What are Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs

By Arundathie AbeysingheBy Arundathie Abeysinghe

Lecturer in English Lecturer in English

International Aviation AcademyInternational Aviation Academy

SriLankan AirlinesSriLankan AirlinesArundathie AbeysingheArundathie Abeysinghe

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What is a phrasal verb?What is a phrasal verb? A verb A verb plusplus a preposition a preposition oror adverbadverb

which creates which creates a meaning different a meaning different from from the original verbthe original verb

Some Some phrasal verbs phrasal verbs are intransitiveare intransitive An intransitive verb An intransitive verb cannot be cannot be

followed followed by an objectby an object Phrasal Verbs Phrasal Verbs ((also called also called multi-wordmulti-word or or

multi-part multi-part verbs)verbs) Arundathie AbeysingheArundathie Abeysinghe 22

Although Although many many phrasal verbs phrasal verbs can take can take an object an object in both places, in both places, the object the object must be must be placed placed betweenbetween the verb the verb and the and the preposition,preposition, if the object if the object is a is a pronounpronoun

Phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs are usually are usually two-word two-word phrases phrases consisting of consisting of verbverb + + adverbadverb or or verbverb + + prepositionpreposition

Arundathie AbeysingheArundathie Abeysinghe 33

Phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs are mainly used are mainly used in in spoken English spoken English and and informal textsinformal texts

TheyThey should be should be avoidedavoided in in academic academic writingwriting

e.g.e.g.to postpone to postpone -- rather thanrather than to put off to put off


There are There are many types of many types of phrasal phrasal verbsverbsWhich Which taketake objectsobjectsWhich Which don’t take don’t take objectsobjectsTransitive and Transitive and intransitiveintransitive phrasal phrasal verbs verbs Three-word Three-word phrasal verbsphrasal verbs


Phrasal verbs which take Phrasal verbs which take objectsobjects Phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs which take objects which take objects can can

be be separableseparable oror inseparableinseparable Separable Separable phrasal verbs phrasal verbs can remain can remain

together together when using when using an object an object that is that is a noun or a noun or noun phrasenoun phrase

e.g. e.g. I picked my son up.I picked my son up. OR OR I picked up my son.I picked up my son.


Separable phrasal verbsSeparable phrasal verbs

Must be Must be separated separated when when a pronoun a pronoun is is usedused

I picked her up from school.I picked her up from school. NOT NOT I picked up her from school.I picked up her from school.


Transitive and intransitive phrasal Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbsverbs Some Some phrasal verbs phrasal verbs are transitiveare transitive A transitive verb A transitive verb always always has an objecthas an object e.g.: e.g.: He made up an excuse.He made up an excuse. 'Excuse' 'Excuse' - - the object of the verbthe object of the verb Some phrasal verbs Some phrasal verbs are intransitive are intransitive An intransitive verb An intransitive verb does not have does not have an an

objectobject e.g.: e.g.: His jeep broke down.His jeep broke down.


Three-word Phrasal Verbs Three-word Phrasal Verbs

Some verbs Some verbs are followed are followed by by two prepositions two prepositions or or adverbsadverbs

These phrasal verbs These phrasal verbs are always are always inseparableinseparable She is She is looking forward to looking forward to meeting Monica. meeting Monica. OR OR She is She is looking forward to looking forward to meeting her. meeting her. We didn't We didn't get on get on with our employerwith our employer. . OR OR We didn't We didn't get on get on with him.with him.


Thank you!Thank you!


What are Phrasal Verbs?

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