Phrasal verbs are verbs that combine with adverbs or prepositions, called particles, to extend or change the meaning of the verb. Phrasal verbs can be used in four main structures: with a particle and no object, with a particle and object, with an object and particle, or with a particle and prepositional phrase. The document provides examples of different phrasal verb structures and their meanings.

1. Phrasal Verbs

2. Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are verbs that combine with
adverbs or prepositions. The adverbs and
prepositions are called particles, for example
‘down’, ‘in’, ‘off’,’out’, and ‘up’.
She turned off the radio.
Mr Knight offered to put him up.

3. Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs extend the usual meaning of the
verb or create a new meaning. For example, if
you ‘break’ something, you damage it, but if you
‘break out of’ a place, you escape from it.
They broke out of prison on Thursday night.
The pain gradually wore off.

4. Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are normally used in one of four
main structures. In the first structure, the verb is
followed by a particle, and there is no object.
break out get by look in
stop off catch on give in
ring off wait up check up
go away start out watch out
come in grow up stay up

5. Phrasal Verbs
War broke out in September.
You’ ll have to stay up late tonight.

6. Phrasal Verbs
In the second structure, the verb is followed by a
particle and an object.
fall for grow on part with
set about feel for look after
pick on take after

7. Phrasal Verbs
She looked after her invalid mother.
Peter takes after his father but Joh nis more like
me.

8. Phrasal Verbs
In the third structure, the verb is followed by an
object and a particle.
answer back call back count in
order about ask in catch out
invite out tell apart

9. Phrasal Verbs
I answered him back and took my chances.
He loved to order people about.

10. Phrasal Verbs
Some phrasal verbs can be used in both the
second structure and the third structure: verb
followed by a particle and an object, or verb
followed by an object and a particle.
add on hand over put away
take up bring up knock over
put up tear up call up
point out rub out throw away

11. Phrasal Verbs
It took ages to clean up the mess.
It took ages to clean the mess up.
There was such a mess. It took ages to clean it
up.
WARNING: If the object is a pronoun, it must go
in front of the particle. You cannot say ‘He
cleaned up it’.

12. Phrasal Verbs
In the fourth structure, the verb is followed by a
particle and a preposition with an object.
break out of keep on at put up with
catch up with look forward to run away with
make off with stick up for get on with
miss out on talk down to go down with

13. Phrasal Verbs
You go ahead. I’ ll catch up with you later.
Children have to learn to stick up for themselves.

14. Phrasal Verbs
A very few verbs are used in the structure: verb
followed by an object, a particle, and a
preposition with an object.
do out of put up to talk out of
put down to take out on

15. Phrasal Verbs
Steve tried to talk her out of it.
I’ ll take you up on that generous invitation.

16. Questions?
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