A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a small word such as on, off, out or up. This unit shows how those words add movement or a new meaning, how a preposition can follow, and where the object goes.
A Verb + on, off, out and so on
We often use verbs with these words:
in, on, up, away, by, about, over, round (or around), out, off, down, back, through, along, forward
The result is a phrasal verb: look out, get on, take off, run away.
With verbs of movement, the second word often just tells you the direction.
- The tram was packed, so we couldn't get on.
- A man jumped into the van and drove off.
- Ellie is flying to Malta on Friday and coming back on Tuesday.
- I called his name and he turned round.
B A second word that changes the meaning
Often the second word gives the verb a meaning you could not guess from the verb alone.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| break down | stop working (a car, a machine) |
| find out | discover |
| take off | leave the ground (a plane) |
| give up | stop trying |
| get on | manage, do (How did you get on?) |
| get by | manage with what you have |
Units 138 to 145 cover many more.
- Sorry we're late. The minibus broke down outside Barnsley.
- Did you ever find out who left the flowers on the doorstep?
- My hands were shaking as the plane took off.
- I rang the helpline six times. In the end I gave up.
- "You had your interview today. How did you get on?"
- My German is basic, but it's enough to get by on holiday.
C Phrasal verb + preposition
Sometimes a phrasal verb is followed by a preposition:
| Phrasal verb | Preposition |
|---|---|
| look up | at |
| run away | from |
| keep up | with |
| look forward | to |
- We looked up at the geese flying over the house.
- Why did you run away from the dog? It was wagging its tail.
- Slow down. I can't keep up with you.
- Are you looking forward to the wedding?
D Where the object goes
Some phrasal verbs have an object. In I switched on the heater, the object is the heater.
Usually the object can go in two places:
| Position 1 | Position 2 |
|---|---|
| I switched on the heater. | I switched the heater on. |
| I'm going to take off my boots. | I'm going to take my boots off. |
| Don't wake up the dog. | Don't wake the dog up. |
| Don't throw away that tin. | Don't throw that tin away. |
When the object is a pronoun (it, them, me, him, her, us, you), there is only one position. The pronoun goes in the middle: switch it on, never switch on it.
- It's freezing in here. I've switched it on. (not switched on it)
- These boots are killing me. I'm going to take them off. (not take off them)
- The dog's finally asleep. Don't wake him up. (not wake up him)
- I need that tin for screws, so please don't throw it away. (not throw away it)
Exercises
137.1 Complete each sentence using a verb from list A in the correct form and a word from list B. A: be, break, come, fly, get, get, get, go, look, sit, speak, take. B: away, back, back, by, down, down, off, on, out, round, up, up.
Jo is going to Edinburgh on Thursday and coming back on Monday.
Jo is going to Edinburgh on Thursday and coming back on Monday.
My legs are aching. I'm going to for a few minutes.
My legs are aching. I'm going to sit down for a few minutes.
Manchester Airport never stops. Planes are landing and every couple of minutes.
Manchester Airport never stops. Planes are landing and taking off every couple of minutes.
The cat nearly caught the pigeon, but it just in time.
The cat nearly caught the pigeon, but it flew away just in time.
Every door was locked. We couldn't .
Every door was locked. We couldn't get out.
I can't hear you over the music. Could you a bit?
I can't hear you over the music. Could you speak up a bit?
My pension isn't large, but it's enough to .
My pension isn't large, but it's enough to get by.
Everything costs more these days. The price of a loaf has again.
Everything costs more these days. The price of a loaf has gone up again.
I heard footsteps behind me, so I to see who it was.
I heard footsteps behind me, so I looked round to see who it was.
I'm popping out to the post office. I'll in about twenty minutes.
I'm popping out to the post office. I'll be back in about twenty minutes.
Our coach on the M62, and we waited two hours for a mechanic.
Our coach broke down on the M62, and we waited two hours for a mechanic.
How's the new choir? How are you ?
How's the new choir? How are you getting on?
137.2 Complete each sentence using a word from list A and a word from list B. A: away, back, forward, in, out, up, up, up. B: about, at, at, through, to, to, with, with.
You're cycling too fast. I can't keep up with you.
You're cycling too fast. I can't keep up with you.
The summer holidays are nearly over. On Monday I'll be school.
The summer holidays are nearly over. On Monday I'll be back at school.
We went the top of the cathedral tower to look at the view over Durham.
We went up to the top of the cathedral tower to look at the view over Durham.
Tomorrow's meeting with the auditors will be awkward. I'm not looking it.
Tomorrow's meeting with the auditors will be awkward. I'm not looking forward to it.
Somebody took the charity box from the pub, and they got it. Nobody saw a thing.
Somebody took the charity box from the pub, and they got away with it. Nobody saw a thing.
On clear nights I like to lie in the garden and look the stars.
On clear nights I like to lie in the garden and look up at the stars.
I was having breakfast when a wasp flew the open window.
I was having breakfast when a wasp flew in through the open window.
Who told you about the surprise party? How did you find it?
Who told you about the surprise party? How did you find out about it?
137.3 Complete the sentences. Use these phrasal verbs with it, them or me: get out, give back, switch on, take off, throw away, wake up.
These old letters are precious to me. Don't throw them away.
These old letters are precious to me. Don't throw them away.
I'm on an early shift tomorrow. Can you at half five?
I'm on an early shift tomorrow. Can you wake me up at half five?
There's a splinter in my thumb and I can't .
There's a splinter in my thumb and I can't get it out.
My neighbour borrowed my ladders in March and still hasn't .
My neighbour borrowed my ladders in March and still hasn't given them back.
I'd like to use the new printer. How do I ?
I'd like to use the new printer. How do I switch it on?
My wellies are covered in mud. I'd better before I go into the kitchen.
My wellies are covered in mud. I'd better take them off before I go into the kitchen.
137.4 Complete the sentences using the words in brackets. Where the object is a noun, both word orders are correct.
Don't throw away this bag. I still need it. (throw / this bag / away)
Don't throw away this bag. I still need it.
I've finished with this magazine. You can throw it away. (throw / it / away)
I've finished with this magazine. You can throw it away.
These DVDs belong to Tariq. I have to to him. (give / them / back)
These DVDs belong to Tariq. I have to give them back to him.
We can . Nobody is watching it. (turn / the telly / off)
We can turn off the telly. Nobody is watching it.
Shh! The baby's asleep. I don't want to . (wake / her / up)
Shh! The baby's asleep. I don't want to wake her up.
It's freezing out there. You should if you're going out. (put / your coat / on)
It's freezing out there. You should put on your coat if you're going out.
It was only a small fire in the bin. I managed to quickly. (put / it / out)
It was only a small fire in the bin. I managed to put it out quickly.
It's a bit gloomy in here. Shall I ? (turn / the lamp / on)
It's a bit gloomy in here. Shall I turn on the lamp?
"The bus fare is higher than it was last year." "Yes, they've ." (put / it / up)
"The bus fare is higher than it was last year." "Yes, they've put it up."
"How did the milk get spilt?" "Sorry, I when I reached for the sugar." (knock / it / over)
"How did the milk get spilt?" "Sorry, I knocked it over when I reached for the sugar."