Let's Get Phrasal (Verbs)!
Unlock the Secrets of Native English!
Welcome to a special week dedicated to one of the most interesting – and sometimes challenging – aspects of the English language: phrasal verbs.
Don't worry if they seem a bit tricky at first; by the end of this week, you'll be using them like a pro! Many students "freak out" about them, but we're going to make it simple.
What Exactly Are Phrasal Verbs?
Let's start by clearing up some confusion. You already know that English uses prepositions, right? Words like in, on, at, with, for, etc. Sometimes, a verb is simply followed by a preposition, and the meaning of the verb doesn't change.
Think about this example:
"I walked to the shop." (Here, "to" tells us the direction of walking.)
"She sat on the chair." (Here, "on" tells us the location of sitting.)
In these cases, "walked" still means "to move by putting one foot in front of the other," and "sat" still means "to take a seat." The prepositions just add more information about the action. This is what we call a standard collocation – the verb keeps its original meaning, and the preposition simply adds functional information.
But phrasal verbs are different!
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a small word called a particle. This particle often looks exactly like a preposition (e.g., up, down, off, out, in), but when it joins with a verb, it changes the meaning of the verb, often creating a new, idiomatic meaning. This means "the two words don't mean what they mean separately when they are put together in a phrasal verb."
Let's look at an example:
"Look" means "to direct your eyes in a particular direction."
But what about "look up"?
"I need to look up the meaning of this word in the dictionary."
Here, "look up" doesn't mean "to direct your eyes upwards." It means "to find information in a reference book or on the internet." The meaning has changed! The particle "up" transformed "look" into something new.
This is the key difference: with phrasal verbs, the combination of the verb and the particle creates a new, often idiomatic, meaning that you can't usually guess from the individual words.
Phrasal Verbs: Understanding the Change
Let's look at some examples to make the difference between a simple verb and a phrasal verb really clear. Notice how the small "particle" word changes everything!
Verb: GIVE
Meaning: To offer something.
Example: "Please give me your hand."
Phrasal Verb: GIVE UP
Meaning: To stop trying; surrender.
Example: "Don't give up on your dreams!"
Verb: TAKE
Meaning: To grasp or receive something.
Example: "I will take the book."
Phrasal Verb: TAKE OFF
Meaning 1: To remove clothes/shoes.
Example 1: "Please take off your shoes before entering."
Meaning 2: To leave the ground (for a plane).
Example 2: "The plane will take off in 10 minutes."
Verb: RUN
Meaning: To move quickly on foot.
Example: "I like to run in the park."
Phrasal Verb: RUN OUT OF
Meaning: To use up something completely.
Example: "Oh no, we've run out of milk!"
Verb: PULL
Meaning: To exert force on something to move it toward oneself.
Example (Standard Collocation): "The doctor will pull off the bandage." (Here, "pull off" means to physically remove something by pulling).
Phrasal Verb: PULL OFF
Meaning: To succeed in doing something difficult; to achieve something others thought impossible.
Example: "They managed to pull off a huge surprise party!"
As you can see, the particle acts like a special ingredient, altering the verb's original flavour.
Key Characteristics of Phrasal Verbs
Beyond their unique meaning, phrasal verbs have other important characteristics:
1. Transitive vs. Intransitive
Just like regular verbs, phrasal verbs can be:
Transitive Phrasal Verbs: These require an object to complete their meaning. The action is done to something.
Example: "I need to pick up my friend." (You pick up your friend – "my friend" is the object.)
You cannot say "I pick up" on its own; you must specify what you are picking up.
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs: These do not require an object. The action is self-contained.
Example: "I like to wake up early." (You simply "wake up" – no object is needed.)
Another example: "I often freak out when I have too much homework." (The action of "freaking out" doesn't need an object.)
2. Separable vs. Inseparable (for Transitive Phrasal Verbs)
This is a fun one! If a phrasal verb is transitive (needs an object), sometimes you can move the object around:
Separable Phrasal Verbs: With these, you can place the object either between the verb and its particle, or after the particle. The meaning stays the same.
Example: "Put on"
"I put on my scarf." (Object "my scarf" after the particle)
"I put my scarf on." (Object "my scarf" between the verb and particle)
Tip: If the object is a pronoun (like it, them, him, her), it must go between the verb and the particle: "I put it on." (Not "I put on it.")
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs: With these, the verb and its particle cannot be separated by the object. The object must always come after the particle.
Example: "Look after" (meaning: to take care of)
"My cousin looks after my dog." (Correct)
"My cousin looks my dog after." (Incorrect – sounds very strange and wrong!)
Watch these…
A Dash of History: Where Did Phrasal Verbs Come From?
You might wonder why English has so many of these tricky combinations. Well, to understand phrasal verbs, we need to take a quick trip back in time!
Old English, the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest of 1066, was a heavily Germanic language, similar to modern German or Dutch. These languages often use verb-particle constructions (what we call "separable verbs"). For example, in German, anrufen means "to call (on the phone)," from rufen (to call) and an (on/at).
When the Normans conquered England, they brought with them Old French, a Romance language. For centuries, French became the language of the ruling class, government, and law, while English remained the language of the common people. During this period, English absorbed thousands of French and Latin words.
However, the core of everyday English, especially for common actions, remained rooted in its Germanic origins. This meant that while many formal or intellectual concepts gained new vocabulary from Latin and French (e.g., "to investigate" from Latin), the Germanic tendency to combine verbs with particles for more nuanced meanings persisted, especially in informal speech.
So, while you might "investigate" a problem (Latin origin), you would "look into" it (Germanic phrasal verb). Phrasal verbs often represent the more direct, native English way of expressing an idea, rather than the more formal Latinate alternative. They are a fascinating linguistic legacy, reflecting the unique blend of Germanic and Romance influences that shaped the English we speak today.
Why Learn Phrasal Verbs?
So, why bother learning these seemingly complicated combinations? Here are a few compelling reasons:
They are Everywhere! Phrasal verbs are incredibly common in everyday spoken English, informal writing, movies, TV shows, and songs. If you want to understand native speakers and participate in natural conversations, you simply must learn them.
Sound More Natural: Using phrasal verbs will make your English sound much more native and fluent. While you might be able to find a single-word synonym (e.g., "postpone" instead of "put off"), the phrasal verb often sounds more natural in casual contexts.
Express Yourself More Precisely: Sometimes, a phrasal verb expresses a specific nuance that a single verb cannot. For instance, "give up" isn't just "stop"; it implies surrendering or ceasing effort, which is more specific. Similarly, "pull off" means more than just "succeed" – it suggests succeeding against the odds.
Unlock Idiomatic Expressions: Many phrasal verbs are highly idiomatic, meaning their meaning can't be guessed from the individual words. Learning them expands your understanding of English idioms.
When You Don't Always Need to Learn Phrasal Verbs
While phrasal verbs are vital, there are times when you might not need to prioritise learning every single one, or when a simpler alternative is perfectly acceptable:
Formal Writing: In very formal academic or professional writing, single, Latin-derived verbs are often preferred over phrasal verbs. For example, "conduct" is usually preferred over "carry out" in a scientific paper.
Clarity for Beginners: If you're a complete beginner, focusing on core vocabulary and basic grammar is more important initially. You can gradually introduce phrasal verbs as your confidence grows.
Niche Vocabulary: Some phrasal verbs are very specific to certain fields or situations. Unless you encounter them regularly, it's okay to focus on the more common ones first.
Synonyms Exist: As mentioned, sometimes a perfectly good single-word synonym exists. If you know "postpone," you'll be understood, even if "put off" is more common in casual speech. The goal is communication, and sometimes simpler is better, especially when starting out.
Your Challenge for the Week!
This week, we'll dive deeper into different types of phrasal verbs, common examples, and strategies for learning them effectively. Your mission for today is simple: try to spot three phrasal verbs in something you read or listen to in English. See if you can guess their meaning from context, and then check a dictionary to confirm! Don't "freak out" if it's difficult at first – practice makes perfect!
Get ready to expand your vocabulary and truly master the rhythm of English!
And if you want to focus more on phrasal verbs and dedicate your efforts to collecting ones that you would find useful in your conversations, then these two resources might be useful for you.
