phrasal verbs

Phrasal Verbs

Let's take a look at Phrasal Verbs..

Source: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/phrasal-verb

What is a Phrasal Verb?

Definition of a phrasal verb

: a phrase (such as take off or look down on) that combines a verb with a preposition or adverb or both and that functions as a verb whose meaning is different from the combined meanings of the individual words

Phrasal Verbs may be of any one of the following types:

Type A. Verb plus adverb.

Type B. Verb plus preposition

Type C. Verb plus adverb and preposition

Type A. Verb plus Adverb.

Some Type A phrasal verbs have no object, i.e. they are intransitive. The sentence makes sense without any further addition to the verb.

Mary ran away.

Helen fell down.

The students came back.

Others do require an object, i.e. they are transitive.

We could make out a figure in the distance.

He tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Could you put your clothes away, please?

Type B. Verb plus preposition

Type B phrasal verbs always have an object.

This is because prepositions always have an object.

He asked for his bill. He asked for it.

She listened to the doctor. She listened to her. They referred to our conversation. They referred to it.

Sometimes there are two objects – the object of the verb and the object of the preposition.

He asked the waiter for the bill. ( Whom did he ask - the waiter; for what? - the bill)

Type C. Verb plus adverb and preposition

Type C phrasal verbs are a combination of the two previous kinds of verbs.

All the parts of a Type C phrasal verb come before the object.

We are looking forward to our holiday/it. Don’t put up with bad behaviour/it.

You must look out for the warning signs/them.

It is sometimes hard to tell adverbs and prepositions apart, because often the same word can be both a preposition and an adverb, depending on how it is used.

Type A:Phrasal verbs made from a verb plus an adverb may be intransitive (do not take an object) or transitive (take an object).

Some phrasal verbs that do not take an object

to break down

to carry on

to fall down

Some phrasal verbs that do take an object

to blow something up

to break something off

to bring a child up

Type B :Phrasal verbs made from a verb plus a preposition are all transitive.

to add to something

to hope for something

to agree with someone

to laugh at something

Type C: Phrasal verbs with an adverb plus a preposition all take a prepositional object.

to be fed up with something

to keep away from something

to carry on with something

to look back on something

to catch up with something

to look forward to something

to check up on something

LET'S CHECK THEM OUT !!!!!

Test Yourself

Fill in the Blanks:

I cannot put ___ with bad behaviour. They asked him to look out ____ warning signs. Where did you come ____ this article? Few people stand ___ for right. They walked _____ on him when he needed them the most. There was nothing for him to look ____ to. He did not wish to bring the subject ____ but they forced him to. To add insult ____ injury they sold off his motorcar. He didn't approve ___ their interference and insisted _____ doing as he wished. She is someone you can rely ____ .