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What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is a verb with a small word called a particle. These are words like up, in, out, or on.
The verb and the small word together make a new meaning. Sometimes, the new meaning is very different from the verb alone.
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For example:
Give: You give a present to a friend. You offer something.
Give up: When you give up, you stop trying. You don’t “give” anything. This just means that you lose hope.
Verbs and Phrasal Verbs
Here are two examples. You can see how phrasal verbs have different meanings.
Verb: turn. This means to change direction.
Example: Please turn left at the corner.
Phrasal verb: turn on. This means to start something.
Example: Turn on the TV.
You can see that “turn on” is not about changing direction. It means to start a TV or a light.
Verb: look. This means to see with your eyes.
Example: Look at my new shoes!
Phrasal verb: look after. This means to take care of someone.
Example: I look after my little brother when my parents are not home.
“Look after” is not about using your eyes. It means to help or care for someone.
Why Are Phrasal Verbs Hard?
Phrasal verbs can be hard to learn for three reasons:
- It is difficult to guess the meaning just by looking at the verb and the particle.
- One phrasal verb can have many and very different meanings.
- There are many, many phrasal verbs in English. Learning all of them is very difficult.
English learners can feel confused. You need to practice using English a lot to learn them.
My Thoughts
Because I teach English, I know that phrasal verbs can be hard. Sometimes I hear them in movies or when people talk, but most of the time I’m not paying attention to them. If I understand the idea, it doesn’t matter if you use a simple verb or a phrasal verb. Native speakers (people who speak English from when they are small) just know them. They don’t think or worry about phrasal verbs.
When you use English, you will see and hear them many times. Soon, you will understand more. It will feel easier. You can often understand from what is happening. That’s called the context. If the context is not clear, you can just ask or find the meaning later.
Good Ways to Learn Phrasal Verbs
Learn with Sentences
Learn how phrasal verbs are used in sentences. This is a good way to learn all new words. You remember words better when you see them in sentences.
Watch, Listen, Speak, Write
Listen for phrasal verbs in movies, shows, or songs, but don’t worry too much about them.
When you learn new phrasal verbs, try to use them when you speak or write.
Use Flashcards
Flashcards can help you learn. Write the phrasal verb on one side of a card. On the other side, write the meaning and one or two example sentences.
Apps like Anki or Quizlet can help too.
Look for Small Clues (Sometimes!)
Sometimes, the small word (like up or out) can help you guess.
For example, the word "up" can sometimes mean "finish."
- eat up = eat all your food
- use up = use all of something
- drink up = drink all of your drink
This will not teach you every phrasal verb. But it can help you understand English better.
Relax and Be Patient
Don’t worry about learning every phrasal verb now. You will learn many common ones first.
You learn by seeing them and using them. Be patient and practice when you can.
😎 Learning phrasal verbs takes time. It can be hard at first, but it will get easier. And it will help you understand English better.
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