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Adomi Posted 22 years ago
Vocabulary
Phrasal verbs
Hi
I'm actually a french speaking who wants to improve his english. I've noticed that there are many expressions that sometimes don't give a hint of their meaning. They generally are composed by a verb in the infinitive followed by the word "off", "up", "out", "down", or "in", such as "let off", "call in", "put off", "turn out" and many others. What are their meanings? Are they useful and needed in the common language? If yes, can anyone help me in learning them, their meaning,and how to use them in a sentence, or in a letter.?
Thank you.
I'm actually a french speaking who wants to improve his english. I've noticed that there are many expressions that sometimes don't give a hint of their meaning. They generally are composed by a verb in the infinitive followed by the word "off", "up", "out", "down", or "in", such as "let off", "call in", "put off", "turn out" and many others. What are their meanings? Are they useful and needed in the common language? If yes, can anyone help me in learning them, their meaning,and how to use them in a sentence, or in a letter.?
Thank you.
Top answer
Welcome to EF, Adomi, We can always use another francophone here! Yes, the 'phrasal' or 'two-word' (or 'three-word') verbs are very common in the spoken language, and you will need to learn many of them. There are far too many for me to take on here, but if you post your questions as you run across examples, we'll be happy to help you out .
- Welcome to EF, Adomi, We can always use another francophone here!
- Yes, the 'phrasal' or 'two-word' (or 'three-word') verbs are very common in the spoken language, and you will need to learn many of them.
- There are far too many for me to take on here, but if you post your questions as you run across examples, we'll be happy to help you out .
- There are also a number of good work books which go over these verbs in particular, and there should be a section on them, if you look them up , in your grammar book.
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19 Answers
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Welcome to EF, Adomi,
We can always use another francophone here!
Yes, the 'phrasal' or 'two-word' (or 'three-word') verbs are very common in the spoken language, and you will need to learn many of them. There are far too many for me to take on here, but if you post your questions as you run across examples, we'll be happy to help you out.
There
We can always use another francophone here!
Yes, the 'phrasal' or 'two-word' (or 'three-word') verbs are very common in the spoken language, and you will need to learn many of them. There are far too many for me to take on here, but if you post your questions as you run across examples, we'll be happy to help you out.
There
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Thank you very much for accepting me on this forum. I learnt something new, that is, those words' name is Phrasal word, or two/three-word.
As you mentionned it, I just "came across" some examples , from your last post : TAKE ON, GO OVER...What do the mean? I mean, I knew about run across, help out,and look up, but i didn't really grab the meaning of take on and go over...Perhaps GO OVER
As you mentionned it, I just "came across" some examples , from your last post : TAKE ON, GO OVER...What do the mean? I mean, I knew about run across, help out,and look up, but i didn't really grab the meaning of take on and go over...Perhaps GO OVER
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Hi Adomi,
Here, 'take on' means 'attempt to define' but it more generally means 'assume responsibility for'; as with many idiomatic phrasal verbs, it has other meanings as well-- to 'hire (an employee)' or 'accept a challenge'.
In the example, it is the 'book' that 'goes over' the material, so here it means 'cover' or 'explain'. In another context, when a person 'goes over' s
Here, 'take on' means 'attempt to define' but it more generally means 'assume responsibility for'; as with many idiomatic phrasal verbs, it has other meanings as well-- to 'hire (an employee)' or 'accept a challenge'.
In the example, it is the 'book' that 'goes over' the material, so here it means 'cover' or 'explain'. In another context, when a person 'goes over' s
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Practical Idioms, Using Phrasal Verbs in Everyday Contexts: Over 1000 Useful Idioms
by Louis A. Berman and Laurette Kirstein
Examples:
In an attempt to lose weight, I decided to pass up bread and desserts.
.... de me passer de pain ...
After a hard day's work I don't feel up to having people over.
... je n'ai pas tres envie d'inviter ...
by Louis A. Berman and Laurette Kirstein
Examples:
In an attempt to lose weight, I decided to pass up bread and desserts.
.... de me passer de pain ...
After a hard day's work I don't feel up to having people over.
... je n'ai pas tres envie d'inviter ...
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Hi everybody,
just to say thank you to Mister Micawberi, Nona the brit, CalifJim(especially for the french translation of some of those phrasal verbs..it helped me in having a more precise idea), and all those I didn't mention here, for your help. However, I'm not done with you (I'm just joking), for yesterday, I came across another sentence which/whose (I don't know which one to use
just to say thank you to Mister Micawberi, Nona the brit, CalifJim(especially for the french translation of some of those phrasal verbs..it helped me in having a more precise idea), and all those I didn't mention here, for your help. However, I'm not done with you (I'm just joking), for yesterday, I came across another sentence which/whose (I don't know which one to use
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Hi Adomi,
No upset here, we're all happy campers!
'To help (doing something)' means to avoid or prevent doing it. She didn't like writing, so she avoided it; she 'couldn't help it', so she had to do it.
No upset here, we're all happy campers!
'To help (doing something)' means to avoid or prevent doing it. She didn't like writing, so she avoided it; she 'couldn't help it', so she had to do it.
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I was going to open a new thread about phrasal verbs but then I saw this one and I thought that I could post my question here. I hope you'll be able to answer my question as well, here it is:
How can you tell the difference between phrasal and prepositional verbs? I know that phrasal verbs can be separated by a personal pronoun and that prepositional verbs can't be separated, but how do
How can you tell the difference between phrasal and prepositional verbs? I know that phrasal verbs can be separated by a personal pronoun and that prepositional verbs can't be separated, but how do
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I guess if you don't know the verb at all, you're stuck, Lana. There are no prescriptive rules, only guidelines. Greenbaum & Quirk list five differences:
(1) The particle of a prepositional verb must precede the object, but the particle of a phrasal verb can either precede or follow the d.o.
(2) When the object is a personal pronoun, it follows the particle of a prepositona
(1) The particle of a prepositional verb must precede the object, but the particle of a phrasal verb can either precede or follow the d.o.
(2) When the object is a personal pronoun, it follows the particle of a prepositona
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Thank you.
Number 2 and 3 work best for me, but only if I know the verb, because I can already "hear" what is right and what is wrong, otherwise I guess I'll just have to look up new phrasal verbs in the dictionary.
Number 2 and 3 work best for me, but only if I know the verb, because I can already "hear" what is right and what is wrong, otherwise I guess I'll just have to look up new phrasal verbs in the dictionary.
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One possible guideline:
Most phrasal verbs have the particle "up", "down", "in", "out", "on", or "off".
"away" and "back" are also common as particles; less common are "together" and "apart".
Certain prepositions are almost never used as the particle in a phrasal verb: "into", "to", "from", "for", "with", "without".
And yes, there are exceptions!
Most phrasal verbs have the particle "up", "down", "in", "out", "on", or "off".
"away" and "back" are also common as particles; less common are "together" and "apart".
Certain prepositions are almost never used as the particle in a phrasal verb: "into", "to", "from", "for", "with", "without".
And yes, there are exceptions!
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