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PHRASAL VERBS
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1.
Introduction
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A phrasal verb is a ver
b that is combined with a preposition (at, on, over, etc.) or adverb
(back, down, off, etc.), and together has its own special meaning. For
example, get away means escape; and speak up means speak
louder.
Some phrasal verbs retain the meaning of the original verb while some others have meaning completely different to the original verb. EXAMPLE: I asked them to come in. (The phrasal verb come in means enter which is easily understood as we are familiar with the meaning of the words: come, in.) EXAMPLE: The deal fell through at the last minute. (The phrasal verb fell through means not completed successfully which is different in meaning to the verb fell.) Phrasal verbs can be separable or non-separable. When a phrasal verb is separable, a noun object comes after the participle of the phrasal verb or comes between the verb and the participle. (A participle is the wo rd that is used in a phrasal verb. Examples of participle: at, in, on, off, away, etc.) If a phrasal verb is non-separable, a noun or pronoun always comes after the participle. |
2.
Phrasal Verbs (Separable)
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The nouns come between the verbs
and the participles, and the noun objects come after the participles
of the phrasal verbs.
His part-time office job is to put the files away. (The noun files is between verb put and the participle away.) She wrote my phone number down on a piece of paper. They called off the match due to bad weather. (Noun object ma tch comes after the participle off.) He pointed out the accused to the police. |
3.
Phrasal Verbs (Non-Separable)
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In some phrasal verbs, the verb
and the participle cannot be separated. An object cannot come
between the verb and the participle. It can come only after the verb and the
participle. Usually, the noun or pronoun comes after the
participles.
He will look after my dog while I am away. (INCORRECT: He will look my dog after while I am away.) They called on her when she was hospitalized. (call on = pay a brief visit. INCORRECT: ... called her on...) Jack ran into Jill while he was on his way home. (ru n into = meet by chance) |
4.
Phrasal Verbs without an Object
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Some phrasal verbs do not take on an object. EXAMPLE: They told him to hurry up. We decided that we should get together more regularly. After what happened, he promised to speak up. |
5.
Phrasal Verbs with an Object
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Many phrasal verbs take an object. EXAMPLE: He turns off the light whenever he leaves the room. She puts her glasses on each time she goes out. They looked through the drawer but couldn't find it. |
6.
Phrasal Verbs - Intransitive
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Phrasal verbs that are intransitive are not followed by a noun or an object. EXAMPLE: We invited them to join in. (No noun or object follows the phrasal verb.) When she heard what happened, she broke down. (No noun or object follows the phrasal verb.) He shouted to them, "Hurry up!" (No noun or object follows the phrasal verb.) |
7.
Phrasal Verbs - Transitive
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Phrasal verbs that are transitive are followed by a noun or
an object. The preposition cannot be separated from the verb.
Put on your cap. (INCORRECT: Put your cap on.) The adverb participle can be separated from the verb and placed after the noun object. He takes his jacket off. (OR: He takes off his jacket.) She tried on a few pairs of shoes but they didn't fit. (Verb + preposition + noun) He's always looked up to him for his courage. (Verb + participle + preposition + pronoun) |
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8.
Three-word Phrasal verbs
A phrasal verb can be a combination of three words. Three-word phrasal verbs are non-separable. These phrasal verbs are followed by the noun or pronoun. The three-word phrasal verb can be transitive, that is followed by an object, or intransitive that is not followed by an object.
EXAMPLE: When we were young, we liked to hang out with each other.
EXAMPLE: Their children grew up in a respectable neighborhood
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