LoginPhrasal Verbs
Dive into phrasal verbs like 'put off' and 'run into'. Detailed explanations and a quiz to test your knowledge.
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs are verbs that consist of two or more parts. These verbs have one verb and one or more particles which is typically an adverb or a preposition. They form a single unit of meaning together.
Phrasal Verbs: Types
Phrasal verbs can be divided into two groups. One group consists of verbs that express an idiomatic meaning when used with a specific particle, while the other consists of verbs that are always used with a particular particle.
Phrasal Verbs with Idiomatic Meaning
These phrasal verbs consist of a combination of main verbs and particles that convey an idiomatic meaning. This means the meaning of the phrasal verb is not equal to the sum of the meanings of the verb and the particle(s) that form it. Many phrasal verbs have two or three or even more meanings. For example 'show up' can have three meanings according to Oxford Learner's Dictionary:
After three months, he showed up at the dormitory.
Here, 'show up' means 'to arrive where you have arranged to meet somebody or do something'.
The moonlight showed up a beautiful lake in the forest.
Here, 'show up' means 'to make something start to be able to be seen'.
Kelly showed her mother up by crying out loud in the middle of the supermarket.
Here, 'show up' means 'to make somebody feel embarrassed by behaving badly.'
Verbs that Always Need a Particle
Some verbs are always used with a fixed particle. In other words, they are neither used on their own, nor ever used with a different particle. This group is more limited in number. Examples include:
rely on
depend on
refer to
adhere to
abide by
aim at
participate in
allude to
Our plans depend on the weather.
Please adhere to the guidelines.
He referred to the article.
Phrasal Verbs: Formality
Idiomatic phrasal verbs are commonly used in informal contexts, which is why many of them have a single-word verb equivalent. For example, 'show up' can be substituted with 'arrive', and 'run out' can be substituted with 'finish'.
Although they usually have single-word equivalents, that does not mean they can be used in the same contexts interchangeably. We cannot replace a phrasal verb with its one-word equivalent all the time.
They called off the meeting.
They canceled the meeting.
Phrasal Verbs: Separability
There are five types of phrasal verbs based on their separability:
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs
Transitive Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Transitive Separate Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs with More than One Particle
1. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
Intransitive phrasal verbs do not need an object to have a complete meaning.
He gets up at 7 every morning.
'Get up' is an intransitive phrasal verb which does not take an object.
2. Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs
Transitive phrasal verbs must have an object. Otherwise, their meaning cannot be complete.
With separable phrasal verbs, you can put the object either between the verb and the particle, or after the particle. Its meaning will be the same.
He set up the equipment.
He set the equipment up.
But if the object is an object pronoun like 'it', 'me' or 'them', you cannot put the object after the particle. It must be put between the verb and the particle.
He set it up. (Not 'He set up it.')
3. Transitive Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Inseparable phrasal verbs are transitive, but you cannot insert the direct object in the middle of the phrasal verb. In other words, the main verb and the particle cannot be separated.
He picked on her because of her size. (Not 'He picked her on because of her size.')
4. Transitive Separate Phrasal Verbs
Some transitive phrasal verbs are always separate, meaning their object cannot come after the particle, even if it is a noun phrase, because it might cause ambiguity in meaning.
The police moved the crowd on.
Here, "move on" means to order to leave a place" and putting the object after the particle would obscure the meaning.
I get my sister up early for school every morning.
5. Phrasal Verbs with More Than One Particle
There is a type of phrasal verb that has more than one particle, such as 'come up with'. With these phrasal verbs, you cannot generally separate the particles. So we say 'come up with something' and not, 'come up something with'.
She's never really got on with her sister.
Review
Phrasal verbs are verbs with two or more parts. These verbs have one verb and one or more particles and express a meaning that is different from the sum of the meanings of the verb and the particles. They can be intransitive or transitive. Transitive phrasal verbs might be separable or inseparable.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs | Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs | Transitive Inseparable Phrasal Verbs | Transitive Separate Phrasal Verbs | Phrasal Verbs with More Than One Particles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Different types of phrasal verbs | He gets up at 7 every morning. | I took off my shoes. | He picked on her because of her size. | The police moved the children on. | He never comes up with good ideas. |
Quiz:
Which sentence contains a phrasal verb error?
The team adhered to the guidelines.
Our plan depends on the budget.
Students must abide at school rules.
They participated in the science fair.
Complete each sentence with the required particle. (One option is used twice.)
Scientists often refer
previous studies.
We rely
our team leader for advice.
He alluded
the scandal without naming anyone.
The new policy aims
reducing waste.
All students must abide
the school's code of conduct.
Which sentence is less formal?
The project was called off.
The experiment was terminated.
The meeting was canceled.
The festival was postponed.
Sort the words to make a correct sentence.
Complete the missing cells in the table by choosing the correct type of phrasal verb.
He ran into his friend. | |
She put up with the noise. | |
I get up at 6 AM daily. | |
Let's set up the meeting room. | |
I got my brother up early. |
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