LA 412

2023
 PHRASAL VERBS

• Phrasal verbs are infamous in the world of English language learning. The concept is relatively simple but
their meanings often confuse English students and teachers alike. However they enrich the English
language by giving it an endless palette of color combinations, helping us express ourselves in ways that
ordinary language can’t.

• By the Cambridge definition, a phrasal verb is “a phrase that consists of a verb with a preposition or
adverb or both, the meaning of which is different from its separate parts.”

• This means that when combined, the phrase as a whole means something different than the words used in
the phrase. Imagine you are making a pizza. By combining flour and water, you begin to make the dough.
A phrasal verb is a lot like dough - not the same as flour, but you know it's made from it. This is why they
can be tricky to learn - you usually can't understand the meaning of the phrase just by knowing what each
word means. Understanding phrasal verbs takes practice and lots of exposure to them being used in
context.
 WHAT IS A
“PHRASAL VERB”?

• A phrasal verb is a combination of:

• a verb + a preposition,
• a verb + an adverb, or
• a verb + an adverb + a preposition.
Examples:
• The plane took off at 7 o’clock.
• They get along very well.
• She looks forward to seeing you.
 PHRASAL VERB

• A phrasal verb has a meaning which is different from the

original verb.

• He takes this book to school everyday.

(Ele leva este livro para a escola todos os dias)
• He takes after his father.
(Ele se parece com o pai dele.)
 PHRASAL VERB

A phrasal verb is a normal verb like get, look, take followed by an adverb
or a preposition like back, off, up, down etc.
Look at these examples :
a) Please take this note to my teacher.
(normal verb meaning: to move something from one place to another)
b) Take off your shoes before you come in.
( phrasal verb meaning : to remove something )
c) The plane took off in the middle of a storm.
(phrasal verb meaning : when a plane goes up into the air )
 SOME CONSIDERATIONS :
• When the preposition is added the meaning of the original verb
changes.

• Sometimes there is still a relationship and you can guess the

meaning (a), sometimes there is a new meaning that is completely
different (b).

• There are many phrasal verbs. When you see a phrasal verb for the
first time you should study the context of use, and check the
meaning in a dictionary.

• Phrasal verbs are particularly common in informal writing and

speech.
SEPARABLE PHRASAL VERB
 INTRANSITIVE PHRASAL VERBS
(INSEPARABLE)

• Break up
• He broke up with his
girl friend

• Get along
• She gets along very
well with her sister
 INSEPARABLE PHRASAL VERB

• "Run into" is an example for an inseparable

verb.

"Run into" means to meet someone by chance

when you were not expecting to.

Correct: I always run into Molly at the mall.

Incorrect: I always run Molly into at the mall.

Incorrect: I always run Molly at the mall into.

 PRASAL VERBS

• Some transitive two part verbs have only one

pattern:
N (subject) + V + p + N (object)
[Note: N = noun; V = verb; p = particle]
N (Subject) Verb Particle (Object)

She takes after her mother

I can count on you
My father comes from Madrid
 PHRASAL VERBS

• Some transitive two part verbs are phrasal verbs. Phrasal

verbs have two different patterns:

• The usual pattern is: N + V + N + p

N (Subject) - Verb (N) Object Particle
She gave the money back

We will be leaving our friends behind

 PHRASAL VERBS

• But sometimes these verbs have the pattern:

• N (subject) + V + p + N (object) -

N (Subject) - Verb (N) Particle Object

She gave back the money

We will be leaving behind our friends

 PHRASAL VERBS

• When the object is a personal pronoun, these verbs always have

the pattern:
N + V + N + p:
• She gave back it
>> She gave it back

• We will be leaving behind them

>> We will be leaving them behind
 PHRASAL VERBS

• Intransitive phrasal verbs (inseparable)

• Break up
• He broke up with his girl friend
• Get along
• She gets along very well with her sister
 PHRASAL VERBS

Phrasal verbs are relatively simple, but their meanings often

confuse English students and teachers alike.

Let’s check some situations where the meaning of a phrasal

verb is taken literally.
 SUGGESTIONS

FOR PHRASAL VERB LISTS:

• http://www.solinguainglesa.com.br/conteudo/Phrasalverbs4.php
• http://www.sk.com.br/sk-twow.html

VIDEOS
• https://www.woodwardenglish.com/lesson/transitive-intransitive-phrasal-verbs/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv9Sif241hc
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ppTwL_o1og
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r7Jba1L1U4