PAPER ENGLISH VOCABULARY

PHRASAL VERBS 2 : GRAMMAR AND STYLE

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Anissa Dwi Septiani (22013002)

Priska Oktavia Nerta (22013013)

Vitra Silvia Ningsih (22013003)

Desi Ayu Lestari (22013021)

Yuliani Pratiwi (22013019)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

MUHAMMADIYAH KENDARI UNIVERSITY

2021
 DISCUSSION
 DEFINITION OF PHRASAL VERB

A verb phrase is a phrase that is a combination of a standard verb (example: go, make, take)
and one or two particles. The particles used can be in the form of adverbs and / or prepositions.

This phrase is very important to learn because it is commonly used in everyday speech by
native speakers and in an informal written language. An important point in learning this phrase
is understanding its meaning and how it is used.

A. Grammar : Transitive and Intransitive verbs

1. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

A verb can be described as transitive or intransitive based on whether it requires an

object to express a complete thought or not. A transitive verb is one that only makes sense if it
exerts its action on an object. An intransitive verb will make sense without one. Some verbs may
be used both ways.

The word transitive often makes people think of transit, which leads to the mistaken
assumption that the terms transitive and intransitive are just fancy ways of describing action and
nonaction. But these terms have nothing to do with whether a verb is active or not. A better word
to associate when you see transitive is transfer. A transitive verb needs to transfer its action to
something or someone-an object. In essence, transitive means “to affect something else.”

2. How to Identify a Transitive Verb

Transitive verbs are not just verbs that can take an object; they demand objects. Without an
object to affect, the sentence that a transitive verb inhabits will not seem complete.

Please bring coffee.

In this sentence, the verb bring is transitive; its object is coffee, the thing that is being brought.
Without an object of some kind, this verb cannot function.

 Juan threw the ball.

 Could you phone the neighbors?
 I caught a cold.
 She loves rainbows.

Each of the verbs in these sentences have objects that complete the verbs’ actions. If the objects
were taken out, the results would be illogical and questions would be raised in the mind of the
reader; for example, Lila conveyed. Conveyed what?

3. How to Identify an Intransitive Verb

An intransitive verb is the opposite of a transitive verb: it does not require an object to
act upon. None of these verbs require an object for the sentence to make sense, and all of them
can end a sentence. Some imperative forms of verbs can even make comprehensible one-word
sentences.

4. Transitive or Intransitive? Some Verbs Can Be Both

Many verbs can be classified as both transitive and intransitive depending on how they are
used in a sentence.
To decide whether the verb is being used transitively or intransitively, all you need to do is
determine whether the verb has an object. Does she sing something? Does he leave something?
The verb is only transitive when the answer is yes.

When in doubt, look it up. In the dictionary, verbs will be listed as transitive, intransitive,
or both right under the pronunciation key, and any possible differences in meaning between the
two uses will be given as well.

B. Phrasal Verbs and Transitivity

Phrasal verbs can also be classified as transitive or intransitive.

For Example :
 Cindy has decided to give up sweets while she diets.
 I hope Cindy doesn’t give up.

Give up is just one of many phrasal verbs that can be transitive or intransitive. Whether give
up has an object or not will alter the meaning it conveys. The first sense of give up means “to
forgo something,” whereas the second sense means “to stop trying.”

If we refuse to learn about transitivity, the Grammar Police will blow up our building.

When the Grammar Police confronted her about her verbs, she blew up.

The first sense of to blow up means to explode, whereas the second sense means “to express
rage.”

Transitive or intransitive is just one of the many classifications a verb can have. Perhaps you
will be inspired to read about more about the fascinating qualities of verbs.

Some phrasal verbs are intransitive and do not need a direct object.
  The children are growing up. (= getting older and more mature)
 The doctor told me to lie down on the bed.
 Don’t wait out there. Please come in. (= enter)
 I’m going to stay in (= stay at home) this evening.

With these verbs, you cannot put another word between the verb and adverb.

C. Style : formal phrasal verbs

Some phrasal verbs can be used equally in written or spoken English. Sometimes this is
because there is no other easy way to express the meaning of the phrasal verb.

 I always wake up early, even at weekends.

 The car broke down (= went wrong; stopped working) on the motorway.
 The plane couldn’t take off because of bad weather.
 Thieves broke into (= entered by force and illegally) the house and took money, credit
cards and all my jewellery.

Style : Informal phrasal verbs

But most phrasal verbs are informal and are more common in spoken English.

In written English there is often a more formal word with the same meaning.

 We had to make up a story. (= invent/create from our imagination)

 I can usually get by on about £200 a week. (= manage)
 You can leave out question 7. (= omit, i.e. you don’t need to do question 7)
 They’ve got a problem and they asked me to sort it out. (= resolve (it) / find a solution /
do something about it).