EG7 Handout Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs and Other Multi-Word Verbs

Phrasal verbs are part of a large group of verbs called "multi-word verbs". Phrasal verbs and other multi-word verbs are an important part of the English language. They are very common, especially in spoken English. A multi-word verb is a verb like "pick up", "turn on" or "get on with". For convenience, many people refer to all multi-word verbs as phrasal verbs. These verbs consist of a basic verb + another word or words. The other word(s) can be prepositions and/or adverbs. The two or three words that make up multi-word verbs form a short "phrase" which is why these verbs are often all called "phrasal verbs". The important thing to remember is that a multi-word verb is still a verb. "Get" is a verb. "Get up", is also a verb, a different verb. "Get" and "get up" are two different verbs. They do not have the same meaning. So you should treat each multi-word verb as a separate verb, and learn it like any other verb. Look at these examples. You can see that there are three types of multi-word verb: direct your eyes in a certain direction take care of search for and find information in a reference book anticipate with pleasure You must look before you leap. Who is looking after the baby? You can look up my number in the telephone directory.

single-word verb

look
prepositional verbs
look after
multi-word verbs
phrasal verbs
look up
phrasal-prepositional verbs
look forward to
I look forward to meeting you.
In this lesson we look at the three types of multi-word verbs, including phrasal verbs, followed by a quiz to check your understanding: Phrasal Verbs Phrasal verbs are a group of multi-word verbs made from a verb plus another word or words. Many people refer to all multi-word verbs as phrasal verbs. On these pages we make a distinction between three types of multi-word verbs: prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs and phrasal-prepositional verbs. On this page we look at phrasal verbs proper. Phrasal verbs are made of: verb + adverb Phrasal verbs can be:
intransitive (no direct object) transitive (direct object) Here are some examples of phrasal verbs: phrasal verbs get up break down put off turn down examples meaning direct object I don't like to get up. He was late because his car broke down. We will have to put off They turned down the meeting. my offer.
intransitive phrasal verbs transitive phrasal verbs
rise from bed cease to function postpone refuse
Separable Phrasal Verbs When phrasal verbs are transitive (that is, they have a direct object), we can usually separate the two parts. For example, "turn down" is a separable phrasal verb. We can say: "turn down my offer" or "turnmy offer down". Look at this table:
transitive phrasal verbs are separable
They They
turned turned my offer
down down.
my offer.
However, if the direct object is a pronoun, we have no choice. We must separate the phrasal verb and insert the pronoun between the two parts. Look at this example with the separable phrasal verb "switch on": John direct object pronounsmust go between the two parts of transitive phrasal verbs John John John switched switched switched switched the radio it on on. on. on it. This is not possible. the radio. These are all possible.
Separable or inseparable phrasal verbs? Some dictionaries tell you when phrasal verbs are separable. If a dictionary writes "look (something) up", you know that the phrasal
verb "look up" is separable, and you can say "look something up" and "look up something".
It's a good idea to write "something/somebody" as appropriate in your vocabulary book when you learn a new phrasal verb, like this: get up break down put something/somebody off turn sthg/sby down
This tells you whether the verb needs a direct object (and where to put it). Prepositional Verbs Prepositional verbs are a group of multi-word verbs made from a verb plus another word or words. Many people refer to all multi-word verbs as phrasal verbs. On these pages we make a distinction between three types of multi-word verbs: prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs and phrasal-prepositional verbs. On this page we look at prepositional verbs. Prepositional verbs are made of: verb + preposition Because a preposition always has an object, all prepositional verbs have direct objects. Here are some examples of prepositional verbs: prepositional verbs examples meaning direct object I believe in He is looking after Did you talk about God. the dog. me?
believe in look after talk about wait for
have faith in the existence of take care of discuss await
John is waiting for Mary.
Prepositional verbs cannot be separated. That means that we cannot put the direct object between the two parts. For example, we must say "look after the baby". We cannot say "look the baby after": Who is looking after the baby? Who is looking the baby after? This is possible. This is not possible.
prepositional verbs are inseparable
It is a good idea to write "something/somebody" in your vocabulary book when you learn a new prepositional verb, like this: believe in something/somebody look after sthg/sby This reminds you that this verb needs a direct object (and where to put it). Phrasal-prepositional Verbs Phrasal-prepositional verbs are a small group of multi-word verbs made from a verb plus another word or words. Many people refer to all multi-word verbs as phrasal verbs. On these pages we make a distinction between three types of multi-word verbs: prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs and phrasal-prepositional verbs. On this page we look at phrasalprepositional verbs. Phrasal-prepositional verbs are made of: verb + adverb + preposition Look at these examples of phrasal-prepositional verbs: phrasal-prepositional verbs examples meaning direct object He doesn't get on with I won't put up with I look forward to We have run out of his wife. your attitude. seeing you. eggs.
get on with put up with look forward to run out of
have a friendly relationship with tolerate anticipate with pleasure use up, exhaust
Because phrasal-prepositional verbs end with a preposition, there is always a direct object. And, like prepositional verbs, phrasal-prepositional verbs cannot be separated. Look at these examples: We We ran out of ran out of fuel. it.
phrasal-prepositional verbs are inseparable
It is a good idea to write "something/somebody" in your vocabulary book when you learn a new phrasal-prepositional verb, like this: get on with somebody put up with sthg/sby run out of something
This reminds you that this verb needs a direct object (and where to put it).

EG7 Handout Phrasal Verbs

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Phrasal Verbs and Other Multi-Word Verbs

I look forward to meeting you.

intransitive phrasal verbs transitive phrasal verbs

rise from bed cease to function postpone refuse

transitive phrasal verbs are separable

turned turned my offer

believe in look after talk about wait for

have faith in the existence of take care of discuss await

John is waiting for Mary.

prepositional verbs are inseparable

get on with put up with look forward to run out of

phrasal-prepositional verbs are inseparable

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