Class X English Grammar Phrasal Verbs and

Prepositional Verbs

English Grammar Class 10

Phrasal verbs and Prepositional Verbs

In this chapter, we’ll learn about Phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs. A
phrasal verb can be defined as a verb and an adverb or preposition combined.
Sometimes, it combines all three of the speech parts—the verb, adverb, and
preposition. Even though each of these elements of speech has a different
purpose, when they are together, they act as verbs. These verbs are known as
phrasal verbs because they can also function as a sentence. These are of four
different types. Phrasal verbs like "stand up," "go through," "check-in," "fall
apart," "makeup," "stopover," "put up with," "do away with," "hold up," "get
through," and "give in" are examples of phrases you can employ in daily
conversation.

Image: Introduction to phrasal verbs

Phrasal Verbs
It is a combination of two or three words, which consists
• A preposition and a verb

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Class X English Grammar Phrasal Verbs and
Prepositional Verbs

• A verb and an adverb

• Both prepositions and an adverb with a verb

Types of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can be categorised into four main types. They are as follows:
• Transitive Phrasal Verbs: A transitive phrasal verb is distinguished
from regular transitive verbs by the demand it makes for an object which
has to be present for it to make a complete meaningful sentence.
Example: Throw a ball.
• Intransitive Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal intransitive verbs act just as regular
intransitive verbs. They can be used in sentences without an object and
yet make sense in the context. Example: Walk to school.
• Separable Phrasal Verbs: Transitive phrasal verbs, which have the
distinctive trait of separating the phrasal verb with the object in between,
are examples of separable phrasal verbs. However, while splitting the
phrasal verb, there is a word order that needs to be considered. Example:
He switched off the fan. OR He switched the fan off.
• Inseparable Phrasal Verbs: The name "inseparable" refers to the fact
that certain phrasal verbs cannot be employed separately and must always
be combined. Example: The client backed out of the deal at the last
minute.
Some Common Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Example:
• Abide by: To follow through on a commitment or act under something
Example: Children must abide by the school rules and regulations.
• Break in: To forcibly enter a structure or location, or to begin something
new
Example: Amit tried to break into our apartment last night.
• Break up: Breaking an object into pieces or the end of any relationship
Example: Shila finally broke up with his boyfriend last week.
• Check out: To leave or to examine
Example: Ravi had already checked out his room.

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Class X English Grammar Phrasal Verbs and
Prepositional Verbs

• Figure out: To solve or find out something

Example: He already figured out how to solve this problem.
• Follow up: To verify or to continue
Example: The superintendent asked him to follow up on the remaining
files.
• Get through: To complete or to overcome
Example: It was challenging for her to get through everything by herself.
• Grow up: To slowly distance oneself
Example: Many cities grew up with the help of technology.
• Hold on: A brief period to wait
Example: Hold on, let me check my phone.
• Hang out: Spending time with someone while doing nothing in particular
Example: Let’s hang out somewhere today.
• Look for: To search or to expect
Example: He spent his whole day looking for a pen.
• Light up: To make happy or to illuminate
Example: A smile can light up his face.
• Move-in: To move and begin a new life or job
Example: Are you moving into this house?
• Turn down: To reject
Example: Riya turned down the offer.

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Class X English Grammar Phrasal Verbs and
Prepositional Verbs

Image: Introduction to Prepositional verbs

Prepositional Verbs:
Prepositional verbs are idiomatic words that combine a verb with a preposition
to form a new verb with a specific meaning.
Prepositions, modifiers, and their objects are all included in prepositional
phrases. Depending on its function in the sentence, a prepositional phrase may
be inserted at the start, middle, or end of the sentence. Prepositional phrases can
only be used as a component of the sentence they modify.
For example: care for, long for, apply for, approve of, add to, resort to, result
in, count on, and deal with.

Role of Prepositional Phrases

• When a prepositional phrase modifies a noun, it is referred to as an
adjectival phrase since it performs the same functions as an adjective.
• Prepositional phrases can occasionally be used to modify the verb or
action of a sentence, and because they function as adverbs in the
sentence, they are sometimes referred to as adverbial phrases.

Some prepositional verbs with an example:

• Agree with: I agree with you.
• Care for: She cares for everyone.
• Consist of: This book consists of five chapters.
• Decide on: He decided on a shirt rather than a t-shirt.
• Depend on: It depends on the situation
• Get off: That boy didn’t get off at that stop.
• Insist on: My wife insists on doing everything in her way.
• Look after: Don’t worry, I'll look after your son.
• Wait for: Wait for a while.

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Class X English Grammar Phrasal Verbs and
Prepositional Verbs

Difficult Word meanings

Words Meaning

Distinctive Defining a particular person, place, or item and serving to

set it apart from others

Transitive Requires a direct or indirect object.

Phrase

Intransitive Doesn’t require and direct or indirect object

Phrase

Idomatic A phrase whose meanings are not obvious from the word
meanings that make it up.

Summary
In this lesson, we have learned about phrasal verbs with their examples. It also
includes its properties, examples, and practice questions related to it. Phrasal
verbs are significant because informal English uses them frequently, and
understanding informal language will be challenging if you are unfamiliar with
their meanings. Additionally, knowing how to effectively employ phrasal verbs
will help you sound natural in everyday speech. Prepositional verbs are very
helpful to understand since they help you sound highly fluent when used after a
verb. As a result, when learning new verbs, be aware of whether or not a
specific preposition is required.

Practice questions
Fill in the blanks
1. The Class teacher ………………… an explanation of his conduct.
• called off
• called for
• called in

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Class X English Grammar Phrasal Verbs and
Prepositional Verbs

2. ………………… the doctor immediately.

• Call on
• Call in
• Call at
3. Sam ...................... us today.
• called on
• called in
• called out
4. My Mother cannot ………………… past events.
• call up
• bring out
• bring up
5. Her arrogance ..................... her ruin.
• brought in
• brought up
• brought about
6. The publishers are planning to ………………… an expensive edition
of their new book.
• bring up
• bring out
• bring in
7. They …………………. the orphan as their own child.
• brought out
• brought up
• brought in
8. She seems to be ………………
• pull off

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Class X English Grammar Phrasal Verbs and
Prepositional Verbs

• run off
• well off
9. …………….. your shoes.
• Take off
• Get off
• Runoff
Answers:
1. The Professor called for an explanation of his conduct.
2. the doctor immediately.
3. Sam called on us two days back.
4. My Mother cannot call up past events.
5. Her arrogance brought about her ruin.
6. The publishers are planning to bring out an expensive edition of their
new book.
7. They brought up the orphan as their own child.
8. She seems to be well off.
9. Take off your shoes.

Practice questions
Fill in the blanks
1. Look ……. that car.
2. I’m thinking ……. taking a computer course.
3. I agree ……… you 100%.
4. I can’t wait …… him. I’m already late.
5. He worries ……….. His parents.
6. Thanks ………. dropping me here.
7. Can I speak …… you for a minute?

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Class X English Grammar Phrasal Verbs and
Prepositional Verbs

8. I can’t wait ….. see you again.

Answers:
1. Look at that car.
2. I’m thinking of taking a computer course.
3. I agree with you 100%.
4. I can’t wait for him. I’m already late.
5. He worries about his parents.
6. Thanks for dropping me here.
7. Can I speak to you for a minute?
8. I can’t wait to see you again.

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