SOME EASY PHRASAL VERBS

A phrasal verb is a verb that works in conjunction with  a preposition or adverb to create a meaning that is different from the original verb.

Some verbal phrases always remain intact while others can be split. Where the phrasal verb is split, put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.

Example:

She took me out to dinner.

I shall back you up in this.

They blew it up in the opening.

Will you bring her along with you?

I paid it off over six months.

Use the following phrasal verbs to enlarge on the given theme:

RETAIL BUSINESS

add on                            add up

buy off                           buy up

cash in                            hire out

hive off                           mark up

open up                          prop up

rake in                            sell out

sell up                             snap up

sort out                           take in

take on                           trot out

wind up                          wrap up

NEGOTIATIONS

cave in                           drag out

draw up                          draw out

ease off                          fold up

give in                            give up

hear out                          hold off

hold out                          make out

CAMPING

fill up                              head off

pack up                          rise up

roll up                             set off

shut off                           sign in

take off                          turn off

turn on                            ward off

DISASTER RELIEF

call in                             call off

call up                            drag out

draw in                           drop off

hand out                         haul in

haul up                           help out

lift up                              link up

ring up                            take off

EDUCATION

hand in                           palm off

pile up                            read out

read up                           show off

show up                          take out

tick off  write out

STAGE

act out                            bow out

cut in                              make out

make up                         play out

play up                           whip up

MILITARY

blow up                          call out

call up                            cast off          

cut off                            cut out           

fire off                            hack off         

line up                            look out          

pull out                           roll out                       

set up                             show up         

take down                       take over

tear off                           tear up

APPLICATION FOR SERVICE ETC

drop off                          fill in

fill out                             find out

hand in                           look up

send for                          tick off

POLICE RAID

give off                           haul in

kick in                            lash out

lift up                              link up

lock up                           pick out          

rush in  send in

NOUNS FROM PHRASAL VERBS

Some phrasal verbs, as in the list below, now function as nouns. Examples:

A leading bank is fighting to prevent a hostile takeover.

Scientists working on avian flu have made a breakthrough.

Many people enjoy a lazy lie-in on Sundays.

Everyone waited with bated breath for the blast-off.

The municipality was accused of a cover-up.

add on                            backup

blast-off                          blow-out

blow-up                          breakdown

break-in                          breakthrough

break-up                         buyout

carry-over                      changeover

check in                          checkout

climb-down                     clip on

cover-up                         flare-up

flyover                            follow up        

follow-up                        handover

hangover                        hideout

hold-up                           lay-by

lead-up                           letdown

lie-in                               lookout

makeover                       make-up

melt-down                      pick-up

plug-in                            push-up

rub-down                        run-in

sit-in                               stake-out

takeaway                        takeover

time-off                          turnout

write down                    write-off

A NOTE ON PHRASAL VERBS

A phrasal verb, as was pointed out earlier, is made up of a verb and an adverb or a preposition, or both. It is used with an idiomatic meaning that is often but not always quite different from the literal meaning of the individual words. Examples include ‘show up’ meaning ‘arrive’ ; ‘fall back’ meaning ‘retreat’, and ‘give up’ meaning ‘surrender’.

Learners are advised to make two lists of phrasal verbs: one where the particle is an adverb; and another with a preposition at the end. If it is an adverb, as a basic rule, the particle can be moved up: example: She wrapped up the parcel. She wrapped the parcel up. (adverb) We let out the house. We let the house out. (adverb)  I wrote down the message. I wrote the message down. (adverb)

I cannot put up with such slowness. I cannot put with such slowness up. The particle up cannot be moved forward. It (up) is a preposition.

The preposition takes a direct object. Examples:  Nobody can come between us. We fell under her spell.

Learners must also get into the habit of assuming that each particle can introduce a different meaning and sometimes more than one meaning for exactly the same phrasing. Examples:

I dropped him off at the airport. The lesson was so boring I dropped off . My spectacles dropped off when I jerked my head. I dropped off the gift. Sales have dropped off in the last quarter.

Phrasal Verbs, like all idioms, come into and go out of fashion and one has therefore to keep pace with current developments.

WEB RESOURCES:

http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/phrasaldictionary.html

http://english-zone.com/index.php?ID=52