Topic: Phrasal Verbs

Day 1: What are phrasal verbs?

What are phrasal verbs?

1.  A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or an adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb.

e.g. “I ran to school this morning.” This is the basic sense of the word “run”. In this sentence, “run” means to move very quickly, but it can become a phrasal verb when certain prepositions are added after it. The new meanings are very different from the original basic meaning

e.g. I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. (run + into = meet)

He ran away when he was 15. (run + away = leave home)

2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.

e.g. He suddenly showed up. ("show up" cannot take an object)

3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.

e.g. I made up the story. ("story" is the object of "make up")

There are very many phrasal verbs out there. So we will just look at a few of them. Let’s look first at those formed by the verbs “look” and “put”.

PHRASAL VERBS: look and put

look after: To take care of (照料)

e.g. She looked after his younger brother.

look back on: to remember (回想)

e.g. There are very few things I regret when I look back on my life.

look down on: To regard with contempt (輕視)

e.g. It is not right to look down on poor people.

look for: To search for (找尋)

e.g. I have been looking for my keys for the whole afternoon.

look forward to: anticipate with pleasure (期待)

e.g. I look forward to working with you again.

look into: To inquire into; investigate (調查)

e.g. The police looked into the disturbance.

look out: To be watchful or careful; take care (留心)

e.g. If you don't look out, you may fall on the ice.

We looked out for each other on the trip.

look over: To examine or inspect: (檢查)

e.g. Please look over the proposal before the meeting.

look up: search (在…找尋)

e.g. Please look up the vocabulary in the dictionary yourself.

look up to: To admire (敬仰)

e.g. Susan looked up to her mother.

put down: insult, say bad things about (貶損)

e.g. She always puts down people who disagree with her.

put in: officially submit a request (提交)

e.g. He put in for a transfer to the English Department.

put off: postpone (延遲)

e.g. They put off this morning’s meeting.

put on: wear (穿起)

e.g. Put on your sweater before you go out. It’s cold outside.

put out(1): extinguish (熄滅)

e.g. The firemen put out the fire in just thirty minutes.

put out(2): inconvenience someone (使不方便,打擾)

e.g. I don’t want to put you out, but can you pick me up at the airport at 9am please?

put up: have a guest staying at your house (供給...住宿)

e.g. I am glad to put you up for a few days when you visit Hong Kong.

put up with: tolerate (忍受)

e.g. I do not put up with smoking in my house.