Phrasal Verbs: The Ultimate Guide to English's Most Confusing Words
If you're learning English, you've probably encountered phrasal verbs before. You know, those pesky words that combine a verb with an adverb or a preposition (or sometimes both) and create a whole new meaning that has nothing to do with the original verb. For example:
- He **looked up** the word in the dictionary. (look up = search for information)
- She **broke down** when she heard the news. (break down = lose control of one's emotions)
- They **ran out of** milk this morning. (run out of = use up all of something)
Phrasal verbs are very common in English, especially in more informal contexts. They can make your speech more natural and expressive, but they can also be very confusing because there are thousands of them and their definitions aren't always easy to guess.
So how can you master phrasal verbs and avoid making mistakes? Here are some tips and tricks to help you out.
## Tip 1: Learn phrasal verbs in context
One of the best ways to learn phrasal verbs is to see them in context, that is, in sentences or situations where they are used naturally. This will help you understand their meaning and usage better than just memorizing a list of definitions.
You can find phrasal verbs in context by reading books, magazines, blogs, or articles that interest you. You can also watch movies, TV shows, videos, or podcasts that use phrasal verbs frequently. Whenever you come across a new phrasal verb, try to guess its meaning from the context and then check it in a dictionary or online resource.
You can also create your own sentences using phrasal verbs that you want to learn. For example:
- I need to **catch up on** my homework this weekend. (catch up on = do something that you have not been able to do recently)
- She **gave up** smoking last year. (give up = stop doing something permanently)
- He **put off** calling his parents until it was too late. (put off = delay doing something)
## Tip 2: Learn phrasal verbs by topic
Another way to learn phrasal verbs is to group them by topic or theme. This will help you remember them better and use them more appropriately in different situations.
For example, you can learn phrasal verbs related to travel:
- We need to **check out** of the hotel by 11 a.m. (check out = leave a place where you have been staying)
- He **set off** for his trip early in the morning. (set off = start a journey)
- She **got on** well with her host family. (get on with = have a good relationship with someone)
Or you can learn phrasal verbs related to communication:
- He **brought up** an interesting point during the meeting. (bring up = start talking about a subject)
- She **spoke up** for her rights at work. (speak up = express one's opinion firmly)
- They **fell out** over a misunderstanding. (fall out = have an argument with someone)
You can find lists of phrasal verbs by topic online or in books. You can also make your own lists based on your interests or needs.
## Tip 3: Learn phrasal verbs by type
A third way to learn phrasal verbs is to understand their grammatical structure and how it affects their meaning and word order.
There are two main types of phrasal verb: separable and inseparable.
Separable phrasal verbs are those that can be split by an object noun or pronoun:
- I'll pick you up from the station at 8 p.m.
- I'll pick up John from the station at 8 p.m.
However, separable phrasal verbs must be separated when you use a personal pronoun as an object:
- The meeting? They've called it off.
NOT The meeting? They've called off it.
Inseparable phrasal verbs are those that cannot be split by an object noun or pronoun:
- Who looks after the baby when you're at work?
NOT Who looks after her when you're at work?
Some multi-word verbs are inseparable simply because they don't take an object:
- I get up at 7 a.m.
NOT I get me up at 7 a.m.
Some multi-word verbs have two particles instead of one
