PHRASAL VERBS (TWO-WORD AND

THREE-~ORD VERBS)

The term phrasal verb refers to a verb and preposition which together have a
special meaning. For example, put + off means "postpone." Sometimes a
phrasal verb consists of three parts. For example, put + up + with means
"tolerate." Phrasal verbs are also called two-word verbs or three-word verbs.
SEPARABLEPHRASALVERBS
(a) I handed mypaperin yesterday.
(b) I handedin mypaperyesterday.

A phrasal verb may be either separableor nonseparable. With a separable phrasal verb, a noun may come
either between the verb and the preposition or after
the preposition, as in (a) and (b).

(c) I handed it in yesterday.

(INCORRECT: I handedin ityesterday.)

A pronoun comes between the verb and the preposition if;1hephrasal verb is separable, as in (c).

NONSEPARABLE PHRASAL VERBS

With a nonseparable phrasal verb, a noun or pronoun

must follow the preposition, as in (d) and (e).

(d) I ran into, an oldfriend yesterday.

(e) I ran into her yesterday.
(INCORRECT: I ran an oldfriend into.)
(INCORRECT: I ran her intoyesterday.)

do over. . . .. :i

*drop by, drop in

*drop
drop out
off. (ot)
. . ... ". J

G *get
get
*get
*get
*get

along(with)1
back.(from)'
in, get into.
off. . . . . . . .
on... .......

*get out of. . . . . .

*get over. . . . . . .
*get through. . . .

*getup ........
giveback......

'It

Phrasal verbs are especially common in informal English. Following is a list

of common phrasal verbs and their usual meanings. This list contains only
those phrasal verbs used in the exercises in the text. The phrasal verbs
marked with an asterisk (*) are nonseparable.

figureout. .. ..

fill O\1t.. .. . ..I

find out. . . . . . !

gIve up. . . . . . . .
*go over. . . . . . . .

*growup (in) ...

H

hand in.......
hang up . . . . . . ,

have Qn . . . . . . .

ask out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

ask someone to go on a date

B bring about, bring on. . .. cause

bring up

call back. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
call in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
call off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*call on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
call up .. .. . .. .. .. . .. ..
*catch up (with) . . . . . . . . .
*check i~, check into. . . . .
*check into. . . . . . . . . . . . .
check out. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
*check out (of) . . . . . . . . . .
cheer up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
clean up. . . . . . . .\. . . . . . .
*come acI'oss. . . . . . . . . . . .
cross out. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
cut ouC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A26 D Appendix 2

(1) rearchildren;(2) mentionorintroducea topic

returna telephone call
ask to come to an official

place for a specific

purpose

keep out (of). . .

*keep up (with) .
kick out (of) . . .

L *look after. . . . . .
*look into. . . . . .

cancel

*look out (for). . .

look over. . . . . .

(1) ask to speak in class; (2) visit

call on the telephone
reach the same position or level

look up . .. .. ..

register at a hotel
investigate
(1) take a book from the library; (2) investigate
leave a hotel

M makeup ......

make (someone) feel happier

make clean and orderly

P *pass away. . . . ~
pass out. . . . . . .
pick out. . . . . . .
pick up . . . . . . .
point out. . . . . .

meet by chance
draw a line through
stop an annoying activity

name after,nam

do over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . doagain
*drop by, drop in (on) . . . . visit informally
drop off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . leave something/someone at a place
*drop out (of) . . . . . . . . . . . stop going to school, to a class, to a club, etc.
figure out.

. . . . . . . . . . . . find the answer

by reasoning

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. write the completions of

find out. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. discoverinformation

fill O\lt

G *get along (with)

a questionnaire or official form

existsatisfactorily

getback.(from)

(1)returnfromaplace;(2)receiveagain

*get in, get into. . . . . . . .. (1) entera car;(2) arrive

*get
*get
*get
*get

off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. leave an airplane, a bus, a train, a subway, a bicycle

on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. enter an airplane, a bus, a train, a subway, a bicycle
out of. . . . . . . . . . . . .. (1) leave a car; (2) avoid work or an unpleasant activity
ove):' . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. recover from an illness

*get thro:ugh

............

*get up

finish

arisefrom bed, a chair

give back. . . . . . . . . . . . .. return an item to someone

give.up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. stop trying
*go over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. review or check carefully
*growup (in)
. . ... become an adult
H

hand in . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. submit an assignment

hang up . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. (1) conclude a telephone conversation; (2) put clothes on a hanger or a

hook
have qn

. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

wear

keep out (of). . . . .. . . . .. not enter

*keep up (with)
. . . .. stay at the same position or level
kick out (of) . . . . . . . . . . . force (someone) to leave

L *look after. . . . . . . . . . . . . . takecare of

*look into. . . . . . . . . . . . . . investigate
*look out (for). . . . . . . . . . . be careful
look over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . review or check carefully
look up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . look for information in a reference book
M

/N

make up . . . . . . . . . . . . .. (1) invent; (2) do past work

name after, name for. . .. give a baby the nameof someoneelse

P *pass away. . . . . . . . . . . . . die

pass out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) distribute; (2) lose consciousness
pick out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . select

pickup

. . . . . . . (1) go to get someone (e.g., in a car); (2) take in one's hand

point out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . call attention to
PrepositionCombinations D A27

put
put
put
put
put
*put

away. . . . . .
back. . . . . .
off. . . . . . . .
on . . . . . . . .
out. . . . . . . .
up with. . . .

. . . . . . ..
. . . . . . ..

remove to a proper place

return to original place

. . . . . . .. postpone
. . . . . . .. put clothes on one's body
. . . . . . .. extinguish a cigarette or cigar
. . . . . . .. tolerate

/
R *run into, *run across. . .. meetby chance
*run out (of). . . . . . . . . . . . finish a supply of something

S *show up. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. appear, come

shut off. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. stop a machine, light, faucet
T *take after. . . . . . . . . . . . .. resemble
take off. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. (1) remove clothing; (2) leave on a trip
takeout. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. (1) take someone on a date; (2) remove
take over. . . . . . . . . . . . .. take control
take up
. . . . . . .. begin a new activity or topic
tear down. . . . . . . . . . . .. demolish; reduce to nothing
tear up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. tear into many little pieces
think over. . . . . . . . . . . .. consider carefully
throwaway, throw out. .. discard; get rid of
throw up . . . . . . . . . . . . .. vomit; regurgitatefood
try on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. put on clothing to see if it fits
turn down. . . . . . . . . . . .. decreasevolume or intensity
turn in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. (1) submit an assignment; (2) go to bed
turn off. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. stop a machine, light, faucet
turn on
. . . . . . .. begin a machine, light, faucet
turn out. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. extinguish a light
turn

up

. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

A28 0 Appendix 2

Tol
the
err,
fia.

SINGULAR

WORD FF:

WORD CHO

VERBTENS

5+

ADD A WOF

5-

OMIT AWO

WORD ORD

INCOMPLE'

increase volume or intensity