English Grammar Lesson: Phrasal Verbs

1. What Are Phrasal Verbs?

Definition: A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles (usually prepositions or adverbs) that together create a meaning different from the original verb alone.

Phrasal verbs are very common in English, especially in spoken language, and they can be difficult for learners because their meanings are often idiomatic.

Example:

• She gave up smoking last year. (Meaning: She stopped smoking.)
• The car broke down on the highway. (Meaning: The car stopped working.)

2. Types of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can be categorized into two main types: transitive and intransitive.

2.1 Transitive Phrasal Verbs

A transitive phrasal verb requires a direct object to complete its meaning.

Example:

• She turned off the lights. (The direct object is “the lights.”)
• He looked up the word in the dictionary. (The direct object is “the word.”)

Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable, meaning the object can be placed between the verb and the particle. Others are inseparable, meaning the object must come after the particle.

Separable Example:

• She turned off the lights. / She turned the lights off.

Inseparable Example:

• He ran into an old friend. (You cannot say “ran an old friend into.”)

2.2 Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

An intransitive phrasal verb does not require a direct object. It stands alone in the sentence.

Example:

• The plane took off on time.
• The teacher woke up early.

3. Common Phrasal Verbs

Here are some common phrasal verbs used in everyday English:

• Give up: To stop doing something. (She gave up smoking.)
• Break down: To stop working (for machinery). (The car broke down.)
• Look after: To take care of someone or something. (She looks after her younger brother.)
• Put off: To delay something. (They put off the meeting until next week.)
• Run out of: To have no more of something. (We ran out of milk.)