What
are phrasal verbs?
1. A phrasal
verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different
from the original verb.
Example:
I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. run + into = meet
He ran away when he was 15. run + away = leave home
2. Some phrasal
verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. run + into = meet
He ran away when he was 15. run + away = leave home
Example:
He suddenly showed up. "show up" cannot take an object
3. Some phrasal
verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.He suddenly showed up. "show up" cannot take an object
Example:
I made up the story. "story" is the object of "make up"
4. Some transitive
phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the
preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are
marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition / adverb.I made up the story. "story" is the object of "make up"
Example:
I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car.
She looked the phone number up.
5. Some transitive
phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In
this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a
+ after the preposition / adverb.I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car.
She looked the phone number up.
Example:
I ran into an old friend yesterday.
They are looking into the problem.
6. Some transitive
phrasal verbs can take an object in both places. In this Phrasal Verb
Dictionary, such phrasal verbs are marked with both * and + .I ran into an old friend yesterday.
They are looking into the problem.
Example:
I looked the number up in the phone book.
I looked up the number in the phone book.
7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs
can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the verb and
the preposition if the object is a pronoun.I looked the number up in the phone book.
I looked up the number in the phone book.
Example:
I looked the number up in the phone book.
I looked up the number in the phone book.
I looked it up in the phone book. correct
I looked up it in the phone book. incorrect
I looked the number up in the phone book.
I looked up the number in the phone book.
I looked it up in the phone book. correct
I looked up it in the phone book. incorrect
