Introduction
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more particles (typically prepositions or adverbs) that together function as a single semantic unit. These particles can change the meaning of the main verb, often creating idiomatic expressions that native speakers use frequently in everyday language.
Types of Phrasal Verbs
- Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
- These phrasal verbs do not take a direct object.
- Example: She woke up early this morning.
- Example: The meeting broke up after two hours.
- Transitive Phrasal Verbs
- These phrasal verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning.
- Example: He picked his brother up from the airport.
- Example: She put the books away on the shelf.
- Separable Phrasal Verbs
- These phrasal verbs allow for the object to be placed between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
- Example: He turned off the lights. OR He turned the lights off.
- Example: She took the trash out. OR She took out the trash.
- Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
- These phrasal verbs do not allow the object to separate the verb and the particle.
- Example: She came across an old photograph while cleaning.
- Example: He stood up and walked out of the room.
Structure of Phrasal Verbs
- Verb + Preposition:
- Verb + Adverb:
- Verb + Preposition + Adverb:
Examples of Verb + Preposition
- Look after - to take care of or be responsible for someone or something.
- Example: She looks after her younger brother after school.
- Go on - to continue or proceed with something.
- Example: The meeting went on longer than expected.
- Give up - to quit or stop doing something.
- Example: He gave up smoking last year.
- Put off - to postpone or delay something.
- Example: They decided to put off their vacation until next month.
- Run into - to encounter unexpectedly.
- Example: I ran into an old friend at the supermarket yesterday.
- Look forward to - to anticipate with pleasure.
- Example: She looks forward to her summer vacation every year.
- Get over - to recover from an illness or emotional distress.
- Example: It took her a long time to get over the flu.
- Look up - to search for information in a reference book or online.
- Example: If you don't know the meaning of a word, you can look it up in the dictionary.
- Come across - to find or meet by chance.
- Example: I came across an interesting article while browsing the internet.
- Call off - to cancel something.
- Example: They had to call off the picnic due to bad weather.
Examples of Verb + Adverb
- Break down - to stop functioning (of machinery or systems) or to collapse emotionally.
- Example: The car broke down on the highway.
- Cut down - to reduce the amount of something.
- Example: Doctors advised him to cut down on sugar.
- Run out - to use up the supply of something so that there is none left.
- Example: We ran out of milk, so I couldn't make coffee this morning.
- Come back - to return to a place or to recover.
- Example: She came back home after a long day at work.
- Take off - to remove something or to become successful suddenly.
- Example: Please take off your shoes before entering the house.
- Get up - to rise from bed or a seated position.
- Example: I get up early every morning to exercise.
- Turn on - to activate or start something (like a machine, device, or light).
- Example: Please turn on the lights; it's getting dark.
- Put away - to clean up or store something in its proper place.
- Example: After dinner, we put away the dishes and leftovers.
- Bring up - to raise a topic or introduce someone to a group.
- Example: She brought up an interesting point during the meeting.
- Look out - to be careful or watchful.
- Example: They looked out for each other during difficult times.
Examples of Verb + Preposition + Adverb
- Look forward to - to anticipate something with pleasure.
- Example: We look forward to seeing you at the party tonight.
- Get away with - to escape punishment or criticism for something.
- Example: He cheated on the test but somehow got away with it.
- Put up with - to tolerate or endure someone or something unpleasant.
- Example: She put up with her noisy neighbors for years before moving out.
- Go on with - to continue doing something.
- Example: Despite the interruption, he went on with his presentation.
- Look down on - to regard with contempt or disdain.
- Example: They look down on people who don't have a college degree.
- Run out of - to use all of something so that there is none left.
- Example: We ran out of milk, so I couldn't make pancakes for breakfast.
- Come up with - to think of or produce an idea, solution, or plan.
- Example: She came up with a brilliant idea for the new marketing campaign.
- Put off - to postpone or delay something.
- Example: They put off their vacation until next year due to work commitments.
- Keep up with - to stay informed about or in touch with something.
- Example: It's hard to keep up with all the latest technological advancements.
- Look out for - to watch for and be careful of something.
- Example: Look out for pedestrians when driving through the city center.
Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Phrasal Verb
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence:
1. She was so tired that she __________ in the middle of the movie.
(a) broke up
(b) fell asleep
(c) ran into
2. Could you please __________ the music? It's too loud.
(a) take off
(b) turn down
(c) put off
3. He needs to __________ his bad habits if he wants to stay healthy.
(a) cut down on
(b) look forward to
(c) come up with
4. I accidentally __________ an old friend at the mall yesterday.
(a) turned up
(b) came across
(c) looked after
5. The teacher asked the students to __________ for their behavior during the field trip.
(a) run out of
(b) look down on
(c) put up with
Ans:
(b) fell asleep
(b) turn down
(a) cut down on
(b) came across
(c) put up with
Exercise 2: Identify the Type of Phrasal Verb
Identify whether each phrasal verb is transitive (T) or intransitive (I):
- She woke up early this morning. (_____)
- They brought up an interesting point during the meeting. (_____)
- He looked after his younger sister after school. (_____)
- Please give up smoking; it's bad for your health. (_____)
- The meeting broke up after two hours of discussion. (_____)
Ans:
- I (intransitive)
- T (transitive)
- T (transitive)
- I (intransitive)
- I (intransitive)
Exercise 3: Complete the Sentences with the Correct Phrasal Verb
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence:
1. We need to __________ the project until next week due to unforeseen circumstances.
(a) put off
(b) put up with
(c) take off
2. He always __________ his father's advice when it comes to making important decisions.
(a) looks down on
(b) looks up to
(c) looks after
3. She decided to __________ sweets to lose weight and improve her health.
(a) cut down on
(b) get over
(c) come across
4. The company's new product __________ in the market quickly, exceeding all expectations.
(a) came up with
(b) took off
(c) ran out of
5. I accidentally __________ an old photograph while cleaning out the attic.
(a) ran into
(b) turned down
(c) put away
Ans:
- (a) put off
- (b) looks up to
- (a) cut down on
- (b) took off
- (a) ran into