There is a lot of fuss made about phrasal verbs in the classroom. The little words that follow the verb can change its meaning altogether. This can be very frustrating and make students give up before they have even started. And really who can blame them!
Take the verb get for example.
I get the bus at 5pm every day. (I take the bus at 5pm every day).
But if I add two little words to get such as on with, I change the meaning of the verb.
I get on with my colleagues at work (I have a good relationship with my colleagues at work)
The verb break is another good example
I broke the plate. Here the meaning is self-explanatory (the plate is in pieces) but if I add another two words to the verb, things start to get a little muddled.
He broke it off with his girlfriend (He ended the relationship)
In these two examples we see that the little words (more technically known as particles) directly follow the verb but that is not always the case. Look at the following examples
This awful weather is getting many people down. (Making people feel depressed)
Did you take all the information in? (Did you understand everything?)
Note that the particle comes after the object in the examples above.
When the object is a pronoun, the particle comes after as demonstrated below.
Did you write it down on time? (It is the object of the sentence referring to information)
How to make sense of Phrasal Verbs
Looking at its particle can often help us understand the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Go up the stairs. Up signifies an upward movement
Turn the music down! Down signifies a decrease
Let´s eat out this evening. Out meaning not being inside.
Finding verbs that have the same particle can help us identify a pattern. To help remember them try to make up lists based on these patterns. Under the most common particles I have outlined below, fill in some more verbs that go with each one. I have started you off with three with their own examples.
- UP
Go (ascend) go up the stairs
Break (finish) break up the relationship
Use (complete) use up all the bread
- Down
Sit (downward movement) sit down please!
Turn (decrease) turn down the music
Close (stop, end) they closed down the business
- Out
Eat (not being inside) eat out in a restaurant
Shut (exclude) she was shut out of the conversation
Clean (do it thoroughly) he cleaned out his room
- Off
Set (movement away) set off on a journey
Fence (preventing entry) he fenced off his garden
- On
Put (wear) put on my jacket
Go (continue) go on to the next city
- Away
Type (continuous activity) she is typing away furiously to finish the job on time
Run (escape) she ran away from her parents
Take (deprive) Her father took her mobile away as a punishment
- Back
Give (return) she gave back the money she owed
Look (behind) don´t look back! There is a man following you.
- Through
Think (complete, do thoroughly) he thought through the problem carefully
Look (inside) she looked through her bag to locate her keys
- In/Into
Pour (an inward movement) he poured white wine into his glass
Let (include) let me in on your conversation!
Apart from using the particle to try to guess the meaning of the phrasal verb, you should also be able to guess from the context. Check in a dictionary that you have guessed the meaning correctly. Make a note of the verb and write your own sentence so that you can remember the meaning.