Skype English School

What are phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs are verbs that consist of a verb and a particle. 

You may not have heard of the formal name for these phrases but I am sure that you have heard some of them in action. 

Verb   Particle    Example                                                                     Meaning 

look   up             You can look up any new words in your dictionary      You can find the meaning of any new words in your dictionary.

get    through     I tried to phone her but I couldn't get through.          I tried to phone her but I couldn't get a connection.

make out            I just can't make Jim out at all.                                    I just can't understand Jim's behaviour.

Particles are small words which you already know as prepositions or adverbs. Here are some of the most common phrasal verb particles: about, (a)round, at, away, back, down, for, in, into, off, on, out, over, through, to up

What do I need to know about phrasal verbs?

First you need to know the meaning of the whole phrasal verb as a unit.  
For example, look means to use your eyes and up means the opposite of down, but the phrasal verb look up can have several different meanings:

Look the word up in the dictionary. [look up = search for information in a book/computer]

I'll look you up next time I'm in London. [look up = visit someone you have not seen for a long time]

Things are looking up. [look up = improve]

Next you need to know the grammar patterns of phrasal verbs, e.g. whether the verb takes an object. The table shows the way the grammar patterns are shown.  Note that sth means something; sb means someone.

Grammar Pattern        Comment                                                                   Example

Eat out                          the verb is used without an object                           We were too tired to cook, so we decided to eat out.(eat in a restaurant)

bring back sth               the verbs must have a non human object                 This photograph brings back happy memories. (makes me remember the past)

ask out sb                     the verbs must have a human object                         I'd love to ask Sally out. (invite sally to go to a place - cinema or restaurant)

look after sb/sth           the object can either be human or non-human         I'll look after the baby whilst you cook. I'll look after your house.

ring sb back                  the object must come before the particle                   I'll ring you back later . ( I will phone again later)

Look after sb/sth          the object must come after the particle                      Can you look after the dog while I'm away? 

drop off sth/sb             the object can be before or after the particle              I dropped off the package. I dropped the package off.

Identify  the twelve phrasal verbs in these sentences.

1 I sent off the order last week but the goods haven't turned up yet.

2 I came across an interesting book in the library. I took down the title. Here it is.

3 We asked some friends around to watch a film, but the video was playing up and it eventually broke down.

4 I brought up this problem at the last meeting. It's really time to sort out the problem.

5 I wish he'd stop messing us about! He's put the meeting off three times and now he wants to call it off altogether.

Decide which of these sentences contain errors. Explain why they are wrong and suggest a correct answer. 

1 That song you just sang brings back memories of my days at college.

2 She looked the children after when their mother was in hospital.

3 I promised to ring my brother back. He called earlier when I was busy.

4 We ate out a wonderful dinner last night.

5 It was a beautiful summer evening so I asked the cat out for a drink.