PHRASAL VERBS

Definition

A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a preposition or adverb that modifies or changes the

meaning; 'give up' is a phrasal verb that means 'stop doing' something, which is very different
from 'give'. The word or words that modify a verb in this manner can also go under the name 
particle.
Features or Characteristics and Use of Phrasal Verbs

 Phrasal verbs are used much more between native speakers than between non-native speakers
 Phrasal verbs are used much more in informal spoken than in formal written communication
 Phrasal verbs can make communication quicker, easier and more relaxed
Eg.
 She learned some Italian by practising it rather than being taught it during her
holiday in Rome.
 She picked up some Italian during her holiday in Rome.
 Common phrasal verbs often use common verbs such as pick, give, make, take, put, come etc.
’
 Most phrasal verbs have a twin: a regular verb which has a similar meaning
Eg.
If I pick somebody up from the airport, I could express this action using the regular verb
‘collect
 Phrasal verbs may have a literal and / or an idiomatic meaning
1. She picked up the pen from the floor.
2. He picked her up from the airport.
3. She picked up a little Italian during her holiday in Rome.
 Sentence 1 is quite easy to understand. She takes the pen from a down position to
an upposition. In other words, it refers to a vertical movement.
 Sentence 2 is more difficult but many of you would have a good chance of understanding
that he takes her from the airport to another place. Again, this use refers to a physical
movement.
 Sentence 3 is almost impossible to guess. The meaning of pick in this sentence is not
clear. Up is not used in a physical sense here.
How to identify a VERB + PREPOSITION

 If the preposition can be changed, it is not a particle;  therefore the combination is not a
phrasal verb. Compare the following:-

 VERB + PREPOSITION:  The man looked over the gate (round the gate, under the gate,

etc.)

 PHRASAL VERB + PARTICLE:  The man looked over (=checked)the accounts 

Groups
Intransitive verbs
These don't take an object
They had an argument, but they've made up now.
Inseparable verbs
The object must come after the particle.
They are looking after their grandchildren.
Separable verbs
With some separable verbs, the object must come between the verb and the particle:
The quality of their work sets them apart from their rivals.
We classify these as Separable [obligatory]
With some separable verbs, the object can be before or after the particle, though when a pronoun is used it comes
before the particle:
Turn the TV off.
Turn off the TV.
Turn it off.
We classify these as Separable [optional]
Types of phrasal verbs

TYPE 1 PHRASAL VERBS

verb + particle + object (noun)
verb + object (noun) + particle
verb + object pronoun + particle

 In type 1 phrasal verb, the pronoun cannot be used after the particle.

EXAMPLE
 Don't forget to ring up DAVID NELSON.
 Yes.  I must ring DAVID NELSON up.  I'll ring HIM up now.
Types of phrasal verbs

TYPE 2 PHRASAL VERBS

verb + particle + preposition (with/without an object)
PHRASAL VERB + PARTICLE + PREPOSITION:  She looked up to him (= respected)
Types of phrasal verbs

TYPE 3 PHRASAL VERBS

verb + particle + object (noun)
verb + particle + object (pronoun)

 In type 3 phrasal verb, the object and object pronoun must be used after the particle.

EXAMPLE
 I can't do without TOBACCO.      I can't do without IT.  
 COMPARE
 I can't do THIS JOB.                     I can't do IT.
Types of phrasal verbs

 TYPE 4 PHRASAL VERBS

 verb + particle (no object)
Groups of phrasal verbs

 Literal phrasal verbs are quite easy to understand, as you can decipher the meaning from
their two parts (verbs like sit down, look around and fall down shouldn’t cause you
problems).

 On the other hand, we cannot decipher the meaning of an idiomatic phrasal verb just by
looking at its individual parts: learners need help to understand the meaning of verbs such
as get on with, show up and let down.
The Adventures of Lara Craft

Our story takes place in an old house. Lara Croft was intelligent and beautiful. In her
looks she took after her father, in her personality she took after her mother. Recently
she had taken up archaeology. She was very busy so she had taken on an assistant, Mrs
Bluebottle. It was very interesting but there was a lot to learn. It was difficult to take in all
the information. And now she was going on her first dig. The day before she had bought
some new equipment, but when she opened the box, she saw that some of it was broken,
so she had to take it back to the shop. The next day she got up early and drove to the
airport. Her plane had just taken off when hijackers took over the plane. They forced all
the passengers to take off their valuables, their jewellery and give it to the hijackers.
What an adventure, and this was only the first day!
Match the phrasal verb to the definition

1. Take up a hobby a. Employ someone new

2. Take over b. Remove clothing (Opposite of put on)
3. Take on staff c. Be similar to someone, physically or in character
4. Take off clothing d. Occur
5. Take place e. Start an activity or hobby for the first time
6. Take off (aeroplane) f. Leave the ground
7. Take after someone g. Take control
8. Take in information h. Return something (Because it is faulty or it is borrowed)
9. Take back to a shop i. Understand and remember information
The Adventures of Lara Craft

She finally arrived in Egypt. On the first day Lara hired a car to get to know the city. She
wanted to get to know the other archaeologist, so she suggested they all get together that
evening, for dinner. During the dinner Lara sat next to a very depressing man called William,
who worked for the British government. All he talked about was his girlfriend who had just left
him. He said he had only come to Egypt to help get over the pain. He wasn’t interested in
archaeology. Listening to him really got her down. She tried to cheer him up, to tell him that
there were plenty more fish in the sea, but it was very difficult to get across her ideas because
he didn’t listen. The next day Lara decide to get down to some work. She wanted to work
hard because she wanted to get ahead, she was very ambitious. Unfortunately she had to
work with Mr depressing, William! He was very lazy. He tried to get out of doing work by
saying he was ill, heart broken! He didn’t get away with it. One time Lara and Mrs Bluebottle
found him secretly reading a book in his tent. They had a look at the book, it was called “The
legend of the Lost City of Gold” and as they were reading it she came across* a strange map. A
map to the lost City of Gold! Maybe there was another reason William had come to Egypt
Match the phrasal verb to the definition
1. Get to know someone or somewhere
2. Get across an idea
3. Get together
4. Get someone down
5. Get out of doing something
6. Get away with doing something
7. Get ahead
8. Get down to work
9. Get over an illness or bad experience h. Finally start to work (after chatting or
a. Make progress
b. Come together for a social event
c. Make someone feel depressed
d. Communicate an idea to someone clearly
e. Recuperate from an illness
f. Know someone or somewhere better
g. Avoid doing something you don’t want to
do (e.g. washing up)
putting it off)
i. Do something bad and not get caught
The Adventures of Lara Craft
The next day Lara decided to look for the city of gold. According to the map, the entrance was
somewhere in the famous lost valley. She looked in on Mrs Bluebottle to say goodbye, but
Mrs Bluebottle was already packing her suitcase. She wanted to come along, to look after
Lara. To be honest, Mrs Bluebottle was looking forward to the adventure! But Lara knew she
would need more help. She had an old friend, Bill, who lived in the city, so she looked up his
number in the telephone book. He was an expert in trekking, Lara really looked up to him.
He said he would come along, but Lara said first she wanted to find out more about William.
She didn’t trust him. Bill said he would look into it. Lara knew she could trust Bill, he
wouldn’t let her down. Bill finally turned up three hours later with strange news. William
had disappeared, and what was more, the British government had never heard of him. Who
was he and where had he gone?
Match the phrasal verb to the definition

1. look for a. try to find

2. look after b. care for (a baby or a plant)
3. look up to someone c. value someone’s opinions
4. look up a number d. wait with anticipation for something (e.g. Christmas)
5. look into something e. Try to find information in a book
6. look forward to f. Not do what you told someone you would
7. look in on someone g. Visit unexpectedly because you are in the area
8. let someone down h. Arrive after a lot of time or unexpectedly
9. turn up i. Investigate
The Adventures of Lara Craft
The next morning Bill turned up in a new jeep. I bought this to become a taxi driver but all
the companies turned me down, so we can use it now, he said. So they finally set off at dawn.
Finally they got to the valley, and there was the diamond shaped cave entrance. I n front of it
was a big dark object, Lara looked through her binoculars. It turned out to be a large group of
men with guns, and giving them orders was... William. Mrs Bluebottle wanted to turn back
immediately. “It’s dangerous,” She cried! Lara suddenly came up with an idea. I came across
this grenade in the jeep. Be careful shouted Bill. Don’t worry. Lara threw the grenade and
when it blew up, all the men ran for cover. Lara, Bill, and Mrs Bluebottle ran as fast as they
could into the cave. Lying at the entrance, was William, unconscious, so Bill grabbed him and
the set off into the depths of the cave. Finally William came round. He explained that he had
come across the map in the library. He had just come into a lot of money when his Aunt had
died, so he had decided to look for the city himself.
Match the phrasal verb to the definition
1. Turn up a. Arrive after a lot of time or unexpectedly
2. Turn someone down b. Think of an idea
3. Turn out to be c. Find by accident
4. Turn back d. Reject someone or an idea
5. Come up with an idea e. Suddenly have a lot of money (present, inheritance)
6. Come into money f. Destroy with a bomb
7. Come round g. Leave on a journey
8. Come across h. To be, finally, in the end. (And not what you expected)
9. Blow up i. Not continue on a journey, decide to go back
10. Set off j. Regain consciousness (after fainting or being knocked out
 The Adventures of Lara Craft

They looked for the cave all day. Mrs Bluebottle was tired and unhappy, she had put on weight and was
very unfit. It was difficult to put up with her constant complaining. William showed no sympathy, he kept
putting her down. Saying she was a silly old lady. When she couldn’t put up with him any longer she
hit him over the head with her handbag. It was a big handbag. He finally came round twenty minutes
later! Finally they came to the end of the cave. There was a small dark hole. What should they do, go on
or turn back? Bill couldn’t make up his mind. William said it was dangerous to go pot holing with out
the necessary equipment, but that didn’t put Lara off. Nothing was going to put her off finding the city
of Gold, not Mrs Bluebottle, William, or Bill. They heard the men with guns getting nearer. Lara got out
her mobile phone, it worked. She rang her friend the Mayor of Cairo. She got his secretary to put her
through to him They were old friends, she always put him up when he was in London. She explained
the situation, and he said he would send for help. The police would be there ASAP. Now we go into the
hole, said Lara.
Match the phrasal verb to the definition
1. Put up with someone’s
behaviour
2. Put someone up for a night
3. Put someone down
4. Put on weight
5. Put someone through to
someone
6. Put someone off an idea
7. Make up your mind
8. Send for something (help)
a. Get fatter
b. Connect by telephone
c. Finally decide (after much thought)
d. Say negative things about someone
e. Let someone stay in your home
f. Discourage someone from doing something
g. Ask for something to be brought (help, the bill
in a restaurant)
h. Tolerate someone’s behaviour.
 The Adventures of Lara Craft
There at the bottom of the hole was a pyramid of Gold, surrounded by trees. At the top of the pyramid was the Sword of

Jupiter. Suddenly there was a crash and the roof of the cave fell in behind them. They were cut off. Mrs Bluebottle lit a

cigarette. She had tried to give up but it was impossible, at least she had cut down on smoking, form 20 a day to 10 a day.

The room slowly filled with smoke. Lara knew they had to find and exit before either the men came, or Mrs Bluebottle’s

cigarettes gassed them all! Bill saw an opening in the roof of the cave. Lara cut down a tree and made a ladder. William

suddenly took the sword and attacked Lara. She knocked him out with one punch, grabbed the sword and climbed out of the

cave and into the jeep. After twenty minutes it broke down near the village. Lara tried to call the Mayor but kept getting cut

off. So they walked. They were all tired but they had to carry on. At that moment, William appeared with a gun. “Bill, stop

him!” Lara called out. But Bill didn’t move. “Sorry, Lara, but he is my brother.” “What?” “My brother, we have both been

looking for that sword for a long time. You have the map and the sword, give them back” replied Bill. She gave back the

map and was about to give back the sword when suddenly Mrs Bluebottle jumped into the air and with one swing of her

handbag, knocked William and Bill onto the ground. Lara and Mrs Bluebottle tied them up and just as they had finished, the

Mayor turned up with the police. “Well done, Lara. You have caught a clever criminal. They thought they could get away

with it but they were wrong. “We will put the sword in the museum.” We will call it “The sword of Lara Craft!”
Match the phrasal verb to the definition

1. Get cut off a. reduce the amount (cigarettes, sugar)

2. Cut down b. stop doing an activity or hobby permanently
3. Cut down on c. cause someone to lose consciousness
4. Give up d. bring down a tree by cutting
5. Break down e. stop working (an engine)
6. Carry on f. return something borrowed
7. Knock someone out g. put ropes or string around something
8. Give something back h. continue
9. Tie something up i. lose a telephone connection
Prepositional Verbs

Identify the prepositional verbs in the following ESL reading passage:

Although she admits to sometimes watching her favorite reality shows before attending to her
homework, Mary objects to procrastination. She insists on completing her assignments before
the assigned due dates. She cares about her education and has confessed to wanting good
grades. Mary also believes in working hard because she relies on grade-based scholarships for
financial aid. She often argues about quiet time with her roommate because her roommate
listens to music loudly while Mary is studying. But, Mary secretly gloats at her own success
when her roommate worries about upcoming tests.
Answer

Although she admits to sometimes watching her favorite reality shows before attending to her
homework, Mary objects to procrastination. She insists on completing her assignments before
the assigned due dates. She cares about her education and has confessed to wanting good
grades. Mary also believes in working hard because she relies on grade-based scholarships for
financial aid. She often argues about quiet time with her roommate because her roommate
listens to music loudly while Mary is studying. But, Mary secretly gloats at her own success
when her roommate worries about upcoming tests.
Phrasal Verbs
Identify the phrasal verbs in the following ESL reading passage:

When Scott woke up this morning, he discovered that his toddler had thrown up in her crib last
night. He, therefore, cleaned her bedding up before he chowed down on breakfast. While he
was tucking into his food, however, his daughter started acting up. She just suddenly broke
down and threw a tantrum on the kitchen floor. After falling apart for only a few minutes, the
tantrum blew over and his daughter calmed down. Scott then finished eating and logged onto
his computer. But, before he could access the Internet, the computer blew up. Scott looked the
phone number up, called for technical help, and told the IT technician off. He only eased up
when the tech threatened to put him on hold.
Answer
When Scott woke up this morning, he discovered that his toddler had thrown up in her crib last
night. He, therefore, cleaned her bedding up before he chowed down on breakfast. While he
was tucking into his food, however, his daughter started acting up. She just suddenly broke
down and threw a tantrum on the kitchen floor. After falling apart for only a few minutes, the
tantrum blew over and his daughter calmed down. Scott then finished eating and logged onto
his computer. But, before he could access the Internet, the computer blew up. Scott looked the
phone number up, called for technical help, and told the IT technician off. He only eased up
when the tech threatened to put him on hold.
Prepositional Verbs and Phrasal Verbs
Identify the prepositional verbs the phrasal verbs in the following ESL reading passage:

The situation did not add up. Espen depended on Julia to pick him up but she had not shown up. He
worried about what might have happened to her. Perhaps she had been taken away by a notoriously bad
band of ninjas. Espen hoped Julia would fight against such evildoers. Or, perhaps she had just forgotten
about him. Could she let him down like that? If she had simply failed to remember him, he promised that
he would lay in on her when he saw her next. But, then again, what if Julia had been knocked out by
conniving bank robbers? What if she had refused to give them her car for a getaway vehicle? What if she
had passed out in her attempts to get to him? Just then, when Espen had decided not to give up on her,
Julie pulled up to the curb. She was just running late. She gazed at Espen, and Espen blushed, thinking
about his unfounded anger. He got into the car, but, before he could apologize, she started yammering on
about how bad traffic had been. Espen silently vowed to wait patiently for her tomorrow.
Answer
The situation did not add up. Espen depended on Julia to pick him up but she had not shown
up. He worried about what might have happened to her. Perhaps she had been taken away by a
notoriously bad band of ninjas. Espen hoped Julia would fight against such evildoers. Or,
perhaps she had just forgotten about him. Could she let him down like that? If she had simply
failed to remember him, he promised that he would lay in on her when he saw her next. But,
then again, what if Julia had been knocked out by conniving bank robbers? What if she had
refused to give them her car for a getaway vehicle? What if she had passed out in her attempts
to get to him? Just then, when Espen had decided to not give up on her, Julie pulled up to the
curb. She was just running late. She gazed at Espen, and Espen blushed, thinking about his
unfounded anger. He got into the car, but, before he could apologize, she started yammering on
about how bad traffic had been. Espen silently vowed to wait patiently for her tomorrow.