explaining the phrasal verbs

7/29/2019 Explaining The Phrasal Verbs

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Phrasal verbs

We often use with the following verbs:

in up on away round aboutover by out off down

back through along over

So you can say put up get on take off.

These arephrasal verbs.


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We often use out/off/up etc. with verbs of

movement.

Get on

Drive off

Come back

Turn around


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But often the second word (out/off/up) givesa special meaning to the verb.

Break down

Look out

Take off

Get up

Get on

Get by


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Sometimes a phrasal verb is followed by a

preposition. For example:

Run away from

Keep up with

Look forward to

Cut down on


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everyday expressions

Everyday spoken language is full of fixed

expressions that are not necessarily

difficult to understand (their meaning may

be quite 'transparent') but which have afixed form which does not change. These

have to be learnt as whole expressions.

These expressions are often hard to find indictionaries, so listen out for them.


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Conversation-building expressions

These are some common expressions thathelp to modify or organise what we are

saying. There are many more expressions

like these.


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expression

As I was saying. I

havent seen her for ages.

As I/you say, we'll have

to get there early to get a

seat.Talking ofskiing,

whatever happened to Bill

Jakes?

If you ask me, she'sheading for trouble.

meaning/functions

takes the conversation

back to an earlier point.

repeats and confirms

something someone has

already said.starting a new topic but

linking it to the present

one.

if you want my opinion(even if no-one has asked

for it)


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That reminds me, Ihaven't rung George yet.

Come to think of it, didhe give me his number

after all? I think he may

have forgotten.

something in theconversation reminds

you of something

important.

something in the

conversation makes you

realise there may be a

problem/query aboutsomething.


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Key words

Some everyday expressions can be grouped

around key words. This and that, for

example, occur in several expressions:


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This is it. [this is

an important

point]

THIS / THAT

We talked about

this and that, or

this, that andthe other.

[various

unimportant

matters]That's it. [that's

the last thing,

we've finished]

So, that's that,

then. [that is

agreed, settled,

finalised]


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Common expressions for modifying

statements

If the worst comes to the worst, we'll have to

cancel the holiday. [if the situation gets very

bad indeed]

If all else fails, we could fax them. [if nothing

else succeeds]

What with one thing and another, I haven't

had time to reply to her letter. [because of a lot

of different circumstances]

When it comes to restaurants, this town's not

that good. [in the matter of restaurants]


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As far as I'm concerned, we can eat at

any time. [as far as it affects me/from my

point of view]

As luck would have it, she was out when

we called. [as a result of bad luck]


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Similes - as...as... Ilike ..

As ... as... similes are easy to understand. If you

see the phrase as dead as a doornail, you don't

need to know what a doornail is, simply that the

whole phrase means 'totally dead'. But, remember, fixed similes are not 'neutral';

they are usually informal/colloquial and often

humorous. So, use them with care, and keep

them generally as part of your receptive

vocabulary


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Creating a picture in your mind can often

help you remember the simile:

as blind as a bat

as thin as a rake

as strong as an ox

as quiet as a mouse


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Some can be remembered as pairs of

opposites.

as heavy as lead zas light as a feather

as drunk as a lord zas sober as a judge

as black as night zas white as snow


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Some can be remembered by sound

patterns.

as brown as a berry

as good as gold

as cool as a cucumber


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Some other useful as...as... phrases.

The bed was as hard as iron and I couldn't

sleep.

I'll give this plant some water. The soil's as

dry as a bone.

He's as mad as a hatter. He crossed the

Atlantic in a bathtub.

She told the teacher, as bold as brass,

that his lessons were boring.


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You'll have to speak up; he's as deaf as a

post.

Don't worry. Using the computer's as easy

as falling off a log.

She knew the answer as quick as a flash.

When I told him, his face went as red as abeetroot.


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Sometimes the second part can

change the meaning of the first.

The Princess's skin was as white as snow.[beautifully white]

When he saw it, his face went as white as a

sheet. [pale with fear/horror] The fish was bad and I was as sick as a dog.

[vomiting]

She ran off with my money; I felt as sick as aparrot.

[bad feeling of disillusionment/frustration]


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Like ...

My plan worked like a dream, and the

problem was soon solved.

Be careful the boss doesn't see you; she

has eyes like a hawk.

No wonder he's fat. He eats like a horse

and drinks like a fish.

Did you sleep well? Yes, thanks, like a log.


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Sorry, I forgot to ring him again. I've got a headlike a sieve!

The boss is like a bear with a sore head today.

[in a very bad temper] She goes around like a bull in a china shop.

[behaving in a very clumsy, insensitive way]

Criticising the government in his presence islike a red rag to a bull. [certain to make himvery angry]


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Binomials

Binomials are expressions (often idiomatic)

where two words are joined by a

conjunction (usually 'and'). The order of

the words is usually fixed. It is best to usethem only in informal situations, with one

or two exceptions.


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odds and ends: small, unimportant things,

e.g. Let's get the main things packed; we

can do the odds and ends later.

give and take: a spirit of compromise, e.g.

Every relationship needs a bit of give and

take to be successful.


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You can often tell something is a

binomial because of the sound pattern.

Tears are part and parcel of growing up.

[part of / belong to]

The boss was ranting and raving at us.

[shouting / very angry]

The old cottage has gone to rack and ruin.

[ruined / decayed]


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He's so prim and properat work. [rather

formal and fussy]

The hotel was a bit rough and ready.

[poor standard]

She has to wine and dine important

clients. [entertain]


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Other times, the clue is that the words

are near-synonyms.

You can pick and choose; it's up to you.

[have a wide choice]

My English is progressing in leaps and

bounds. [big jumps]


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It's nice to have some peace and quiet.

[peace/calm]

The doctor recommended some rest and

recreation. [relaxation]

First and foremost, you must work hard.

[first / most importantly]


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Many grammar words combine to form

binomials.

There are cafes here and there. [scattered

round]

We've had meetings on and off. [occasionally]

I've been running back and forth all day. [toand from somewhere]


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To and fro can be used just like back and

forth.

He is unemployed and down and out.

[without a home or money]

She's better now, and out and about

again. [going out]

She ran up and down the street. [in both

directions]


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Your language probably has many binomials.Make sure those which look similar in Englishhave the same word order as your language.These four are very neutral binomials and can

be used in formal or informal situations. Trytranslating them.

A black and white film, please.

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please! She ran back and forth.

There was hot and cold water in every room.


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Binomials linked by words other than

and.

You've got your sweater on back to front.

[the wrong way]

He won't help her; she'll have to sink or

swim. [survive or fail]

Slowly but surely, I realised the boat was

sinking. [gradually]

Soonerorlater, you'll learn your lesson.

[some time / day]


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She didn't want to be just friends; it had to

be all ornothing.

Well I'm sorry, that's all I can offer you;

take it orleave it.

It's about the same distance as from here

to Dublin, give ortake a few miles.

[perhaps a mile or two more, or a mile ortwo less]


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Idioms connected with problematic

situations

idiom literal phrase

to be in a fix = be in difficulty

to be in a tight corner = be in a situation thatis hard to get out of

to be in a muddle = be confused/mixed

up

(these three go together as all having be + in

+ a)


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React ing in si tuat ions

Two pairs of more or less opposite idioms.

to take a back seat [not do anything; let

others act instead]z

to take the bull by the horns [act positively to

face and attack the problem]


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to keep one's cards close to one's chest

[hold back information]

zto lay one's cards on the table [be very

open, state exactly what your position is]


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Idioms related to situations based

on get

This has to be done by next week; we must getour act togetherbefore it's too late.

[organise ourselves to respond; informal]

We need a proper investigation to get to the

bottom ofthings.[find the true explanation for the state of affairs]

It's quite difficult to get people to sit up andtake notice.

[make them pay attention] I'm trying to get a grasp of what's happening;

it's not easy.

[find out / understand]


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Changes and stages in situations

The tide has turned for us; better days are

ahead

We can see light at the end of the tunnel

at last.


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I'm afraid we've just come to a dead end

with our plans.

I think I've reached a turning-point in my

career.


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Some idioms connected with easing

the situation

The government and the unions have

buried the hatchet for the time being.

[made peace / stopped fighting each other]

All that trouble last year was just swept

under the carpet in the end. [ignored

/deliberately forgotten, without solving it]

You should say sorry. It would go a longway. [would help a lot]


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Expressions with do and make

The next seven units deal with phrasal verbs andother expressions based on common verbs.

Phrasal verbs are basic verbs which can combinewith different prepositions (or particles) to

make verbs with completely new - and oftenunguessable - meanings. Phrasal verbs areused more in speaking than in writing. There isalmost always a more formal way of conveying

the same idea. In this unit we look at phrasal verbsformed from do and make.

ph rasal verb meaning


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ph rasal verb

do with

do without

do away with

do out of

meaning

need, want

manage without

abolish

prevent from having (by deceit)


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ph rasal verb

make for

make of

make off

make up for

make up to

Meaning

move in the direction of

think (opinion)

leave hurriedly

compensate for

be nice to in order to get s.t.


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Some phrasal verbs have a number of different

meanings; do up can mean not only 'fasten but

also 'renovate' and 'put into a bundle'. Similarly, make out can mean 'claim', 'manage to

see' and 'understand' as well as 'write' or

'complete'; make up can mean 'compose' or

'invent'; it can also mean 'constitute' or 'form', 'put

cosmetics on', 'prepare by mixing together

various ingredients' and 'make something more

numerous or complete'.


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There are a lot of other common

expressions based on do and make.

You do: the housework / some gardening /

the washing-up / homework / your best /

the shopping /the cooking / business with ...,

and so on.


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You make: arrangements / an agreement / a

suggestion / a decision / a cup of tea / war /

an attempt / a phone call / the best of.. . / an effort

/ an excuse / a mistake / a bed / a profit / a loss /love / the most of / a noise / a good or bad

impression / a success of ... / a point of ... /

allowances for ... / a gesture / a face / fun of ... /

a fuss of ... / a go (a success) of ..., and so on.


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The more collocations with do and make you

learn, the more you will get a 'feel' for the

difference between the two verbs.


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Expressions with bring and take

Here are some common phrasal verbs with

bring. Each is exemplified in a typical

spoken sentence and a more formal

equivalent is provided in brackets.

I b ht i th t [ i ]


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I was brought up in the country. [raise]

Don't give up. I'm sure you'll bring it off.

[succeed] Cold winds always bring on her cough. [cause

to start]

The strike brought about a change ofgovernment. [cause to happen]

I hope they don't bring back capital punishment.

[re-introduce]

H h l b


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Here are some common phrasal verbs

with take.

Doesn't he take after his father! [resemble]

I wish I could take back what I said to her.

[withdraw]

I find it very hard to take in his lectures. [absorb,

understand]

She was completely taken in by him. [deceive]

Sales have really taken off now. [start to

improve]


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The plane took off two hours late. [left the

ground]

She's very good at taking off her teacher.[imitate]

We'll have to take on more staff if we're to take

on more work. [employ; undertake] She took to him at once. [form an immediate

liking for]

When did you take up golf? [start (a hobby)]

H th idi


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Here are some other common idioms

with bring and take.

The new regulations will be brought into force in

May ... [become law]

His research brought some very interesting

facts to light. [revealed]

Matters were brought to a head when Pat was

sacked. [reached a point where changes had to

be made]

It's better that everything should be brought into

the open. [made public]


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His new girlfriend has really brought out the

best in him. [been good for him]

Don't let him take advantage of you. [unfairlyuse superiority]

After 20 years of marriage they take each other

for granted. [don't appreciate each other'squalities]

I took it for granted you'd come. [assumed]

She immediately took control of the situation.[started organising]

His words took my breath away. [surprised]


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She loves taking care of small children. [looking

after, caring for]

We took part in a demonstration last Saturday.[participated]

The story takes place in Mexico. [happens]

He doesn't seem to take pride in his work.[draw satisfaction from]

Mother always takes everything in her stride.

[copes calmly]


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Expressions with get

Get seems to be used all the time in spokenEnglish. It has the following basic meanings:

receive, obtain or buy something, e.g. Pleaseget me a newspaper when you're in town;I got aletter from John today; She got top marks in herexam.

show a change in position -move or be moved,e.g. How are you getting home tonight?

show a change in state - become or make, e.g.We are all getting older if not wiser.


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Get also has a number of other more

specific meanings.

It's my turn to get dinner tonight. [prepare

a meal]

I don't get it. Why did he speak like that?

[understand]

His behaviour really gets me at times.

[annoy]


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ph rasal verb meaning

get at reach, find

get away with do something wrong withoutbeing caught

get behind fail to produce something

at the right time

get by manage (financially)

get down depress

get down to begin to give serious

attention to

get on manage

t d d l


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get on advance, develop

get out of avoid a responsibility

get over recover from

get round spread

get through come to a successful end

get through use up all of

get up to to do (especially something bad)

Here are some other expressions


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Here are some other expressions

based on get.

You seem to have got out of bed on the wrong sidetoday. [be in a bad mood]

The meeting got off to a good had start with JR'Sspeech. [started well/badly]

I'm organising a little get-together. I hope you cancome. [informal meeting/party]

When their relationship ended he got rid of everything

that reminded him of her. [threw away, destroyed] I'm going to get my own back on her somehow. [take

my revenge]


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explaining the phrasal verbs

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