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    Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs, called particles. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive and do not require an object, like "run out." Transitive phrasal verbs require an object, like "run sth up." Dictionaries indicate whether the object can come between the verb and particle or must follow the particle. Proper use of phrasal verbs depends on whether they are transitive or intransitive, and if transitive, where the object is placed.

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    Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs, called particles. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive and do not require an object, like "run out." Transitive phrasal verbs require an object, like "run sth up." Dictionaries indicate whether the object can come between the verb and particle or must follow the particle. Proper use of phrasal verbs depends on whether they are transitive or intransitive, and if transitive, where the object is placed.

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    10 views1 page

    Phrasal Verbs

    Uploaded by

    Andra Dorneanu
    Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs, called particles. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive and do not require an object, like "run out." Transitive phrasal verbs require an object, like "run sth up." Dictionaries indicate whether the object can come between the verb and particle or must follow the particle. Proper use of phrasal verbs depends on whether they are transitive or intransitive, and if transitive, where the object is placed.

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    S T U D Y PA G E S

    centre 27

    Phrasal verbs
    A phrasal verb is a verb followed by an adverb or preposition. run away (verb + adverb) look after (verb + preposition) The adverb or preposition in a phrasal verb is also called the particle. A phrasal verb can also be a verb followed by an adverb and a preposition. get on with run out of Some people also call phrasal verbs multiword verbs or prepositional verbs. In the Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary they are labelled phrasal verb.

    Intransitive phrasal verbs


    Some phrasal verbs are intransitive and some are transitive. Here is an example of an intransitive phrasal verb, (one not needing an object). run out I went to see if there was any milk left in the fridge but found that we had run out (= there was no milk left in the fridge).

    Transitive phrasal verbs


    Here is an example of a transitive phrasal verb (one needing an object). run sth up Thomas ran up huge debts by borrowing money to try to keep the company going. (= he spent so much that he had very large debts).

    In the dictionary we show transitive phrasal verbs by writing the phrasal verb with sb (short for somebody) or sth (short for something). This shows that the phrasal verb has to have an object. In the example above, we show run sth up because you can only run something up, you cant just run up. If a phrasal verb can be transitive and intransitive, we show it like this: light (sth) up. The bracketed (sth) shows that something can light up or it can light something up.

    Moving the object with a transitive phrasal verb


    If a phrasal verb is transitive, you need to know if you can put an object between the verb and the particle. For example, you can do this with take off but not with look after. Take your coat off. Look after yourself. Take off your coat. Look yourself after. In the dictionary we use [M] after the phrasal verb to show that the phrasal verb needs an object but that the object can come between the verb and particle, or after the particle. Take off, for example, will appear as follows: take sth off [REMOVE] phrasal verb [M] to remove something, especially clothes For more information on phrasal verbs, see the Cambridge International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. You can also search for phrasal verbs online at http://dictionary .cambridge.org

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