Words+Prepositions

[saimoh76]

A phrasal verb is simply a verb made up of more than one word. It is two or three words that make up one main verb. A phrasal verb is only a verb, not anything else in the sentence.

[saimoh76]

Usually, the words that constitute a phrasal verb are a verb and a preposition, but that is not always the case. Sometimes the first word in a phrasal verb is not a verb at all, but when paired with the preposition, the whole phrase becomes a verb. For example, the phrasal verb “clam up” is made of a noun (clam) and a preposition (up). When you combine them, however, they become one verb meaning “to become quiet or refuse to speak.”

[saimoh76]

To give another example, the verb “give” means to turn over the possession of something. However, when combined with various prepositions, the phrases take on their own meanings, which are quite different from the meanings of the two individual words.

[saimoh76]

How to Recognize Phrasal Verbs

So how do you know when you’re dealing with a phrasal verb and not just a verb and a preposition? Well, you have to look at the whole sentence. If the two words can be understood literally, it’s a verb and a preposition. If they have to be taken together with a meaning that has little or nothing to do with the meaning of the verb alone, then it’s a phrasal verb. Consider these examples:

[saimoh76]

Phrasal verbs are an important part of learning the English ********.

[saidyettou]

thanks thanks