Phrasal verbs are a cornerstone of the English language, enriching communication with nuance and depth. They are essential for both understanding and expressing oneself fluently in English.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to phrasal verbs, covering their definition, structure, types, usage rules, common mistakes, and advanced topics. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to master phrasal verbs and enhance your English proficiency.
Definition of Phrasal Verbs
A phrasal verb is a verb that is made up of a main verb together with an adverb or a preposition, or both. The adverb or preposition that follows the verb is called a particle. The meaning of a phrasal verb is usually different from the meaning of its separate parts. In other words, you cannot guess the meaning of a phrasal verb by simply understanding the meanings of the verb and the particle individually.
Classification of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs can be classified based on their transitivity (whether they take an object) and separability (whether the verb and particle can be separated by the object).
Function of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs add color and informality to the English language. They are frequently used in spoken English and informal writing.
Mastering phrasal verbs is crucial for achieving fluency and understanding native speakers.
Contexts of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs appear in various contexts, including everyday conversations, academic writing (though less frequently), and technical manuals. Being familiar with a wide range of phrasal verbs allows you to adapt to different communication styles.
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure of a phrasal verb is: Verb + Particle (Adverb or Preposition).
Verb + Adverb
In this type, the particle modifies the verb, often indicating direction or state. For example, “calm down” (verb: calm, adverb: down).
Verb + Preposition
Here, the particle functions as a preposition, linking the verb to an object. For example, “look after” (verb: look, preposition: after).
Verb + Adverb + Preposition
Some phrasal verbs include both an adverb and a preposition. For example, “look forward to” (verb: look, adverb: forward, preposition: to).
Separability
Separable phrasal verbs allow the object to be placed between the verb and the particle. For example, “turn on the light” or “turn the light on.” Inseparable phrasal verbs do not allow this separation; the object must follow the particle. For example, “look after the children” (not “look the children after”).
Transitivity
Transitive phrasal verbs take a direct object. For example, “take off your shoes.” Intransitive phrasal verbs do not take a direct object. For example, “break down.”
Types or Categories of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs can be categorized based on their transitivity and separability, as well as by the type of particle used.
Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs
These verbs take a direct object, and the object can be placed between the verb and the particle. Examples include: turn on, pick up, put off.
Transitive Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
These verbs also take a direct object, but the object must follow the particle. Examples include: look after, run into, get through.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
These verbs do not take a direct object. Examples include: break down, give up, show up.
Phrasal Verbs with Prepositions
These verbs always take a preposition. Examples include: look forward to, get along with, put up with.
Phrasal Verbs with Adverbs
These verbs usually take adverbs, modifying the verb’s action. Examples include: calm down, speed up, slow down.
Examples of Phrasal Verbs
Examples of Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs
The following table provides examples of transitive separable phrasal verbs. Note how the object can be placed between the verb and the particle.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Turn on | Activate | Please turn on the light. / Please turn the light on. |
| Pick up | Collect | I’ll pick up the kids after school. / I’ll pick the kids up after school. |
| Put off | Postpone | Don’t put off your homework. / Don’t put your homework off. |
| Take off | Remove | Take off your shoes before entering. / Take your shoes off before entering. |
| Look up | Search for information | You can look up the word in the dictionary. / You can look the word up in the dictionary. |
| Fill out | Complete | Please fill out this form. / Please fill this form out. |
| Throw away | Discard | Throw away the trash. / Throw the trash away. |
| Turn down | Reject | They turned down our offer. / They turned our offer down. |
| Call off | Cancel | They called off the meeting. / They called the meeting off. |
| Figure out | Understand | I need to figure out this problem. / I need to figure this problem out. |
| Hand in | Submit | Hand in your assignments on time. / Hand your assignments in on time. |
| Try on | Test fit | Try on the shirt before buying it. / Try the shirt on before buying it. |
| Switch on | Activate | Switch on the television. / Switch the television on. |
| Put on | Wear | Put on your coat. / Put your coat on. |
| Take back | Return | Take back the defective product. / Take the defective product back. |
| Bring up | Raise a topic | Don’t bring up that issue. / Don’t bring that issue up. |
| Clean up | Tidy | Clean up your room. / Clean your room up. |
| Tear up | Rip | Tear up the document. / Tear the document up. |
| Eat up | Consume | Eat up your dinner. / Eat your dinner up. |
| Blow up | Inflate | Blow up the balloons. / Blow the balloons up. |
| Use up | Consume entirely | We used up all the milk. / We used all the milk up. |
| Wear out | Make tired | The long walk wore me out. / The long walk wore me out. |
| Write down | Record | Write down the address. / Write the address down. |
| Pay back | Repay | Pay back the money you borrowed. / Pay the money you borrowed back. |
| Set up | Establish | Set up the equipment. / Set the equipment up. |
| Save up | Accumulate | Save up some money for a rainy day. / Save some money up for a rainy day. |
| Look over | Examine | Look over the contract carefully. / Look the contract over carefully. |
Examples of Transitive Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
These phrasal verbs require the object to follow the particle.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Look after | Take care of | She looks after her younger brother. |
| Run into | Meet unexpectedly | I ran into an old friend at the store. |
| Get through | Complete | I finally got through the book. |
| Look into | Investigate | The police are looking into the crime. |
| Deal with | Handle | I can’t deal with this problem right now. |
| Listen to | Pay attention | Please listen to the instructions carefully. |
| Believe in | Have faith | Do you believe in ghosts? |
| Wait for | Await | We need to wait for the bus. |
| Search for | Seek | I’m searching for my keys. |
| Care for | Like | I don’t care for spicy food. |
| Refer to | Mention | The speaker referred to the recent events. |
| Result in | Cause | The accident resulted in several injuries. |
| Complain about | Grumble | He always complains about the weather. |
| Depend on | Rely on | You can depend on me. |
| Succeed in | Achieve | She succeeded in passing the exam. |
| Insist on | Demand | He insisted on paying the bill. |
| Approve of | Endorse | My parents don’t approve of my lifestyle. |
| Participate in | Join | I want to participate in the competition. |
| Concentrate on | Focus on | You need to concentrate on your studies. |
| Count on | Rely on | You can always count on your friends. |
| Get over | Recover from | It took me a while to get over the flu. |
| Give in | Surrender | The rebels finally gave in to the government. |
| Cut down on | Reduce | I’m trying to cut down on sugar. |
| Look up to | Admire | I look up to my grandfather. |
| Put up with | Tolerate | I can’t put up with his behavior anymore. |
| Get away with | Avoid punishment | He got away with cheating on the test. |
| Come down with | Become ill | I think I’m coming down with a cold. |
Examples of Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
These phrasal verbs do not take a direct object.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Break down | Stop functioning | The car broke down on the highway. |
| Give up | Stop trying | Don’t give up on your dreams. |
| Show up | Arrive | He didn’t show up to the meeting. |
| Get up | Rise from bed | I get up early every morning. |
| Grow up | Mature | She grew up in a small town. |
| Pass away | Die | My grandfather passed away last year. |
| Set off | Begin a journey | We set off early to avoid traffic. |
| Take off | Leave | The plane will take off in 15 minutes. |
| Turn up | Appear | The missing keys turned up in the drawer. |
| Run out | Be exhausted | We’ve run out of milk. |
| Come on | Hurry | Come on, we’re going to be late! |
| Go on | Continue | The show must go on. |
| Log off | Disconnect | I need to log off my computer. |
| Sign in | Enter an account | You need to sign in to access the website. |
| Drop by | Visit informally | Feel free to drop by anytime. |
| Eat out | Dine at a restaurant | Let’s eat out tonight. |
| Check out | Leave a hotel | We need to check out before noon. |
| Dress up | Wear formal clothes | We need to dress up for the party. |
| Move on | Progress | It’s time to move on from the past. |
| Wake up | Become awake | I wake up at 6 am every day. |
| Work out | Exercise | I like to work out at the gym. |
| Go away | Leave | Please go away and leave me alone. |
| Fall apart | Disintegrate | The old book started to fall apart. |
| Die out | Become extinct | Dinosaurs died out millions of years ago. |
| Calm down | Relax | Just calm down and take a deep breath. |
| Get along | Have a good relationship | They get along very well. |
Usage Rules
Separability Rules
As mentioned earlier, some phrasal verbs are separable, while others are inseparable. When the object is a pronoun (it, them, him, her, us), it must go between the verb and the particle. For example: “Turn it on” (not “Turn on it”).
Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive phrasal verbs cannot be separated because they do not take a direct object. The particle is always attached to the verb.
Prepositional Verbs
Phrasal verbs with prepositions are generally inseparable. The object must follow the preposition.
Formal vs. Informal Usage
Phrasal verbs are more common in spoken English and informal writing. In formal writing, it’s often better to use a single-word verb with a similar meaning.
For example, instead of “put off” (postpone), use “postpone.”
Contextual Meaning
The meaning of a phrasal verb can change depending on the context. Always consider the surrounding words and the overall situation to understand the intended meaning.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect Separation
Incorrect: I look the information up. Correct: I look up the information.
Misunderstanding the Meaning
Incorrect: He broke up the car (meaning he destroyed it). Correct: He broke down the car (meaning it stopped working).
Using the Wrong Particle
Incorrect: I’m looking at my keys. (when searching for them) Correct: I’m looking for my keys.
Overusing Phrasal Verbs in Formal Writing
Informal: We need to figure out the solution. Formal: We need to determine the solution.
Forgetting the Correct Preposition
Incorrect: I’m looking forward to see you. Correct: I’m looking forward to seeing you.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Separable vs. Inseparable
Choose the correct sentence.
| Question | Options | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Please _____ the light. | A) turn on it B) turn it on | B) turn it on |
| 2. I’m going to _____ my friend. | A) run into B) run into him | A) run into |
| 3. She needs to _____ the form. | A) fill out it B) fill it out | B) fill it out |
| 4. We should _____ the meeting. | A) call off it B) call it off | B) call it off |
| 5. Can you _____ me? | A) count on B) count on it | A) count on |
| 6. Put _____. | A) your coat on B) on your coat | A) your coat on |
| 7. I can’t _____ his behavior. | A) put up with B) put with up | A) put up with |
| 8. He _____ the truth. | A) found out it B) found it out | B) found it out |
| 9. Please _____ the volume. | A) turn up it B) turn it up | B) turn it up |
| 10. She _____ the offer. | A) turned down it B) turned it down | B) turned it down |
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct particle.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I need to look ____ the word in the dictionary. | up |
| 2. She takes ____ her mother. | after |
| 3. Don’t give ____! | up |
| 4. The car broke ____ on the highway. | down |
| 5. I’m looking forward ____ seeing you. | to |
| 6. He ran ____ an old friend. | into |
| 7. We need to set ____ early tomorrow. | off |
| 8. Don’t put ____ until tomorrow what you can do today. | off |
| 9. The firemen put ____ the fire quickly. | out |
| 10. Please throw ____ the trash. | away |
Exercise 3: Meaning Matching
Match the phrasal verb with its meaning.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Take off | E) Leave |
| 2. Look after | A) Take care of |
| 3. Break down | B) Stop functioning |
| 4. Give up | C) Stop trying |
| 5. Show up | D) Arrive |
A) Take care of B) Stop functioning C) Stop trying D) Arrive E) Leave
Advanced Topics
Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs
Some phrasal verbs have highly idiomatic meanings that are not easily deducible from the individual words. For example, “kick the bucket” means “to die.” Learning these requires memorization and exposure to the language.
Phrasal Verbs in Different Dialects
The use of phrasal verbs can vary across different dialects of English. Some phrasal verbs might be more common in British English than in American English, or vice versa.
Be aware of these regional differences.
Phrasal Verbs and Register
The register (level of formality) of a phrasal verb should be appropriate for the context. Avoid using very informal phrasal verbs in formal writing or presentations.
The Evolution of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are constantly evolving, with new combinations and meanings emerging over time. Pay attention to how native speakers use phrasal verbs to stay up-to-date.
FAQ
- 1. What is the difference between a phrasal verb and a prepositional verb?
- A phrasal verb combines a verb with an adverbial particle, creating a meaning distinct from the original verb (e.g., “look up”). A prepositional verb combines a verb with a preposition that governs a noun or pronoun, with the meaning closely related to the original verb (e.g., “look at”). The key difference is that the particle in a phrasal verb modifies the verb itself, while the preposition in a prepositional verb connects the verb to its object.
- 2. How can I improve my understanding of phrasal verbs?
- The best way to improve your understanding of phrasal verbs is through consistent exposure and practice. Read widely, listen to native speakers, and make a conscious effort to notice and learn phrasal verbs in context. Keep a vocabulary notebook and record new phrasal verbs along with their meanings and example sentences. Practice using them in your own writing and speaking.
- 3. Are phrasal verbs used in formal writing?
- While phrasal verbs are more common in spoken English and informal writing, they can be used in formal writing, but with caution. It’s generally better to use single-word verbs with similar meanings in formal contexts to maintain a more professional tone. For example, instead of “find out,” use “discover.” However, some phrasal verbs are widely accepted and used even in formal writing.
- 4. How do I know if a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable?
- Unfortunately, there’s no easy rule to determine whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable. It often comes down to memorization and practice. A good dictionary will usually indicate whether a phrasal verb is separable. When in doubt, it’s best to err on the side of caution and keep the verb and particle together, as this is always grammatically correct, even if separation is possible.
- 5. Why are phrasal verbs so difficult to learn?
- Phrasal verbs can be challenging because their meanings are often not obvious from the individual words. They can also have multiple meanings depending on the context, and the rules of separability can be confusing. Additionally, there are simply a large number of phrasal verbs in English, making it a daunting task to learn them all.
- 6. Can the meaning of a phrasal verb change based on context?
- Yes, absolutely. Many phrasal verbs have multiple meanings, and the correct interpretation depends heavily on the context in which they are used. For example, “run into” can mean “meet unexpectedly” or “collide with.” Pay close attention to the surrounding words and the overall situation to determine the intended meaning.
- 7. Are there any resources that can help me learn phrasal verbs?
- Yes, there are many resources available to help you learn phrasal verbs. Dictionaries specifically for phrasal verbs, online quizzes, language learning apps, and textbooks all offer valuable assistance. Look for resources that provide clear definitions, example sentences, and opportunities for practice.
- 8. What is the best way to practice using phrasal verbs?
- The best way to practice using phrasal verbs is to incorporate them into your own speaking and writing. Start by choosing a few new phrasal verbs each week and making a conscious effort to use them in your conversations and written assignments. Pay attention to how native speakers use phrasal verbs and try to imitate their usage. You can also create flashcards or use online quizzes to test your knowledge.
- 9. Is it important to learn the different types of phrasal verbs?
- Understanding the different types of phrasal verbs (transitive, intransitive, separable, inseparable) can be helpful, as it provides a framework for understanding how they function grammatically. However, it’s not essential to memorize these categories. The most important thing is to focus on learning the meanings and usage of individual phrasal verbs.
- 10. How can I avoid making mistakes with phrasal verbs?
- To avoid making mistakes with phrasal verbs, pay close attention to the rules of separability and transitivity. When in doubt, consult a dictionary or grammar guide. Practice using phrasal verbs in context and ask native speakers to correct your mistakes. Over time, you will develop a better sense of how to use phrasal verbs correctly.
Conclusion
Mastering phrasal verbs is an essential step towards achieving fluency and confidence in English. While they can be challenging, understanding their structure, types, and usage rules will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively.
Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to context, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Embrace the richness and complexity of phrasal verbs, and you’ll find your English skills growing by leaps and bounds.
Good luck, and keep practicing!