When we use "up" with the words and the sentences ?

Question

Hi all ,,

we face problem in how to use a word "up" with the words ,
is it has a specific rule ?

Becouse when add "up" to any words , the meaning must be changed !
for Example :
- Show & show up
- Take & Take up

and also like this :
What are you up to tonight ?

I hope explain it with details
Thanks in advance

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hello Abdullah;

Welcome to English Forums.

Some prepositions are used with a base verb to make a phrasal verb. The new verb has a different meaning.
Unfortunately, there is no rule regarding the change in meaning. You have to memorize it as a new vocabulary word.

Also "be up to" is an idiom. There is no rule for idioms, either.

Here are more phrasal verbs with up

Did you back your computer up?
He got sick and threw up.
The army blew up the bridge.
We got lost and don't know where we will end up.
John is fed up with his internet service provider.
Don't get all worked up! We will solve this problem peacefully.
If you butter up your teacher, you might get special attention.
She likes to get all dressed up for parties.
We will finish up the job tomorrow and get paid.
I want to clear up the confusion.
Don't bring up that old problem again.
The dog ate up all the cookies.
Will you follow up with me tomorrow?
The lawyer draws up wills and other legal documents.
If you do that, it will gum up the works!
His jokes always crack us up.
My son grew up before I knew it.
I woke up with a headache.

CalifJim · Answer

iAbdullahwe face problem in how to use a word "up" with the words , is it has a specific rule ?

Here is your question: We are facing the problem of how to use the word "up" with verbs. Is there a specific rule?
____________

No. There is no specific rule. "up" is part of a great many phrasal verbs, for example, act up, beat up, brush up, catch up, cheer up, drag up, dry up, finish up, get up, hang up, keep up,lock up, mop up, pass up, pay up, rip up, sign up, start up, turn up, use up, warm up, and zip up.

The most general meaning of "up" in these phrasal verbs is completion. "up" emphasizes the completion (or "perfective aspect") of an action.

You can use soap to wash dishes, but if you use it up, there is no more, and you will have to buy more. The soap is all gone; it is used up.
After a rain, a puddle of water begins to dry, but when it has dried up, there is no more rain water there. The rain water is all gone; it has dried up.

In several groups of verbs "up" suggests something more specific, but it's doubtful whether knowing this will solve the problem you seem to be having. You may have to learn the meaning of phrasal verbs with "up" separately as there is no single meaning of "up" that applies to all such verbs. Nevertheless, the following link may interest you.

CJ

When we use "up" with the words and the sentences ?

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