Phrasal Verbs Rules Phrasal Verbs and other multi-word verbs

Phrasal verbs are part of a large group of verbs called "multi-word verbs". Phrasal verbs and other multi-word verbs are an important part of the English language. Multi-word verbs, including phrasal verbs, are very common, especially in spoken English. A multiword verb is a verb like "pick up", "turn on" or "get on with". For convenience, many people refer to all multi-word verbs as phrasal verbs. These verbs consist of a basic verb + another word or words. The other word(s) can be prepositions and/or adverbs. The two or three words that make up multi-word verbs form a short "phrase" - which is why these verbs are often all called "phrasal verbs". The important thing to remember is that a multi-word verb is still a verb. "Get" is a verb. "Get up", is also a verb, a different verb. "Get" and "get up" are two different verbs. They do not have the same meaning. So you should treat each multi-word verb as a separate verb, and learn it like any other verb. Look at these examples. You can see that there are three types of multi-word verb: single-word verb multiword verbs prepositional verbs phrasal verbs look look after look up direct your eyes in a certain direction take care of search for and find information in a reference book anticipate with pleasure You must look before you leap. Who is looking after the baby? You can look up my number in the telephone directory. I look forward to meeting you.

phrasalprepositional verbs

look forward to

Like many grammar books, we divide multi-word verbs into:

prepositional verbs phrasal verbs phrasal-prepositional verbs

Other grammars, however, call all multi-word verbs "phrasal verbs". Phrasal verbs are a group of multi-word verbs made from a verb plus another word or words. Many people refer to all multi-word verbs as phrasal verbs. On these pages we make a distinction between three types of multi-word verbs: prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs and phrasal-prepositional verbs. On this page we look at phrasal verbs proper.

Phrasal verbs are made of: verb + adverb Phrasal verbs can be:

intransitive (no direct object) transitive (direct object)

Here are some examples of phrasal verbs:

examples phrasal verbs get up break down put off turn down meaning direct object I don't like to get up. He was late because his car broke down. We will have to put off They turned down the meeting. my offer.

intransitive phrasal verbs transitive phrasal verbs

rise from bed cease to function postpone refuse

Separable Phrasal Verbs

When phrasal verbs are transitive (that is, they have a direct object), we can usually separate the two parts. For example, "turn down" is a separable phrasal verb. We can say: "turn down my offer" or "turn my offer down". Look at this table: They They turned turned my offer down down. my offer.

transitive phrasal verbs are

separable

However, if the direct object is a pronoun, we have no choice. We must separate the phrasal verb and insert the pronoun between the two parts. Look at this example with the separable phrasal verb "switch on": direct John switched on the radio. These are all possible.

object pronouns must go between the two parts of transitive phrasal verbs

John switched John switched

the radio it

on. on.

John switched

on

it.

This is not possible.

Separable or inseparable phrasal verbs? Some dictionaries tell you when phrasal verbs are separable. If a dictionary writes "look (something) up", you know that the phrasal verb "look up" is separable, and you can say "look something up" and "look up something". It's a good idea to write "something/somebody" as appropriate in your vocabulary book when you learn a new phrasal verb, like this:

get up break down put something/somebody off turn sthg/sby down

This tells you whether the verb needs a direct object (and where to put it).

Prepositional Verbs
Prepositional verbs are a group of multi-word verbs made from a verb plus another word or words. Many people refer to all multi-word verbs as phrasal verbs. On these pages we make a distinction between three types of multi-word verbs: prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs and phrasal-prepositional verbs. On this page we look at prepositional verbs. Prepositional verbs are made of: verb + preposition Because a preposition always has an object, all prepositional verbs have direct objects. Here are some examples of prepositional verbs: examples prepositional verbs believe in meaning direct object have faith in the existence of I believe in God.

look after talk about wait for

take care of discuss await

He is looking after Did you talk about John is waiting for

the dog. me? Mary.

Prepositional verbs cannot be separated. That means that we cannot put the direct object between the two parts. For example, we must say "look after the baby". We cannot say "look the baby after": prepositional verbs are Who is looking after the baby? Who is looking the baby after? This is possible. This is not possible.

inseparable

It is a good idea to write "something/somebody" in your vocabulary book when you learn a new prepositional verb, like this:

believe in something/somebody look after sthg/sby

This reminds you that this verb needs a direct object (and where to put it).

Phrasal-prepositional Verbs
Phrasal-prepositional verbs are a small group of multi-word verbs made from a verb plus another word or words. Many people refer to all multi-word verbs as phrasal verbs. On these pages we make a distinction between three types of multi-word verbs: prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs and phrasal-prepositional verbs. On this page we look at phrasalprepositional verbs. Phrasal-prepositional verbs are made of: verb + adverb + preposition Look at these examples of phrasal-prepositional verbs: phrasal-prepositional verbs meaning examples direct

object get on with put up with look forward to run out of have a friendly relationship He doesn't get on with with tolerate anticipate with pleasure use up, exhaust I won't put up with I look forward to We have run out of his wife. your attitude. seeing you. eggs.

Because phrasal-prepositional verbs end with a preposition, there is always a direct object. And, like prepositional verbs, phrasal-prepositional verbs cannot be separated. Look at these examples: We We ran out of ran out of fuel. it.

phrasal-prepositional verbs are

inseparable