Phrasal verbs
Normal English verb that is followed by
a small adverb – “adverb particle”
Particularly common in informal writing
and speech
Adverb particles and
prepositions
Words like down, in, up are not always
prepositions
prepositions = have an object
f.ex. “I ran down the road.”
“She jumped off the wall.”
adverbs = no objects
f.ex. “Sit down.”
“Did you switch the lights off?”
Adverb particles and prepositions
• Typical adverb particles and prepositions:
• above, about, across, ahead, along,
around, aside, away
• back, before, behind, below, by
• forward, in, home, near, off, on, out, over,
past, through, under, up
Exceptions
• Only adverb particles:
• back, away
• Only prepositions:
• from, during
Types of phrasal verbs
Literal and idiomatic meaning
• Literal meaning
(almost same or
similar meaning to
the original verb)
• “Take off your
shoes before you
come in.”
• Idiomatic meaning
(new meaning
completely
different from the
original verb)
• “We took off in the
middle of the
storm.”
Types of phrasal verbs
Two or three-part verbs
• Two-part verbs
• deal with, get over,
head for, join in …
• Three-part verbs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
catch up with
cut down on
drop in on
get on/along with, get back to,
go up to
keep up with
live up to
look forward to, look out for,
look out onto
• put up with
• run out of
Types of phrasal verbs
Transitive and intransitive verbs
• Transitive verbs (have • Intransitive verbs (do
an object)
not have an object)
• “He left her, but she is • “I got up at 7 a.m.”
getting over it.”
• “The plane took off.”
• “I´ll pick you up at 4.”
Types of phrasal verbs
Transitive inseparable and separable verbs
• Inseparable verbs
(object comes after
the phrasal verb)
• “Could you deal with
it, please?”
• Separable verbs
• object phrases tend to
be put after the
particle/preposition
• “We brought up this
child.”
• pronouns are always
put in between
• “We brought her up.”
Hints to learn phrasal verbs
A
• Choose an adverb particle and find verbs
that could be connected with it
• f.ex. along – bring along, come along, get
along
• Choose a verb and find as many particles
as possible
• f.ex. bring – along, in, on, out
Hints to learn phrasal verbs
B
• Study every new phrasal verb carefully,
look at the context of use, check the
meaning/meanings
Literature:
Bakalářová, N.: Anglická gramatika
(ARSCI, 2005)
Gráf, T., Peters, S.: Nová cvičebnice anglické
gramatiky
(Polyglot, 1998)
Swan, M.: Practical English Usage
(Oxford University Press, 2009)
Vince, M.: Intermediate Language Practice with key
(Macmillan, 2003)
Internet sources:
www.englishpage.com
www.eslcafe.com
www.usingenglish.com
www.learn-english-today.com/phrasal-verbs
www.helpforenglish.cz/gramatika/slovesa