Phrasal verbs UNIT 8- Sabino Pignatari

Here I bring you a brief explanation about the phrasal verbs we´ve seen in Unit 8, but if you want to learn more, I invite you to go to: www.phrasalverbdemon.com

Phrasal verbs which take objects can be separable or inseparable:

Separable phrasal verbs can remain together when using an object that is a noun or noun phrase.

·         I picked Tom up. OR I picked up Tom.

·         They put their friends up. OR They put up their friends.

Separable phrasal verbs MUST be separated when a pronoun is used:

·         We picked him up at the station. NOT We picked up him at the station.

·         They put them up. NOT They put up them.

Inseparable phrasal verbs always remain together. It makes no difference if a noun or pronoun is used.

·         We set off for the beach. / We set off for it.

·         They are looking after the children. / They are looking after them.

Phrasal Verbs which Don't Take Objects

Some phrasal verbs do not take objects. These phrasal verbs are ALWAYS inseparable.

·         They thieves got away.

·         The bus broke down on the way to work.

·         She got up early.

TIP!

If you are not sure whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable, ALWAYS use a noun or nouns phrase and DO NOT separate. In this manner, you will always be correct!

Separable Phrasal Verbs: bring up, take off

·         They brought up their children to respect others.

·         She took off her jacket before she began the lesson.

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs: look for, set off

·         She was looking for her books when he arrived.

·         They set off for a wonderful holiday in Hawaii.

Three-word Phrasal Verbs

Some verbs are followed by two prepositions (or adverbs). These phrasal verbs are ALWAYS inseparable.

·         I'm looking forward to meeting John. OR I'm looking forward to meeting him.

·         They didn't get on with their mother. OR They didn't get on with her.

EXERCISES

1- Choose the correct definition for the phrasal verbs in the second list from the first list. 

·         recover from

·         discover

·         escape

·         wait

·         think of a solution

·         inherit characteristic

·         arrive

·         connect on the phone

·         reduce

·         make sense

·         continue doing something

·         care for

·         search

·         postpone

·         find out _____

·         get on with _____

·         hold on _____

·         get away _____

·         take after _____

·         cut down _____

·         look after _____

·         come up with _____

·         add up _____

·         put through _____

·         look for _____

·         get over _____

·         turn up _____

·         put off _____

2- Use the correct phrasal verb you have learned to complete the phrase.

·         find out

·         get on with

·         hold on

·         get away

·         take after

·         cut down

·         look after

·         come up with

·         add up

·         put through

·         look for

·         get over

·         turn up

·         put off

·        

·         Have you _____ if you won the competition yet?

·         I need to _____ from work and take a holiday.

·         She still hasn't _____ the death of her cat.

·         My daughter is a great cook, she really _____ her mother.

·         Could you _____ a moment while I see if Peter is in his office?

·         Extension 286? I'll _____.

·         She promised to _____ her cigarette smoking to five a day.

·         He spent the entire night thinking and in the end _____ a brilliant idea.

·         I'm afraid your story is not believable. It just doesn't _____.

·         My sister _____ my cats while I was away on vacation.

·         We're not ready yet, we are going to have to _____ the meeting until next week.

·         I'm _____ Tom's address. Do you know it?

·         Mary _____ thirty minutes late for the party.

·         I'm tired of waiting for Jack. Can we _____ our work?

ANSWERS

Exercise 1

• find out discover
• get on with continue doing something
• hold on wait
• get away escape
• take after inherit characteristic
• cut down reduce
• look after care for
• come up with think of a solution
• add up make sense
• put through connect on the phone
• look for search
• get over recover from
• turn up arrive
• put off postpone

Exercise 2

• Have you found out if you won the competition yet?
• I need to get away from work and take a holiday.
• She still hasn't gotten over the death of her cat.
• My daughter is a great cook, she really takes after her mother.
• Could you hold on a moment while I see if Peter is in his office?
• Extension 286? I'll put you through.
• She promised to cut down her cigarette smoking to five a day.
• He spent the entire night thinking and in the end came up with a brilliant idea.
• I'm afraid your story is not believable. It just doesn't add up.
• My sister looked after my cats while I was away on vacation.
• We're not ready yet, we are going to have to put off the meeting until next week.
• I'm looking for Tom's address. Do you know it?
• Mary turned up thirty minutes late for the party.
• I'm tired of waiting for Jack. Can we get on with our work?

THAT´S ALL!!!