Mastering Phrasal Verbs for Everyday English

Phrasal Verbs: These are perhaps the scariest part of the English language for a student to understand. They are literally everywhere in spoken English, but most often, their meanings are breezy and defy logic based on the individual words. Fear not, though. Gaining mastery over such phrasal verbs is quite attainable and it holds within its special key to fluency and sounding more natural ever in one’s day-by-day English. So, in today’s blog post we’ll explore Phrasal verbs for everyday English.

What Are Phrasal Verbs?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and preposition (like “up” in “look up”), or an adverb (like “out” in “figure out”), creating a wholly different meaning. Phrasal verbs are generally more idiomatic and conversational than their one-word replacements.

This is how “get” becomes “get on” with a bus, and “get along with” becomes, for example, a matter of having a good rapport with another person. The respective meanings are not inferred just from looking at the words.

Why are Phrasal Verbs Important?

Phrasal verbs are the little secret to successful English conversations. If you know how to use them, the interlocutor will have no difficulty understanding what you want to say.

The main reasons mastering phrasal verbs will enhance your English fluency:

•     More natural and idiomatic speech: Phrasal verbs provide richness and colour to your spoken English, letting you sound less like a textbook and more like a real person.
•     Deeper understanding: Awareness of these phrasal verbs will allow you access to a wider range of spoken and written English that can help you get a better understanding of what the speaker or writer means.
•     Less ambiguous: With phrasal verbs, you can draw distinctions that the equivalent single verbs usually cannot; for this reason, the acquisition of phrasal verbs helps you express yourself with less ambiguity.

Why Phrasal Verbs are so Hard?

Phrasal verbs pose a strange kind of difficulty for a few reasons:

•     Unintuitive meanings: Unlike, say adding “ing” to form the present continuous, phrasal verbs are likely to have meanings completely unbelievable by looking at the meaning of the component words separately. Take “look up,” for instance. It doesn’t mean looking at the top; it means to find information.
•     Separable vs. Inseparable: Some particle verbs, such as “put on” retain the particle (on) beside the verb. Others, such as “look up,” separate the verb and particle in a sentence (“I looked up the meaning”).
•     Multiple Meanings: A single phrasal verb can have more than one meaning depending on the context. “Run out of” can mean to be out of stock (milk) or to have no more time (patience).

Types of Phrasal Verbs

Now that you’ve seen how important phrasal verbs are in everyday English, let’s get into their forms! We’ll find three primary types: intransitive, transitive separable, and transitive inseparable.

1. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

These phrasal verbs do not take any object to complete their meaning. They are very clear and easy to understand, therefore, they easily stand alone in a sentence. 

Examples: “He walked in” and “She ran away.”

2.  Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs

These phrasal verbs consist of a verb and particle, except that in these the object can fit in between both of them. For example, “She turned off the light,” or “They took out the trash.” The object may be put either way. It offers more freedom in sentence structure.

3. Transitive Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

These are phrasal verbs—one verb and one particle—that must keep their object strictly after them. No separation is allowed! For example, “He made up a story” and “She looks after her little brother.” One cannot squeeze the object between the verb and the particle.

Mastery on the proper use of phrasal verbs comes through an understanding of the said types. Practice each type and work on placing objects properly. In time, you will master these versatile verbs and confidently use them in everyday English.

How to learn meaning of Phrasal Verbs through Context?

Phrasal verbs actually are stumbling blocks, but don’t sweat it; context is going to be your secret weapon. Phrasal verbs in English derive their meaning and context from surrounding words and sentences.

Become a context detective and crack the code: discover the actual meaning. One way to go about being a phrasal verb sleuth is by examining the words around it. These would act as clues. In the example “I ran out of money,” the verb “ran out of” would suggest the money is thoroughly depleted. Now you’ve used the clues on “ran out of” to find what “money” is telling you.

Another tip from detectives: consider the bigger picture. What’s happening? What’s the order of events? For instance, consider what might be happening if you hear someone say, “I called off the meeting.” Well, “called off” means that the meeting was cancelled. Understanding the larger context, in this case that the meeting was cancelled, can help to define what it is that the phrasal verb means.

Last but not least, spot patterns in the phrasal verbs as if in a decoding ring: Most phrasal verbs have similar constructions and meanings. When you spot others and know the pattern you can make some guesses of the meaning of a less familiar phrasal verb.

Remember learning phrasal verbs through the context requires time and a lot of practice. This will be easy if you read, listen, and communicate in English more and more. So, keep at it and watch those phrasal verbs take your skills to new heights!

Mastering Phrasal Verbs: Some Tips

The key to mastering phrasal verbs is through correct practice. Here are some tips to get you started:

•     Start with common verbs: Start your journey by learning the most commonly used phrasal verbs, like “look up” (to search for information), “come up with” (to think of an idea), “turn off” (to switch something off), or “figure out” (to understand).
•     Learn in context: Avoid learning a list of phrasal verbs. Observe how they are used in movies, TV series, or conversation. That way, you get the meaning and feel.
•     Use flashcards: On one side, write the phrasal verb, and on the other, define it with an example. Use it regularly for quizzing.
•     Read extensively: Read English materials—books, articles, websites—and this should include phrasal verbs in a natural way. Note how they are used and try to use them in writing.
•     Get a language partner: Practice the use of phrasal verbs with a native speaker or another learner.

Some everyday phrasal verbs to get you started

1. Break down: separate into parts

Eg: “The bike broke down on the flyover, so we called a tow truck.”

2. Cheer up: become happier

Eg: “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll cheer up after a good meal.”

3. Fill out: complete a form

Eg: “Please fill out this feedback form and return it to me.”

4. Hang out: spend time informally

Eg: “Do you want to hang out with me this Saturday?”

5. Look forward to: be excited about

Eg: “I’m looking forward to seeing you again this weekend!”

6. Pick up: collect someone or something

Eg: “I can pick you up from the university if you want to.”

7. Run out of: have no more of something

Eg: “We’ve run out of groceries. Can you pick some up on your way home?”

8. Try on: put on clothes to see if they fit

Eg: “Why don’t you try on these shoes on and see how it looks?”

Conclusion

Phrasal verbs are mastered only by practice, but by a fun ride! Don’t worry if at first it does not seem to fall in place. Work with them, enjoy the language, and see how it gradually pays off. You’ll be wielding phrasal verbs like a pro and speaking English with confidence before you know it!