PHRASAL VERBS are verbs that take the form:
VERB + PREPOSITION (+PREPOSITION)
All phrasal verbs have at least one preposition and some may have an additional one.
They are incredibly common and are used in daily life all the time. In fact, they tend to be preferred over other synonyms because they feel more casual and less formal.
Honey, can you pick up the kids from school today? (more natural and casual)
Honey, can you collect the kids from school today? (less natural)
So why are they so difficult for learners of English?
Firstly, there is a huge number of phrasal verbs in English, and memorising them all would be almost impossible.
Secondly, many phrasal verbs don't make sense. In other words, it's not always clear why the preposition is what it is, or similarly, why the verb is what it is. The examples below show why many phrasal verbs just don't make sense.
We're taking on new staff next week. (= employ sb | What is the significance of ON?)
The plane takes off early in the morning. (Why is the verb TAKE?)
Thirdly, many phrasal verbs have different meanings, even if they look and sound exactly the same. Similarly, by changing the preposition, you change the meaning quite radically.
to take sb on = to employ sb
to take off = to rise in the air
to take sth off = to remove sth
to take sth away = not eating at the restaurant
to take sth in = to make the waist size of your pants smaller
Your phrasal verb journey will be never ending, and you'll keep encountering new phrasal verbs as you continue to watch television, read books and meet new people. There are five important things you need to know if you really want to understand a particular phrasal verb.
1. TRANSITIVE OR INTRANSITIVE?
A transitive verb is a verb that needs an object.
An intransitive verb does not have an object.
to take sth off
This phrasal verb is transitive because it contains a sth (sth = something, or similarly sb = somebody) in its infinitive form (the form that is shown in a dictionary). If you forget to include the object, you may create a grammatically incorrect sentence, or you may change the meaning completely. Compare these two phrasal verbs that look almost the same.
You need to take your shoes off before entering the house. (to take sth off = to remove sth)
The plane takes off at 9am. (to take off = to leave/depart/rise in the air)
Here is another example that demonstrates this principle:
The students stand up when the teacher enters the room. (to stand up = to rise from a sitting position)
It looks like she stood him up for the 3rd time. (to stand sb up = to intentionally not meet sb after arranging to do so, typically when dating)
One last thing to be careful with is to note whether the object (if its transitive) is STH (for inanimate objects, or SB (for animate objects) or BOTH (written as sb/sth). A good dictionary will tell you this.
2. SEPARABLE OR INSEPARABLE?
A separable phrasal verb means that the object (because it is transitive) can be placed before or after the preposition.
An inseparable phrasal verb means that the object (also transitive) is always placed after the preposition.
to pick sth up
This phrasal verb is separable because the STH is located between the verb and the preposition. This infinitive form is how the dictionary would show the verb, and is the best place to confirm whether a verb is separable or inseparable (and also transitive or intransitive).
The teacher asked me to pick the pencil up off the ground. (between the verb and preposition is ok)
The teacher asked me to pick up the pencil off the ground. (after the preposition is ok)
to take after sb (= to look like sb / to resemble sb)
This phrasal verb is inseparable as the SB is located after the preposition. You cannot put the object before the preposition.
I take after my mother as we both have brown curly hair. (correct position)
I take my mother after as we both have brown curly hair. (incorrect position)
3. PHRASAL VERBS WITH TWO PREPOSITIONS
Phrasal verbs with two prepositions tend to be inseparable and transitive.
to look out for sb/sth (= to try and notice sb/sth)
When you enter my street, look out for the big red mail box. (you cannot put the object anywhere else)
to look down on sb (= to think that you are better than sb)
I hate it when my co-worker looks down on me. (you cannot put the object anywhere else)
4. OBJECT PRONOUN RULE
When we use an object pronoun instead of the actual thing, we have to place it before the preposition (if the phrasal verb is separable).
If the phrasal verb is inseparable, the object stays after the preposition.
to write sth down (=to write information, often a note, on paper)
I need to write down your phone number. (separable after the preposition)
I need to write your phone number down. (separable between the verb and preposition)
I need to write it down. (object pronoun between the verb and preposition)
I need to write down it. (incorrect position)
to look after sb (inseparable)
It's difficult to look after three children. (correct position)
It's difficult to look three children after. (incorrect position)
It's difficult to look after them. (correct position)
It's difficult to look them after. (incorrect position)
5. REGISTER
Register is the style of language we use determined by the context we are in. In other words, it determines whether our language is formal, informal or somewhere in between.
Phrasal verbs tend to be informal and casual. This is why they are so common in everyday English.
TIP: While it is helpful to build your phrasal verb vocabulary, it's also very helpful that you learn a formal synonym of the phrasal verb you want to learn. This will come in handy when you are in formal contexts like writing a CV, in a job interview and writing an academic text like an essay or thesis.
to pick sth up > to answer sth / to collect sth
Pick up the phone now! (casual) Answer the phone at once! (more serious)
We need to pick up the files before they close. (informal) The files need to be collected before they close. (formal)
to put sth out > to extinguish sth
Let the firefighters put out the fire. The automatic fire defence system is responsible for extinguishing the fire.
to throw sth away > to dispose of sth
You can throw away the broken vase. The broken vase should be disposed of.
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