What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb or multi-part verb are verbs that combine with one or two particles (preposition and/or adverb) to create a verb with different meanings than the original one.
While not the ideal, students of English want to sound more like native speakers.
Using phrasal verbs accurately will make you sound more like a native speaker. Above all, you will speak and write English more naturally, a better goal.
Types of Phrasal Verbs
There are four types of phrasal verbs:
(a) intransitive and non-separable. Remember intransitive simply means that a verb does not take an object.
Ex: The bank robbers got away from the police. Note: The two-parts of the phrasal verb “got away” are together. Not: The bank robbers got from the police away. It is impossible to separate the two parts.
(b) transitive and separable. Remember transitive means that a verb does take an object. Notice that in the following example you have a choice: using the phrasal verb parts together or apart.
Ex: Raul picked the baby up. OR Raul picked up the baby. “Baby” answers WHAT Raul picked up, and thus is the object of the sentence. Note: The word order does not matter with transitive and separable phrasal verbs. Thus the two parts “pick” and “up” can be apart or together in the sentence.
(c) transitive and non-separable. The verb and its article cannot be apart from its noun or pronoun object. This type of phrasal is followed by someone or something
Ex: I don’t have time to look for my keys. Note: The two-parts of the phrasal verb “look for” are together. Not: I don’t have time to look my key for. It does not make any sense!
(d) transitive and two non-separable parts. The two particles cannot be separated from the main verb. Ex: The king looks down on his subjects. Note: The three parts of the phrasal verb “look down on” are together and followed by people, in this case, subjects. Not: The king looks down his subjects on. Not: The king looks his subjects down on.
How to study phrasal verbs
Only by studying, memorizing, reading English texts, listening to audio and video, and using phrasal verbs in speech and written work can you master them. Unfortunately, there is no set of rules to help you. As you already probably know, even the so-called rules in English have exceptions.
When you learn a new phrasal verb, identify its type from the four options above. Then write sample sentences. If you need help, you can use this text or use the Internet to find examples.
As your English skills improve, use phrasal verbs in increasing frequency in your conversations and writings. It is virtually impossible to use English and not use phrasal verbs!
So, let’s get started. Use these 50 helpful phrasal verbs to jump start your effort to conquer phrasal verbs once and for all! We give you the definition of the phrasal verb and the type of phrasal verb in order to help you learn them faster.