What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb; the combination creates a

meaning different from the original verb alone.
Example :
To get = to obtain I need to get a new battery for my camera.
To get together = to meet Why dont we all get together for lunch one day?

Phrasal verbs are part of a large group of verbs called multi-part or "multi-word verbs.
The preposition or adverb that follows the verb is sometimes called a particle.

Phrasal verbs and other multi-word verbs are an important part of the English language.
However, they are mainly used in spoken English and informal texts. They should be
avoided in academic writing where it is preferable to use a formal verb such as to postpone
rather than to put off.

Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs :

Some phrasal verbs are transitive. (A transitive verb always has an object.)
Example : I made up an excuse. ('Excuse' is the object of the verb.)

Some phrasal verbs are intransitive . (An intransitive verb does not have an object.)
Example : My car broke down.

Separable or inseparable phrasal verbs :

Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. (The object is between the verb and the
preposition.)
Example : I looked the word up in the dictionary.

Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. (The object is placed after the preposition.)
Example : I will look into the matter as soon as possible.

Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places.

Example : I picked up the book.
I picked the book up.

However, if the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the preposition.
Example : I picked it up.

Phrasal Verb Meaning Example

1) It's not easy to get around the city without
1) Move from place to place
get about/around a map.
2) Spread, circulate
2) News of their separation soon got about.
 Be on good terms / work well
get along (with) I get along (well) with my mother-in-law.
with.

get at Imply What exactly are you trying to get at?

get away Escape The robbers got away in a black car.

get by (on) Manage to cope or to survive. It's difficult to get by on a low salary.

get down to Start to actually do something. It's time to get down to some serious work!

get in Enter How did the burglar get in?

get into (+ noun) Enter How did the burglar get into the house?

1) Leave (bus, train, plane). 1) Get off the bus at Trafalgar Square.
get off
2) Remove from something. 2) She's trying to get off the stain.

get on Board (bus, train, plane) You can pay when you get on the bus.

Continue to do something / make

get on with Be quiet and get on with your homework.
progress

get on (well) with Have a good relationship with I get on very well with my colleagues.

get out Leave How did he get out?

get out of (+noun) Leave How did he get out of the house?

Some husbands manage to get out of

get out of (+verb) Avoid doing something
doing any housework.

Recover from (illness,

get over Charlie had the 'flu but he got over it.
disappointment)

get rid of Eliminate It's difficult to get rid of old habits.

Find the necessary time to do I finally got round to making the list that I
get round (to)
something. promised.

get together Meet each other Let's get together for lunch one day.

get up Rise / leave bed I usually get up at 7 o'clock.

1) He gave away most of his paintings.

give away 1) Give something free of charge.

2) The names of the witnesses will not be

 2) Reveal something. given away.

He promised to give back the money he

give back Return something to its owner.
borrowed..

give up Stop ing something. Sarah gave up smoking five years ago.

Treat something briefly so as to The director glossed over the recent drop in
gloss over
avoid embarrassing details. sales.

Alex tends to go along with anything his wife

go along (with) Agree with; accept.
says.

go back Return Children go back to school after the holidays.

1) Leave a place 1) We decided to go away for a few days.

go away
2) Disappear / fade 2) The stain still hasn't gone away.

There's a bakery. Let's go in and buy some

go in Enter
bread.

Go into the bakery and see if they sell

go into (+ noun) Go inside
croissants.

Join or enter a profession or He decided to go into the army when he left

go into (+ noun)
organization. school.

Have something as an interest or

go in for She doesn't really go in for sports.
hobby.

Leave one's home to attend a

go out Many young people go out a lot.
social event.

Have someone as a
go (out) with Is Julie going (out) with Tom?
boyfriend/girlfriend.

go with Look good with something else. These shoes don't go with my skirt.

Pete went through a lot of pain after the

go through Experience.
accident.

The curtains don't go with the carpet.

go with/together Match; harmonize (with)
The curtains and carpet don't go together.

Spend one's childhood / become He grew up in a small village in the

grow up
an adult mountains.
the verb 'to set' combined with particles:

'to set something off' means to cause it to start or happen.

The smoke form my cooking set the smoke alarm off.

The proposals for a new shopping centre have set off a very heated debate in the
town.

'to set someone off' means to start them laughing, crying or talking.

Every time Jake used that silly voice, it started me off laughing.
Kelly started crying and that set everybody off too.

'to set on' means to begin a physical attack.

If I went into the garden, she said she would set the dog on me.
Coming out of the pub, he was set on by a gang of boys and his money stolen.

'to set out' is to start on a journey.

We wanted to get there before lunch so we had to set out just before dawn.
They packed their bags and set out early as they had a long walk.

'to set out' to do something means that you have a clear idea of what you intend to achieve.

We didn't achieve what we'd set out to do.

He didn't set out to invent the microwave oven. He discovered it while doing other
research.

'to set out' facts or opinions is to explain them clearly in writing or in speech.

All the terms and conditions are set out in this document.
Your terms of employment are set out in your contract.

'to set something out' is to organize it so that it is ready to use.

When I arrived all the materials and equipment were set out ready for use.
The chairs were set out in a circle ready for the class to begin.

'to set up' means to start a company or organisation.

After a few years developing the products, they needed to set up a company to sell
them.
The UN was set up when representatives of fifty countries signed the charter in 1945.

'to set up' also means to makWe arrangements for a meeting, a committee, or an
investigation.

I'd like to discuss that in more detail. Can we set up a meeting with everyone
concerned?
 The government has set up a committee to investigate possible fraud.

'to set up' a structure or building means to erect it.

It took almost an hour to set up the tent in the rain.

The Police set up road blocks throughout the county to try to find the thieves.