Phrasal Verbs (1): meanings and types

1 We can use many verbs together with another word to form ‘phrasal verbs, e.g. put on, get up.

The same verb can go with several different words to form phrasal verbs with different meanings, e.g. put away, put on, put through.

The meaning of a phrasal verb is not always clear from the two parts. For example, put through means connect (= make a telephone connection). You should check the meaning of phrasal verbs in a dictionary.

2 Grammatically, there are three types of phrasal verb.

►One type consists of verb + adverb and they have an object, e.g.:

• • She put on the hat.
  • She put the hat on.

Some common verbs of this type are:

bring up, calm down, cross out, fill in, find out, give in, give out, look up, pick up, point out, pull off, put away, put through, take off, try on, turn off, work out

►The second type of phrasal verb consists of verb + adverb but there is no object, e.g.:

• • I usually get up at seven o’clock.

Some common verbs of this type are:

break down, check in, get off, get up, go on, go out, hang about, look out, set off, show up, stay up, take off, turn out, turn up

► The third type consists of verb + adverb + preposition and they have an object, e.g.:

• • We’re looking forward to your news.

Some common verbs of this type are:

do away with, face up to, run out of, look up to

Practice

A Complete these dialogues with the phrasal verb and a pronoun.

►A: Has Mary put her hat on? B: Yes, she’s put it on

1 A: Who brought up the children? B: Their uncle……..

2 A: Did you cross out the wrong words? B: No, the teacher……..

3 A: When do we have to give in the homework? B: We have to…….. tomorrow.

4 A: Can you pick Sally up after school? B: OK, I’ll …….. on my way home.

5 A: Children, can you put your toys away now please. B: Can’t we …….. later?

B Rewrite each sentence replacing the expression underlined with the correct form of one of the phrasal verbs from the box.

break down, give out, go on, keep off, look-out, look up to, put through

► Be careful! Don’t step into the hole!

Look out… ! Don’t step into the hole!

1 The young boys really admire the first team players.

    The young boys really ………….. the first team players.

2 The teacher distributed the exam papers.

    The teacher………………. the exam papers.

3 Hold the line. I’ll try to connect you.

   Hold the line. I’ll try to……………. you………………… .

4 What’s happening here? What are you doing?

   What’s …………………… here? What are you doing?

5 Jim’s old car stopped working completely last weekend.

   Jim’s old car …………………… completely last weekend.

C Sally and Jane are staying in Barcelona and are planning to do some shopping. Complete the dialogue with the correct form of one of the verbs in the box. Use a dictionary to check the meanings.

find out, get off, look up, put on, run out of, set off, take off, try on, work-out

Sally: Have you (►) worked out where the best shopping centre is?

Jane: Yes, I (1)……….. it……………… in the guidebook. We can take the metro right across the street and we (2)……………………. at the fourth station.

Sally: By the way, I’ve (3)……………… euros so we’ll have to call at a bank.

Jane: We can go to the hotel reception and (4)……………….. if there’s a cash machine near here. What are you going to wear?

Sally: If we’re going to (5)…………………….. clothes, I think I’ll wear a skirt. It’s more difficult to (6)………..jeans and (7)……………… them all the time.

Jane: OK, as soon as you’ve changed we can (8)……………..

D Complete the following story by choosing the second word of each phrasal verb. Use a dictionary to check the meanings.

We were looking forward (►) to/on our holiday but the night before we were going to leave we stayed (1) down/up talking until about three o’clock. We didn’t hear the alarm clock so we got (2) up/in late and we were late getting to the airport. When we went to check (3) in/up, we were lucky because some passengers hadn’t shown (4) up/out so there were still some seats left. When we got on the plane, Tim was a bit nervous because he hadn’t flown before but I gave him a pill and that calmed him (5) down/out. The cabin crew told us to turn (6) in/off our mobiles. Then the lights went (7) up/off and Tim thought something was wrong but I pointed (8) out/up that they always do that before the plane takes (9) out/off. When we got to Rome we went to pick (10) up/off our cases. Mine was one of the first to come out, but Tim’s didn’t appear. We hung (11) about/up for a long time but it didn’t turn (12) out/up. We went to an office to report it and Tim had to fill (13) in/on all his details on a form. After several phone calls it turned (14) out/up that Tim’s case was in Athens. Luckily we got it back that same evening. As soon as it arrived, Tim pulled (15) out/off his sweaty clothes, had a cold shower and put (16) in/on a clean shirt and trousers. We were just in time to go and have dinner.

Source: Oxford Practice Grammar

Answer key

A-

1. brought them up
2. crossed them up
3. give it in
4. pick her up
5. put them away

B-

1. look up to
2. gave out
3. put (you) through
4. going on
5. broke down

C-

1. looked (it) up
2. get off
3. run out of
4. find out
5. try on
6. take off
7. put (them) on
8. set off

D-

1. down/up
2. up/in
3. in/up
4. up/out
5. down/out
6. in/off
7. up/off
8. out/up
9. out/off
10. up/off
11. about/up
12. out/up
13. in/on
14. out/up
15. off/off
16. in/on