Preposition (e.g., look after)
- Verb + Adverb + Preposition (e.g., put up with)
Can you look after my cat while I’m away?
Can you look after my cat while I’m away?
Can you take care of my cat while I’m away?
Types of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs can be categorized into three main types:
- Transitive Phrasal Verbs: These take an object.
Example: turn off the light. - Intransitive Phrasal Verbs: These do not take an object.
Example: wake up. - Separable and Inseparable: Some phrasal verbs allow the object to come between the verb and particle (separable), others do not (inseparable).
Please turn off the TV.
Please turn off the TV.
Please switch off the TV.
Meaning Changes
The meaning of a phrasal verb is often different from the original verb. It is important to learn phrasal verbs as whole units because guessing from the verb and particle alone can be misleading.
He put off the meeting until next week.
He put off the meeting until next week.
He postponed the meeting until next week.
Here, "put off" means "postpone," which is different from "put" or "off" separately.
Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Some phrasal verbs are separable, meaning you can place the object between the verb and particle. Others are inseparable, and the object must come after the particle.
For separable phrasal verbs:
| Separable | Example |
|---|---|
| Object can come between verb and particle | She turned the light off / She turned off the light. |
For inseparable phrasal verbs, the object always follows the particle:
| Inseparable | Example |
|---|---|
| Object always comes after the particle | He looked after the kids all day. |
Conjugation and Usage
Phrasal verbs conjugate like regular verbs in English. However, because they are multi-word units, it is important to keep the particles with the verb in all tenses.
| Tense | Example ("give up") |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | I give up easily. |
| Past Simple | She gave up smoking last year. |
| Present Continuous | They are giving up the project. |
| Present Perfect | We have given up trying. |
I am looking up the word in the dictionary.
I am looking up the word in the dictionary.
I am searching for the word in the dictionary.
Practice Examples
Try to understand the meaning of the phrasal verbs in these sentences:
Can you pick up some groceries on your way home?
Can you pick up some groceries on your way home?
Can you buy some groceries on your way home?
They ran into an old friend at the mall.
They ran into an old friend at the mall.
They met an old friend unexpectedly at the mall.
Please fill out the application form carefully.
Please fill out the application form carefully.
Please complete the application form carefully.
We need to call off the meeting because of bad weather.
We need to call off the meeting because of bad weather.
We need to cancel the meeting because of bad weather.
Check if you can identify the phrasal verbs and their meanings.
Tips for Remembering Rules
- Learn phrasal verbs in context rather than individually to understand their meanings better.
- Make flashcards with the phrasal verb, meaning, and example sentences.
- Practice using phrasal verbs in speaking and writing regularly.
- Pay attention to whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable to use it correctly.
- Group phrasal verbs by the particle to notice patterns (e.g., "up" often means improvement or completion).
With regular practice, your understanding and use of phrasal verbs will become natural and fluent.