There are two-part verbs in English, one is phrasal
verb and the other one is prepositional verb. This chapter will focus on
phrasal verb.
What is a phrasal verb?
In English, a
phrasal verb is a form of a verb which is made up of a main verb combining with
a preposition or an adverb particle (e.g. on, off, up, away).
“a phrase that consists of a verb with a preposition
or adverb or both, the meaning of which is different from the meaning of its
separate parts” (dictionary.cambridge.org).
Note: Adverb particle, which is a short adverb e.g. up,
out, off and they are used as part of a phrasal verb (e.g. pop up, look out,
turn off).
Some essential usages of phrasal verb list below.
a. Idiomatic meaning of a phrasal verb
The meaning of a two-word verb is often different from
the individual word. For example, War broke out in 1913. Broke out is not the
same meaning as broke + out. Benjamin always looks down on me. It does not mean
that he looks down from a higher place at me and I am below. It means that he thinks he is better than
me.
b. Phrasal verb can be used in two different ways.
i. Phrasal verb with object (transitive): Could you
switch the light off?
ii. Phrasal verb without object ( intransitive): Ana got
up at 6:00 today.
Note:
→Transitive verb: a verb that is used with an object.
→Intransitive verb:
a verb that does not require an object.
c. Position of adverb particles with object:
Adverb particles can be used either before or after
noun object in a sentence. For example, He turned off the light or he turned
the light off.
Incorrect: Give back me
my pen.
Correct: Give me back my pen or Give me my pen back.
On the other hand, they can only be used after pronoun
object instead of proceeding before it, such as,
Incorrect: He turned off it.
Correct: He turned it off.
Common and Essential Phrasal Verbs
Some important phrasal verbs with examples list below
which are mostly used in informal and formal conversation and in academic
writing as well.
→ask
around: to ask the same
question to many people: He asked around, but nobody could give him the
directions to the library.
→ask
out: to invite someone
out: He asks her out sometime.
→break
in: to interrupt: The
ZDF TV station broke in to report the news of the bus accident in Madeira.
→break
up: to end a
relationship: Tom and Jerry have broken up.
→brush
up (on) sth: to improve
knowledge: I will brush up my Portuguese before
my trip to Braga.
→call
back: to return a call:
I am busy right now. I will call you back later.
→calm down: to stop feeling
angry or upset: Calm down, we can figure it out.
→carry
on: to continue doing
something: I will carry on writing some contents for my Site.
→check
in: (German: einchecken):
to arrive and register at a hotel/airport: You will get the key for your room
when you check in.
→check
out: (German: auschecken):
to leave: We checked out of/from the hotel at 11 a.m.
→check
out: to prove or
investigate to be true/correct: The police checked the lady out.
→chill
out: to relax: I am
just chilling out right now in front of my laptop.
→come
up: to move forwards
or appear: When we went to supermarket , a young girl came up to us and asked
for money.
→dress
up: to wear formal or
nice clothes: I do not need to dress up to go the supermarket.
→drop
out: to quit an
activity ( e.g. school, class etc.): He dropped out of the python class because
it was too difficult for him.
→fill
in: to complete a
blank form writing information it: Please fill in the form with your name and
address.
→figure
out: to solve
something (sth) or understand: Have you figured out how much the trip will cost
to Braga.
→fit
in: to be socially compatible with other people:
He joined the club last year but he never fitted in.
→get
up: to wake up or
stand up: Ana always gets up early.
→give
up: to stop trying or
guessing: After twenty minutes trying to solve the math he gave up.
→help
out: to help someone (specially
in a difficult situation): He promised that he would help out.
→keep
on doing sth: to continue
doing sth: He kept on learning
German.
→lie
down: to rest briefly,
usually on or in a bed: I need to
lie down before I pop out tonight.
→look
down on somebody (sb):
to consider as inferior or unimportant: He thinks I look down on him because he does not have a job.
→look
forward to: to hope or
wait: I am looking forward to the weekend or I am looking forward to seeing
you.
→pick
up: to receive a
phone call: He called me but I could not pick up.
→pick
up: to go somewhere
and collect someone in a car: He picked me up at 10 a.m.
→plug
in: (German:
einstecken: to connectct an electronic equipment: Can you see whether the
printer is plugged in?
→pop
in: to visit for a
short time: I can pop in later for a cup of Caro if you like.
→pop
up: to appear: I will
pop up in the conference at 10 a.am.
→pop
out: to go outside or
come out: I will pop out for a walk.
→pop
back: to return, to
come back: Today Ana popped back home afternoon at about 5.00.
→read
out: to read sth
aloud: Can you read the last few sentences
out to me, please.
→set
up: to start sth new
(e.g. business): He plans to set up an online business.
→stand
up: to rise to an
upright position from a sitting or lying position: A student at the back stood
up and asked a question.
→take
away: to buy food at a cafe,
shop or restaurant and eat somewhere else: Ana ordered a sandwich to take away.
→take
off: to fly (aircraft):
The plane took off at 10 a.m.
→take
sth off: to remove sth ( e.g.
a piece of clothing): She took off her socks and shoes and sat at the lake.
→turn
off: to switch off: Do
not forget to turn the light off when you pop out.
→turn
on: to switch on: Ana
turned the light on when she popped back home.
→wake
up: to stop sleeping
or become awake: Sometimes I wake up late in the morning.
→wrap
up: to fold or cover
sth in paper, clothes etc.: I have not wrapped up the gift card yet.
To get the PDF file for free, just click on "Phrasal Verbs in English.pdf..Download" option below.
References
PHRASAL VERB: meaning in the Cambridge English
Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/phrasal-verb
Swan, M. (2016). Practical English usage. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
Vorderman, C. (2013). Help your kids with English: A
unique step-by-step visual guide. London: Dorling Kindersley.
