What is a phrasal verb?

1. B2 EOI CARTAGENA
Isabel Bastida & Ana Mena

3. In which sentence do you think
there’s a phrasal verb?
a)My mum and her neighbour are talking
over the fence.
b) My sisters-in-law are talking over their
problem.

4. 1) Phrasal verbs are the combination of a verb and a particle.
2) Phrasal verbs form a new semantic unit.
3) It’s not possible to change the particle.

5. • Verb +1 particle
a) Transitive: separable vs non-separable
b) Intransitive
• Verb + 2 particles

6. TRANSIVITE SEPARABLE
TRANSITIVE NON-
SEPARABLE
My granny brought up 10
children by herself.
My granny brought 10
children up by herself.
She brought themup.
My sister never looked after
me when we were children.

7. Separable (examples)
• Bring up
• Call off
• Carry out
• Give away
• Hold up (rob)
• Pick up
• Tear up
• Wear out (make tired)
• Work out
Non-Separable (examples)
• Call for (pick sb up)
• Come across (find by chance)
• Call on (short visit)
• Count on (depend on)
• Go over (discuss details)
• Live on (have as income)
• See to (take care of)
• Pick on (choose a person to
punish)

8. INTRANSTIVE
Oh dear, my little nephew has just dozed off
and hasn’t finished his meal.
After having a big argument, they made up
last week.

9. Some phrasal verbs have a transitive use with one meaning, and an intransitive use with a
different
Meaning:
Clearup:
Could you clear up your room? (make tidy, trans.) /The weather is clearing up (improve,
intrans.)
Fill in:
Can you fill in this form, please? (complete, trans.) /Our teacher was ill, so Mrs Frost
filled in. (Take someone’s place, intrans.)
Lookup:
I have to look it up in my dictionary. (find information, trans.) /Things are looking up.
(appear better, intrans.)
Make up:
Mary made it all up. (invent, trans.) / They made up, but in ten minutes they made up
again. (become friends again)
Take over:
A German company took us over last year. (buy a company, trans.) / If you feel ill, I’ll take
over. (take someone’s place)
Turn up:
Please, turn up the volume. I love this song! (increase, transitive) / Only ten people
turned up at the meeting. (appear, arrive, intrans.)
Draw up:
My lawyer is drawing up a new contract (write a legal document, trans.) / Suddenly an
ambulance drew up in front of us (come to a stop, intrans.)

10. WITHTWOPARTICLES
•I’ve always looked up to my uncle Peter.
•Sorry, but I can’t put up with your cousin.
•He is really irritating!
They are transitive and the object (noun or pronoun) is placed after the second particle.

11. • Come up with sth (invent)
• Get away with sth (not having a punishment)
• Keep away from sb or sth (avoid)
• Stand up for sth (defend)
• Put up with sb or sth (tolerate)
• Face up to sth (confront)
• Come across as sth (appear to be)
• Cut down on sth (reduce)
• Look up to sb (admire)
• Get back to sth (return)
• Go up to sb (approach)

12. • Phrasal Verbs are a creative part of the language.
• Formality: Where a phrasal verb has no exact synonym,
e.g. grow up, we can use it in both formal and informal
context. However, when there is a single verb with an
equivalent meaning, the phrasal verb tends to be used in
informal contexts.
• Some phrasal verbs have different meanings and uses.
Make a list up and write down what you need.
Perhaps a refund will make up for the incovenience.
You’ll have to make up your mind soon.
She made up herself and looked stunning, etc.
• It’s difficult forstudents to predict theirmeaning, but…
up (completely), on (continue, connect), down (collapse),
off (disconnect), back (return), out (removal)

13. DO THE ACTIVITIES IN PAIRS/ GROUPS.