"up" "down" "back" and ... in phrasal verbs

Question

I know that phrasal verbs has no rule to extract the meanings from the sub words (is sub word right word?), but there is a meaning that generally can be guessed from the words. For instance, "up" can have modify the main verb by the meaning of performing completely, "down" can be born the meaning of decreasing and heading down, and "back" is usually recalls heading back or returning. Despite I have some guesses about following adverbs or prepositions, I would appreciate if you could give the modifying meaning of these words: "on", "onto", "into", "of", "above", "about" (I think it bears meaning of around), "off", "away", "through" and "out".

I do not expect one person answer them all, however I am looking forward to it.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

and "in" <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Anonymous · Answer

on {contact
support
function
continue}

off {separate
deteriorate
not function
not continue
complete}

AlpheccaStars · Answer

It's not that simple. Most phrasal verbs require memorization. the definitions can vary a lot .
Look in a good dictionary for the independent meanings of these particles / prepositions)
Here are some examples:

Back up. (to drive in reverse, to make a copy of digital information, to support someone's opinion or argument)
Back down. ( to retreat)
Back out (to retreat completely)
Back off (to retreat)

run up (to accumulate, increase an amount)
run out (to deplete completely).
run off (to scare away)

Khoff · Answer

AlpheccaStarsBack up. (to drive in reverse, to make a copy of digital information, to support someone's opinion or argument)Back down. ( to retreat)Back out (to retreat completely)Back off (to retreat)

In your car, you can also back out of the garage or back down a road if the way is blocked.

Anonymous · Answer

FOR
{reason
destination
objective
in place of
in favour of}

OVER
{cover
complete / finish
from one side to the other / from beginning to end
directly above
more than}

Anonymous · Answer

AlpheccaStarsIt's not that simple. Most phrasal verbs require memorization. the definitions can vary a lot .

The bomb has blown up the bridge - means bridge go up (not by gravity) because of the bomb.
The earthquake has blown down the bridge.
The storm has blown over our city
The explosion in the street blown in the windows.
They blown out the window with a hand bomb.

I think knowing the meaning helps an ESL language to understand the meaning.

P.S. Despite you can find lots of things in a dictionary, as myself I use more than three advance dictionary, but the meaning cannot be understood directly by the meaning of the adverbs/prepositions, and that why I ask for more information.

Anonymous · Answer

I have found resources from this website, and I think it can help out who wants like me learn phrasal verbs with a sort of a pattern in meaning. This is not enough, but it's helping.
http://www.phrasalverbdemon.com/particles.htm
the website allows us to use this material freely with non-commercial purpose :http://www.phrasalverbdemon.com/terms.htm

So, I am going to study all of them. Please help me to understand them and review them. If there were any mistake or something missing, please use reply with reference ('Quote') to that part. I would appreciate if you could comment them for making them more clear.

Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Dear Youzou;

What is your purpose of your copying the contents of another web site here? No one is going to answer all four pages of your posts, and you are violating the terms of the source web site, and endangering the integrity of EnglishForward.

http://www.phrasalverbdemon.com/terms.htm:

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should materials from this site end up somewhere else on the Internet. Instead, a link to this site should be used.

Anonymous · Answer

That is why I used that link at the first of the post. Well, my purpose is completing this page because on that website I couldn't add and change them. Instead, I am trying to help other people like myself to find a complete resource. I will contact them and asked them about it. You know as I understand the phrasal verbs have vast usages and knowing the behind meaning of them will help any person who speak English as a second language to improve level of his/her communication. And copying wasn't very easy, because structure of website is different from posts. However, I will contact the website and mention that I use your material on a forum post and also mention that I have referenced to your website too. Have you seen the first of the page?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

youzouWell, my purpose is completing this page because on that website I couldn't add and change them.

If you are going to copy material from that web site for your personal use, put it in a private document on your own computer.
It is explicitly against that site's policy to copy their material on a different web site such as EnglishForward.It is perfectly OK to link to their site.

Once you have posted it here, you cannot add or change it later on, either. Don't be surprised if your posts get deleted because of complaints.

youzouHave you seen the first of the page?

Yes I have. What are you asking?

By the way, this convenient "search all dictionaries" lists over 500 phrasal verbs (and variations) with "up" as the particle. The referenced site is certainly not complete, and they might make it even better.

http://www.onelook.com/?w=*_up&scwo=1&sswo=1&first=1

"up" "down" "back" and ... in phrasal verbs

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions