Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs refer to verb and preposition which together have a special meaning. For example, put + off means “postpone”. A phrasal verb may be either separable or nonseparable.

With a separable phrasal verb, a noun, may come either between the verb and the preposition or after preposition. A pronoun comes between the verb and the preposition.

With a nonseparable phrasal verb, a noun or pronoun must follow the preposition.

Example :

Separable Phrasal Verbs	Nonseparable  Phrasal Verbs
a. I handed my paper in yesterday b. I handed in  my paper yesterday c. I handed it in yesterday	a. I ran into an old friend yesterday b. I ran into her yesterday

 


The following is a list of some common phrasal verbs and their usual meaning.

Separable Phrasal  Verbs	Meaning
Bring up	1. rear children 2. mention or introduce a topic
Call back	Return a telephone call
Pick up	Go to get someone (such as in a car)
Put off	Postpone
Look up	Look for information in a reference book.

Nonseparable Phrasal Verbs	Meaning
Check in, check into	Register at a hotel
Get out of	Leave
Pass away	Die
Show up	Appear, come
Look after	Take care of