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Phrasal verbs
A 'phrasal verb', also called 'verb with a particle' is a very common
grammatical construction in English. The verb then changes meanings
when an adverbial particule is added to it.
'Phrasal verbs' are formed of two elements: the verb base (or root) and an adverbial particle.
The particle is always stressed.
1) PLACE OF THE PARTICLE:
- This adverbial particle is placed after the DOC (direct object complement)
if it is a personal pronoun or a demonstrative. It can also be placed before
the DOC if it's a noun (unless the DOC is long).
In the imperative, placing the particle at the beginning of the sentence gives
more strength to the narration. At the end of the sentence, it stresses the order.
- Pick up your toys. If you don't, your Mum will throw them away.
- Out they went, shouting!
2) USING ADVERBIAL PARTICLES:
a) They change the meaning of the verb that they accompany, clarifying it:
- To get up - to get away / to get on well / to get over (see test)
b) Adverbial particles may slightly modify the meaning of the verb:
- Drink your milk!
- Drink up your milk, there's a medicine in it!
Sometimes, they are pleonasms: lift up/ fall down/ pour out...
c) With verbs of movements, they may express the result of the action,
or the direction of the movement.
- He rushed out
- He swam across the pool
d) Most of the time, particles change the meaning of the verbs completely.
They're used in common idioms, especially in spoken language, because
they are less formal than the long words of latin origin they are replacing.
To put off | : To postpone |
To bring about | : To cause |
To make out | : To understand |
To keep on | : To continue |
To put up with | : To tolerate |
To make up for | : To compensate |
e) Adverbial particles turn verbs of position into verbs of movement.
To lie, I lay, lain-> to be lying | To lie down |
To stand, stood, stood-> to be standing | To stand up |
3) MEANING OF THE MAIN ADVERBIAL PARTICLES:
ABOUT: | - in every direction - here and there | IN: | - inside - visit - penetration | OVER: | - passage/ to the other side - repetition - action done carefully |
AWAY: | - going to a distance - disappearing | OFF: | - going away - clear separation - interruption - completion | ROUND: | - doing a U turn/ around - cyclic return - successive passages |
BACK: | - backward movement - back to departure - revenge/ reply | ON: | - contact - movement - continuation - starting | THROUGH: | - totally - to the end - ensuring coordination |
DOWN: | - movement downward - far from the center - decreasing | OUT | - extension/ outside - clarification - suddenness - distribution | UP: | - movement (up/ north) - getting closer - increased intensity - completion |
I am sure you already know quite a great number of them, don't you? Do not worry!
The same expressions come back frequently!
Go for the test!



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