Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

What are phrasal verbs?

PHRASAL VERBS

Phrasal verbs are phrases that indicate actions. They are generally used in spoken English and informal texts. Examples of such verbs include: turn down, come across and run into.

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and a preposition or an adverb:

GO+ OUT

ASK+ OUT

THINK+ ABOUT

LOOK+ FOR

The meaning of phrasal verbs

Sometimes, it is difficult to understand the meaning of phrasal verbs. Before looking them up in a dictionary, it would be helpful to use the context to understand them.

Literal meaning

Some phrasal verbs have a literal meaning. They can be easily understood.

• She opened the door and looked outside.

• She was walking across the street when she heard the sound of an explosion.

This is a list of phrasal verbs and their meaning

• act out: To express one's feelings through disruptive actions.

• Ask about: Ask how someone is doing, especially professionally and in terms of health.

• Back out: Fail to keep an arrangement or promise.

• Calm down: Stop being angry or emotionally excited.

• Get ahead: Progress.

• Keep away: Don’t allow someone near something.

Can you put me up for tonight?The phrasal verb 'put up' here does not mean to build (as in putting a fence up). It has, however, an idiomatic/figurative meaning. It means to let someone stay in your house.

Multiple Choice

SELECT THE MEANING OF Act up

• Perform something with actions and gestures..

• Behave badly or strangely.

Multiple Choice

SELECT THE MEANING OF Ask out

• To invite somebody into your house.

• To invite someone for a date.

Multiple Choice

SELECT THE MEANING OF Blow up

• Explode.

• Not keep an appointment.

Good job, thanks for attending.