A phrasal verb is a verb plus one or two particles whose combined meaning is often not predictable from the parts: (= quit), (= postpone), (= meet by chance). They dominate informal English; mastering them transforms fluency.

The four structural types

@L4.6cmL7.6cm@ Type & Examples
. Intransitive (no object) &
2. Transitive, separable &
3. Transitive, inseparable &
4. Three-part (verb + adverb + preposition) &

With separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun object must go between verb and particle: , . A noun object may go on either side, but long objects go after the particle:

Common particles and their core meanings

Particles carry recurring meanings that make new phrasal verbs guessable:

  • — completion or increase: (the volume),

  • — reduction or to the ground:

  • — departure, separation, disconnection:

  • — continuation or connection:

  • — outward, completely, to disappearance: (a fire),

  • — transfer or repetition: (AmE)

  • — from start to finish:

Fifty phrasal verbs you must know

2

  • — stop working; lose control emotionally

  • — end a relationship

  • — raise a child; mention a topic

  • — cancel

  • — perform, conduct

  • — reach the same level

  • — register at / leave a hotel

  • — find by chance

  • — think of (an idea)

  • — reduce consumption of

  • — handle

  • — deliver; fall asleep

  • — finally be/do

  • — understand, solve

  • — complete (a form)

  • — discover

  • — have a good relationship

  • — recover from

  • — dispose of

  • — quit

  • — continue; happen

  • — review

  • — end a phone call

  • — wait

  • — maintain the pace of

  • — disappoint

  • — take care of

  • — search for

  • — anticipate with pleasure

  • — investigate

  • — search for (in a reference)

  • — invent; reconcile

  • — compensate for

  • — collect; learn casually

  • — draw attention to

  • — postpone

  • — dress in; gain (weight)

  • — tolerate

  • — meet by chance

  • — exhaust the supply of

  • — establish

  • — arrive, appear

  • — resolve, organize

  • — resemble (family)

  • — leave the ground; remove; succeed suddenly

  • — assume control of

  • — start (a hobby); occupy (space/time)

  • — refuse; reduce (volume)

  • — prove to be

  • — exercise; find a solution; turn out well

Phrasal verbs are neutral-to-informal; most have a single-word, Latin-origin synonym that suits formal writing: . Match register: is fine in a paper, but may sound stiff at home.

  • \(\to\)

  • \(\to\) (inseparable — nothing between verb and preposition)

  • \(\to\)

  • Beware of literal vs. idiomatic readings: (literal) vs.  (idiomatic).

Exercises

Replace with a phrasal verb Replace the underlined verb with a phrasal verb from this chapter.

  1. The meeting was cancelled at the last minute.

  2. I encountered my old teacher at the market.

  3. They established a small software company.

  4. Could you complete this form, please?

  5. We must reduce the amount of sugar we eat.

  6. The detective promised to investigate the complaint.

Particle choice Complete with the correct particle(s).

  1. I can’t put

    his rudeness any longer.

  2. We’ve run

    coffee — can you pick some

    on your way home?

  3. She takes

    her grandmother — the same smile.

  4. The concert turned

    to be the best I’ve ever seen.

  5. He never lets his friends

    .

Pronoun placement Rewrite each sentence replacing the noun object with a pronoun.

  1. Please switch off the lights.

  2. She brought up three children alone.

  3. They called off the strike.

  4. I’ll look into the problem tomorrow.