PHRASAL VERBS

PART 1.
WHAT IS A PHRASAL
VERB?
 WHAT IS A PHRASAL VERB?

A phrasal verb is a two-part verb formed by a verb and a

particle:
The particle usually gives a new meaning to the verb.
 ▪ It has two parts:
▪ The first part is called the base, in which the verb
is located.
▪ The second part consists of an adverb or a
preposition that follows the base.

FORM
▪ A sentence that contains a phrasal verb usually have
the following structures:
▪ … + verb + object + preposition/adverb + …
▪ … + verb + preposition/adverb + object + …
 ▪ Some phrasal verbs are transitive, which means they must be
followed by an object: I have to look for the
grammar book.

▪ Some phrasal verbs are intransitive, so they cannot be

followed by an object: Come in. The door is
RULES open.

▪ While some of the phrasal verbs are separable and you can
put the object in the middle of them, some are not, so you
cannot put the object between the two parts:
Can you switch the light off, please?
 Their meanings are completely
different from the original verb and we
cannot understand a phrasal verb by
looking at its components.
IMPORTANT:
There is no rule regarding this topic,
therefore you need to learn them by
heart.
 GO ON
▪ I’m sorry. What were you saying? Go on.
▪ What’s going on?
▪ MEANING: continue, happen.

GO
GO OUT
▪ We’re going out this evening.
▪ Did you hear? Jane and Keith are going out!

▪ MEANING: to depart from a room, house, country, etc.

 GET ON (WITH)/ GET ALONG (WITH)
▪ Do you get along well with your co-workers? [to be friendly
or compatible]
▪ I ignored their conversation and got on with my work.
[continue]
▪ I get on the bus at Market Square. [to board]
GET
GET OFF
▪ We get off at the last stop. [to descend (from a bus, train,
plane…)].
 GET UP
▪ I get up at 7 a.m. [to wake and rise from one's
bed]

GET OVER
GET
▪ You'll soon get over your cancer. [recover
from]
 PUT ON
▪ Put on your coat before you go out. [to clothe oneself
in]
▪ It’s dark. Can you put on the light, please? [turn on]
▪ He looks like he’s put on weight. [gain weight]
PUT
PUT OFF
▪ The boss put the meeting off until next week.
[postpone]
 LOOK FOR
▪ I’m looking for a new job. [I want to find
a new job]

LOOK
LOOK AFTER
▪ Grandma looks after the children while
the parents work. [to take care of
someone]