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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #130934: Phrasal verbs
    >Warning: this test is waiting for approval. It may contain errors.


    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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