Phrasal Verbs

Introduction

What are Multi-word Verbs

Multi-word Verbs are Verbs that combine with one or two particles (a preposition and/or an adverb)

I'm looking for my keys. Have you seen them?	verb + preposition
Look out! There's a car coming.	verb + adverb
A snob is a person who looks down on people of lower social class.	verb + adverb + preposition

If the addition of the particle(s) change the meaning of th verb, it is usually called a phrasal verb because it has the meaning of a phrase. However, there are so many different types of phrasal verbs that it is easier to call all the combinations of verb = particle(s) multi-word verbs.

Literal or non-literal meaning?

Literal meaning

Look at the following example , where the verb and particle keep their separate literal meaning

He looked up and saw a plane.	Here the meaning of the verb and the particle have not changed.
looked up	in the direction of the sky.

Non-literal meaning

Sometimes the addition of the particle(s) creates a multi-word verb that has a different meaning.

He looked up all the new words in the dictionary. look up means to find information in a reference book.

If the addition of the particle(s) change the meaning of th verb, it is usually called a phrasal verb because it has the meaning of a phrase. However, there are so many different types of phrasal verbs that it is easier to call all the combinations of verb = particle(s) multi-word verbs.

Semi-literal meaning

Some multi-word verbs have semi- literal meaning; The basic meaning of the verb remains the same. but the particle adds its own particular meaning..

We decided to drive on.

Some particles can have a general meaning when combined with a certain group of verbs. For example the particle round can be used to give the meaning of visiting someone informally.

• You can call round any time. We'll always be pleased to see you.
• Would you like yo come round on Saturday? We'll be in all day.
• Let's ask Ann and Mark round for a meal next week.
• I'll drop round and see him on my way home from work.
• She isn't here at the moment. She's gone round to see the woman next door.
• The wind was so strong it blew overthe garden wall.
• As he entered the room he tripped over and fell onto the floor.
• The car knocked over a man on a bicycle.
• She place her bike carefully against the wall but it fell over.
• Our cat was run over by a lorry last week.
• The little girl was pushed him overand he fell onto some glass.

The frequency and style of muli-word verbs

Multi-word verbs are frequently used in everyday spoken English and they usually have an informal style. Quite often there is no single word which has exactly the same meaning as the multi-word verb, but for some of them there is a Latin-based verb which has an equivalent meaning. However, these Latin-based verbs tend to be used in more formal contexts. Compare the following:

I can't put up with this noise any longer.

This letter is to inform you that we are not prepared to tolerate any further disturbance from your cassette player and will take appropriate legal action if it continue.

Multiple meanings

The same multi-word verb can have several different meanings

1. I finally worked out the answer to the problem.
2. I am fit and strong because I work out in the gymnasium for an hour every day.
3. I worked out how much it would cost me to travel across Europe by train.
4. He's a very strange person. I can't work him out.

Match the different meanings of work out in the sentences above with the definitions below.

1. to do physical exercises
2. to understand someone
3. to calculate something
4. to find a solution to something

Word order

Each multi-word verb has it's own rule for word order. Multi-word verbs which have more than one meaning can have several word order rules. Some descriptions of these rules are too complex to be useful, but there are four types which cover most multi-word verbs.

The four basic types

Type:1 multi-word verbs

Some multi-word verbs are intransitive (i.e they don't take an object). We can use these multi-word verbs in a sentence on their own or continue the sentence in any way we like in order to add further information.

• John called round.
• John called round last night.
• John called roundto see you.
• John called round because he wanted to borrow some sugar.

It is impossiple to separate the verb and the particle.

• incorrect John called last night round.
• incorrect John called to see you round.

To be continued ...

full-width