To better understand the variety and style of Spoken English, one must have good knowledge in Phrasal Verbs.
Native speakers use them very often in their everyday conversation.
Phrasal Verb is a part of multi-word verbs.
It consists of a basic verb and some other words together.
For example, ‘Look’ is a basic verb and look at, look into, look for, look after are phrasal verbs.
Here, look and all its associations are said as verbs but different verbs.
To make it simpler and easier, we need to understand the structure and usage of phrasal verbs to enhance our spoken and written skills.
Structure of Phrasal Verbs:
We normally see them in almost four structures.
THE FIRST STRUCTURE OF PHRASAL VERBS:
Basic Verb + Preposition
As in the case of – look at, listen to, laugh at, etc.
Here the first word is BASIC VERB (V1 form) and that follows it is the PREPOSTION.
Look at these examples:
- Why are you looking at him like that?
- I spent my leisure time listening to music.
- Everybody will laugh at you if you wear this dress.
THE SECOND STRUCTURE OF PHRASAL VERBS:
Basic Verb + Adverb
They are like – look out, get up, come back, and so on.
Examples:
- Look out, there is a vehicle coming. (Look out = watch out = be careful).
- When did you get up today? (Get up = wake up = rise).
- He is leaving now and coming back on Saturday. (Come back = return).
THE THIRD STRUCTURE OF PHRASAL VERBS:
Basic Verb + Adverb + Preposition
Look forward to, keep up with, run out of are some of this category.
Examples:
- Look forward to hearing from you. (Look forward to = wait).
- You are reading too fast. I can’t keep up with you. (Keep up with you = follow).
- We have run out of petrol. (Run out of = exhaust, empty of, lack of).
THE FOURTH STRUCTURE OF PHRASAL VERBS:
Basic Verb + Noun/Pronoun + (Adjective) + Preposition
These are like – Take care of, Have faith in, Get going at, etc.
Examples:
- He is taking care of his old parents. (Take care of = look after).
- I have faith in our democratic system, (Have faith in = believe in).
- I get going at nine in the morning. (Get going at = begin at).
This is the whole thing about structures of Phrasal Verbs.
THE USAGE OF PHRASAL VERBS:
Phrasal verbs can be used in two ways.
- Idiomatic way.
- Non-idiomatic way.
IDIOMATIC PHRASAL VERBS:
They carry a special meaning other than the meaning of the basic verb.
That’s why these are sometimes listed in the group of idioms.
For instance look at these examples:
‘Get up’ means ‘Wake up’.
‘Look after’ means ‘Take care of’.
‘Call on’ means ‘Visit’.
So here, the meaning of the phrasal verb is entirely different from the meaning of the basic verb.
NON-IDIOMTIC PHRASAL VERBS:
They usually have the same meaning or an extended meaning to the basic verb.
- ‘Stand up’ = stand on (one’s) feet.
- ‘Sit down’ = be seated / take a seat.
So, friends, we hope you’ve now got the clear of “Phrasal Verbs” and their mechanism and usage in English language.
Phrasal verbs that are used in our “Day-to-day conversations” are published in another page.
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