2. Learning Objectives
To understand what are phrasal verbs.
To see how phrasal verbs can help in
expressing an action effectively.
3. Introduction
You have heard it a hundred times from your
parents or well-intentioned teachers in the course
of learning English to exalt you to 'Read more!' or
'Memorise more vocabulary words!'
Vocabulary does indeed play a part in ensuring
that you can express yourself better – in speech
and writing.
Consider the story of how a migrant Chinese in
Singapore aced his 'O' level English.
4. Story of a Chinese Immigrant
A Chinese migrated to Singapore at the age of 14,
with only a basic grasp of English Language since it
is not his native tongue.
With sheer determination and will, he set his mind
about mastering this devilish tongue with a simple
routine.
He reads everyday - books, papers and magazines.
He writes down new words he come across. Recite
them often. Memorise them. Recalls the words
before sleeping. And this routine is repeated daily.
5. Vocabulary
The story tells us about the determination of
this boy but also an important fact: Vocabulary
is an important building block in your
learning journey in expressing yourself anew.
Whether you are at primary, secondary or
junior college level, having a wide working
knowledge in vocabulary is one of the most
important assets in language.
6. Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs have a special place in learning
vocabulary.
It comes easily to most students and helps you
to express actions effectively.
It helps your audience to form a visual image
of what you are expressing.
As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words!
7. Phrasal Verbs
What are phrasal verbs? They are verbs and
prepositions in a phrase.
1) Sit up
2) Back out
3) Break down
4) Call off
These phrasal verbs give you a small sense of the
action being described. 'Break down' would give
you an image of something that is totally 'down' in
contrast to up and running.
8. Phrasal Verbs
It also offers precision and accuracy.
Compare 'The car has broken down.' to ...
'The car is not working completely.'
'The car is spoilt.'
'The car is not moving.'
Any of the above would either be not precise or
accurate. In other words, they will be either not
short or sharp.
9. Phrasal Verbs Examples
Some of the common phrasal verbs you are probably
already familiar include:
1) Cut in – 'Don't cut in when I'm talking.'
2) Drop out – 'Dropping out of school is not advisable.'
3) Eat out – 'Let's eat out today.'
4) Fall apart – 'The house is falling apart.'
5) Go ahead – 'Go ahead and have lunch without me.'
They help you to express more with less.
10. Learning Activity
Construct sentences based on these phrasal verbs.
1) Put down
2) Chill out
3) Take apart
4) Force down
5) Pull through
Hint: Imagine the sense of the action behind them to
better use them in your sentences.
11. Learning Activity Suggested Answers
Some suggested sentences are:
1) Put down – Don't put Alex down yet as that's only
his first mistake.
2) Chill out – Let's chill out with a karaoke session.
3) Take apart – The rottweiler took apart the rag doll
in seconds.
4) Force down – Don't force the proposal down his
throat as he has an idea of his own.
5) Pull through – He managed to pull through the
major operation.
12. Discussion
What are Phrasal Verbs?
How do they help you express verbs better?
13. In summary
Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and preposition
in a phrase.
They contain a small imagery of the action and
hence, helps to express the verb effectively.
