PHRASAL VERBSPHRASAL VERBS

Emszt FanniEmszt Fanni

PROSPECTS: Phrasal and PROSPECTS: Phrasal and prepositional verbsprepositional verbs Description: these are verbs in which Description: these are verbs in which

two or three parts combine (look two or three parts combine (look after, break down, put off, put up after, break down, put off, put up with)with)

In some cases the combination In some cases the combination means almost the same as the verb means almost the same as the verb alone (wake up, sit down)alone (wake up, sit down)

Often it’s meaning is quite different Often it’s meaning is quite different from the meaning of the parts from the meaning of the parts separately (look after =take care of, separately (look after =take care of, break down =stop working, put off break down =stop working, put off =postpone, put up with =tolerate)=postpone, put up with =tolerate)

Verbs with prepositionsVerbs with prepositions

They always have objects (they are They always have objects (they are transitive verbs) and it is not possible transitive verbs) and it is not possible to separate the verb and it’s object to separate the verb and it’s object (somebody, something).(somebody, something).

There are a few ‘three word’ verbs There are a few ‘three word’ verbs (put up with, go in for, get up to) (put up with, go in for, get up to) which work grammatically the same which work grammatically the same as other prepositional verbs.as other prepositional verbs.

Verbs with particles (phrasal Verbs with particles (phrasal verbs)verbs) They are different from They are different from

prepositional verbs.prepositional verbs. Unlike prepositional verbs, they Unlike prepositional verbs, they

can be intransitive: The giant’s can be intransitive: The giant’s dog woke up.dog woke up.

However, most of them do have However, most of them do have objects: let objects: let somebody/something out, put somebody/something out, put off somethingoff something

Word order with phrasal verbsWord order with phrasal verbs

If the object is a noun, it is If the object is a noun, it is usually possible to put this usually possible to put this before the particle or after it:before the particle or after it:

The noise woke the giant up.The noise woke the giant up. The noise woke up the giant.The noise woke up the giant.

Word order with phrasal verbsWord order with phrasal verbs

But if the object is a pronoun, it But if the object is a pronoun, it must come before the particle:must come before the particle:

Don’t wake him up! (Don’t wake Don’t wake him up! (Don’t wake up the giant, Don’t wake the up the giant, Don’t wake the giant up)giant up)

He kept putting it off. (He kept He kept putting it off. (He kept putting off the day.)putting off the day.)

If a phrasal or prepositional verb is If a phrasal or prepositional verb is followed by another verb, the followed by another verb, the second verb is usually in gerundsecond verb is usually in gerund I must get on with reading my I must get on with reading my

book.book. The giant carried on throwing The giant carried on throwing

rocks all day.rocks all day.

HEADWAYHEADWAY

Phrasal and prepositional verbs Phrasal and prepositional verbs are referred to as multi-word are referred to as multi-word verbs in this coursebook.verbs in this coursebook.

Description: many verbs in Description: many verbs in English are followed by a English are followed by a preposition or an adverb. These preposition or an adverb. These verbs are called multi-word verbs are called multi-word verbs (prepositional or phrasal verbs (prepositional or phrasal verbs)verbs)