Do you know what phrasal verbs are? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on phrasal verbs, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!
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Kevin
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December 1, 2021
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What are phrasal verbs?
Today we will explore the phrasal form of a verb, which is a combination of words that are used to form multi-word verbs. According to My English Pages, phrasal verbs consist of a verb and a preposition or an adverb, and are made of two or three elements. The original verb is often first, and the other word comes second in word order. There are many types of verbs, including a compound verb. These types of verbs often have an idiomatic meaning and do not use their literal meaning. The meaning of phrasal verbs comes from their context. If someone says, “I look forward to seeing my old friend Bre tonight,” this does not mean they are physically looking at anything. If they say, “Sam nearly ran out of petrol before the wedding crash,” they were not running anywhere. It does not use the meanings of the individual parts or the meanings of the individual words as a single semantic unit. These are also sometimes called prepositional verbs.
Native English speakers may find this part of speech simple to use in academic writing, informal texts and spoken English because they are used to it, but for those learning English as a second language through an English teacher, this may be more difficult. There are both separable phrasal verbs and inseparable phrasal verbs. The separable verb and another word has a number of particles that can have other words between them. Inseparable terminology means the words must be next to each other. This affects pronoun placement. In grammar and modern theories of syntax, the use of phrasal verbs act as idioms. There may be some irregular verbs used in different grammatical categories.
What are examples of phrasal verbs?
phrasal verbs can be used in many different contexts in the English language. Trying to use a word or grammatical technique in a sentence is one of the best ways to memorize what it is, but you can also try making flashcards or quizzes that test your knowledge. Try using this term of the day in a sentence today! Below are a couple of examples of phrasals that can help get you started incorporating this tool into your everyday use. Take a look at this list of phrasal verbs from Skype English Classes! Examples of such verbs can help you understand the figurative meaning and idiomatic expressions that are used.
- Come Down With – When you start to experience the symptoms of a disease or illness.
- Pull Through – To recover from an injury or illness.
- Do Over – To do something again in order to improve or correct mistakes.
- Go For – To try to obtain.
- Put Down – To place something on a surface or an object.
- Rule Out – When someone or something is excluded as a possibility.
- Look Up To – This particular phrasal verb is used to say you view someone with respect and/or admiration.
- Lock Out – When you don’t have the key or passcode to enter a secured place.
- Wear Down – To make the surface or top of something disappear due to friction.
- Take Up On – When you accept an invitation or offer from someone.
- Come Up With – When you think of a solution, idea, plan, or excuse.
- Fill Out – To complete a form.
- Throw Away – To dispose of something you no longer find useful in a waste bin, trash, etc.
- Leave Behind – When you don’t take something or someone with you when you leave.
- Hold On – When you wait for a short time.
- Ask For – To request something.
- Clean Out – To clean or clear the inside of something thoroughly.
- Light Up – To illuminate something.
- Pay Off – To repay money that is owed to a person or entity.
- Get Behind – To learn, work, or progress more slowly than others.
- Carry Away – To do something out of the ordinary due to strong emotions.
- Deal With – When you do everything you must do to solve a problem or complete.
- Clog Up – When something in a drain or valve prevents the flow of water or other liquids
- Boss Around – To tell what to do.
- Point To – When you aim at something or someone using your finger or hand.
- Give Out – To distribute something.
- Keep Away – To avoid getting close to someone or something.
- Put Off – To become offended by someone or something.
- Pay For – To purchase merchandise.
- Come Down – To move from a higher to a lower position or from north to south.
- Fall Down – To fall to the ground.
- Plan For – To prepare for a big event or expectation in the future.
- Turn Up – To increase the controls of an electronic or mechanical device.
- Keep Down – To make sound, music and noise minimal.
- Let Down – To disappoint someone.
- Blow Out – To extinguish or make a flame stop burning.
- Point Out – To make someone aware of something.
- Go Out – To leave a place or area you’re in.
- Feel Up To – When you have/don’t have the energy and confidence to do something.
- Look Forward To – To anticipate a future event because it either makes you happy and/or you benefit from it.
- Plug In – To connect an electrical device to an electrical outlet.
Overall, phrasal verbs are verbs that are more than a single word. They are two-part or three-part words. These words have a distinct meaning. Take a look at the above examples of transitive phrasal verbs in the phrasal verb list and see if you can decipher the components of a phrasal verb. The main verb comes first word in this combination of verb and prepositional particle or adverb.
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