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Each phrasal verb has its unique meaning(s) which is different from the meaning(s) of the verb itself.  For example, the meanings of "give", "give in", "give up on" are totally different.

Importance of Learning Phrasal Verbs

According to research, the phrasal verb is the most common verb form in spoken English.  Phrasal verbs are frequently used by native speakers, especially in casual, laid-back spoken English.  As a big part of the English vocabulary is made up of phrasal verbs, if English students can learn and use common phrasal verbs, their vocabulary will be bigger, their listening and reading comprehension will improve, and their spoken English will be more fluent and native-like.

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How to Learn Phrasal Verbs

"There are so many phrasal verbs in English, and they all look so confusing. How should I go about learning phrasal verbs?" This is a common question that English learners have. Well, unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to phrasal verbs. You have to memorize them and try to use them as much as you can.

Here are some learning tips:

• Always learn phrasal verbs in context. It is useless to memorize lists of phrasal verbs and their definitions out of context - You will definitely forget about them in a short time.

• Notice how they are being used. When you read, or watch movies or TV in English, pay attention to the language and notice how certain phrasal verbs are being used. Test out the phrasal verbs yourself. Use them when talking to your teacher and ask your teacher if you've used them correctly.

• Understand the main meanings of important prepositions because, believe it or not, there is some logic behind the meaning of a phrasal verb. Very often the meaning of a phrasal verb is:

  • the meaning of the verb + the meaning of the preposition.

• Organize your phrasal verbs by keeping a vocabulary/phrasal verb notebook. (Read my article on how to organize your vocabulary notebook.)

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Understanding the Grammar of Phrasal Verbs

Generally speaking, phrasal verbs can be divided into the following groups:

• Transitive Phrasal Verbs (Phrasal Verbs that take an Object)

  Some phrasal verbs have to have an object:

  • Verb (V) + Preposition (P) + Object (O)

    For example:

    put on a sweater

    (V) (P)    (O)

     

• Intransitive Phrasal Verbs (Phrasal Verbs that don't take an Object)

  Some phrasal verbs do not have to have an object. They can exist on their own:

  • Verb (V) + Preposition (P)

    For example:

    slow down

    (V)   (P)

     

• Separable Phrasal Verbs

  Some transitive phrasal verbs can be separated by the object.

  • Verb (V) + Object (O) + Preposition (P)

    For example:

    take out the garbage >> take the garbage out

    (V)   (P)        (O)             (V)          (O)       (P)

• Non-separable Phrasal Verbs

  Some transitive phrasal verbs cannot be separated by the object.

  For example:

  C look after my dog  D look my dog after

   

• Phrasal Verbs with More Than one Particle

  Some phrasal verbs are made up of more than one preposition.  Can you find an example in the previous sentence?  (Answer: made up of)

  Remember:  These phrasal verbs are always non-separable.

   

• Noun and Adjective Forms

  Some phrasal verbs can be used as nouns or adjectives as well.  Usually when used as a noun or adjective, a phrasal verb is combined to form one word (no space or with a hyphen).

  For example:

  break down >> breakdown (noun) (e.g. She suffered a nervous breakdown.)

  warm up >> warm-up (adj.) (e.g. I always do some warm-up exercises before playing tennis.)

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