Phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object. Phrasal Verbs are also called multi-word or multi-part verbs.
1. Phrasal verbs
By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Lecturer in English
International Aviation Academy
SriLankan Airlines
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2. What is a phrasal verb?
A verb plus a preposition or adverb which
creates a meaning different from the original
verb
Some phrasal verbs are intransitive
An intransitive verb cannot be followed by
an object
Phrasal Verbs (also called multi-word or multipart verbs)
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3.
Although many phrasal verbs can take an
object in both places, the object must be
placed between the verb and the
preposition, if the object is a pronoun
Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases
consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition
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4.
Phrasal verbs are mainly used in spoken
English and informal texts
They should be avoided in academic writing
e.g.to postpone - rather than to put off
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5. There
are many types of phrasal
verbs
Which take objects
Which don’t take objects
Transitive and intransitive phrasal
verbs
Three-word phrasal verbs
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6. Phrasal verbs which take objects
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
e.g. I picked my son up.
OR I picked up my son.
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7. Separable phrasal verbs
Must be separated when a pronoun is used
I picked her up from school.
NOT I picked up her from school.
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8. Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs
Some phrasal verbs are transitive
A transitive verb always has an object
e.g.: He made up an excuse.
'Excuse' - the object of the verb
Some phrasal verbs are intransitive
An intransitive verb does not have an object
e.g.: His jeep broke down.
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9. Three-word Phrasal Verbs
Some verbs are followed by two prepositions or
adverbs
These phrasal verbs are always inseparable
She is looking forward to meeting Monica.
OR She is looking forward to meeting her.
We didn't get on with our employer.
OR We didn't get on with him.
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