Phrasal verbs:

particles and their meanings

•Particles often add a specific meaning to
a phrasal verb.

•Most particles have more than one

meaning.
 back = 1 repeating
2 looking into the past
Examples:

•The secretary read the letter back to her boss. (read the letter
again)
•This building dates back to 1650. (the building dates from the
past, from 1650)
 down = 1 record in writing
2 reducing

Examples:

• I jotted down the phone number on a scrap of paper. (write

on a piece of paper)
• Wait till your coffee cools down. (reduces temperature)
 off= 1 departing
2 ending

Examples:

•The thieves made off with £1

million in cash. (ran away)
•Sam broke off his engagement
to Tilly. (ended his engagement)
 on = 1 continuing
2 attacking

Example:

•My boss droned on for ages at the

meeting. (continued talking)
•Pick on someone your own size!
(fight with)
 out = 1 disappearing
2 solving, searching
Examples:

•Dinosaurs died out about 60 million years ago. (disappeared all)

•I could just make out a ship on the horizon. (see)
 over = 1 visiting
2 considering, examining
• Examples:

• Let's pop over to Jamie’s. (Let’s visit Jamie)

• Always look over your work before you hand it in.
(examine your work)
 up = 1 approach
2 improve
• Examples:

• Don't creep up on me like that! (approach me, come

behind me)
• I'm going to evening classes to brush up on my French.
(to improve my French)
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