Phrasal verbs

angry stressed faché telephone colère mad I'm extremely put out by this. I'd like you to look into the problem and call me back this afternoon.

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or two particles. A particle can be a preposition or an adverb. A phrasal verb is also sometimes called a multi-word verb.

We can only understand the meaning of a phrasal verb by looking at all the parts together:

We're taking on more technicians.

'Take on' means 'employ' but we cannot find this meaning by looking at 'take' and 'on' in a dictionary.

Two-word verbs

Three-word verbs

Verb + particle

Verb + particle + particle

Intransitive

I get up early.

Please hold on.

Transitive

We put off the meeting.

Don't let me down.

I'm looking forward to the weekend.

I refuse to put up with his demands.

Phrasal verbs are extremely common - they are an integral part of English vocabulary. It is important, therefore, to learn as many as possible in order to understand native speakers and to sound natural.

Uses

Examples

Conversation, including formal situations

I ran into Jane last week - she broke up with her boyfriend last year but she can't get over him.

[In a job interview]

"Tell me about your previous job."

"Well, I had to deal with some communication problems with overseas customers. I tried out a few temporary solutions but finally set up a completely new system."

Informal writing

[In an email]

Hi Steve,

Jill didn't turn up for work this morning so could you fill in for her at the meeting? That is, if Maria doesn't call it off. Also, Tom turned down the job in accounts so you might want to go for it.

Regards,

Bill

Note that

1. Standard verbs and expressions often sound too formal or unnatural. For example:

"Goodbye and thanks for dropping by today. My assistant will see you out."

"Goodbye and thank you for coming here unexpectedly today. My assistant will accompany you to the door."

2. Many phrasal verbs have an equivalent, more formal, verb with the same meaning. For example:

He went on talking. [continued]

She did up her shoelaces. [fastened]

But be careful because very often there are subtle differences of meaning so a phrasal verb may be required. Also, some phrasal verbs do not have an exact equivalent or alternative:

I get up at 7.00 every morning. ['arise' is archaic and no longer used.]

He didn't want to get married but he finally gave in! [reluctantly stopped arguing and/or agreed to do something.]

3. Some phrasal verbs have more than one meaning. For example, 'get through':

Connect by phone

I tried to call you yesterday but I couldn't get through.

Make someone understand

I can't get through to him just how important this is.

Succeed in a test or competition

England got through to the second round of the World Cup.

She got through her first two interviews and has another one next week.

Finish something

I got through all my work today.

We have a lot to get through at the next meeting.

Use all of something

We get through a lot of milk in my house.

We need more paper for the printer - we got through the box you bought yesterday.

Deal with or survive something unpleasant or help someone to do this

I don't know how we're going to get through this week with three people off sick.

He had problems when he lost his job and had a serious illness but his friends and family got him through it.

4. There are several differences between British and American English. For example:

I must get round to/get around to fixing the car before winter. [UK/US]

He gets on/gets along with all his colleagues. [UK/US]

I made a mistake with the invoices and had to do them over. [US only]

Separating the verb and particles

Transitive verbs always have a direct object:

He got away with murder. [transitive]

The computer broke down. [intransitive]

Two-word transitive phrasal verbs can be separated:

I'm going to bring this topic up tomorrow.

I'm going to bring up this topic tomorrow.

And when the object is a personal pronoun, the pronoun always comes before the particle.

I'm going to bring it up tomorrow.

I'm going to bring up it tomorrow.

Some phrasal verbs can be both transitive and intransitive, in some cases with different meanings:

I wake up every morning at 6 o'clock. [intransitive - to become awake]

I wake the children up at 6 o'clock. [transitive - to rouse someone from sleep]

I wake up the children at 6 o'clock.

I wake them up at 6 o'clock.

I wake up them at 6 o'clock.

In a sentence with a transitive phrasal verb, if the object is very long, it is better to place it after the particle.

During the meeting, he brought up the management's reluctance to focus on internal communication problems.

During the meeting, he brought the management's reluctance to focus on internal communication problems up.

Three-word verbs cannot normally be separated:

We look up to our new boss more than the old one.

Except when there are two objects:

Don't take your disappointment out on me - it's not my fault!

1. Do not confuse phrasal verbs with other verbs which sometimes require a preposition. For example:

I work as an assistant.

I work for a big company.

He apologised to his boss.

He apologised for his behaviour.

In these examples, the meanings of 'work' and 'apologise' are clear and do not change depending on the preposition. On the other hand, prepositions are an integral part of phrasal verbs:

She took off her shoes. [removed]

She took up yoga. [started to do]

2. Like other verbs, some phrasal verbs are followed by a preposition when adding information. For example:

We're running out of paper.

After the break, we'll go on with our discussion.

These prepositions are not part of the phrasal verb because we can also say:

We're running out.

After the break, we'll go on.

See also prepositions and get.

file folder office colleagues dossier Can you look after the Burkbank file please? I have too much work.