Phrasal verbs:theory and practice

phrasal verbs Some verbs are two part verbs (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases). They consist of a verb and a particle: grow + up >> The children are growing up. Often this gives the verb a new meaning: take + after >> She takes after her mother = She looks like her mother, or She behaves like her mother. count + on >> I know I can count on you = I know I can trust you, or I know I can believe you. Some transitive two part verbs (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases) have only one pattern: N (subject) + V + p + N (object) [Note: N = noun; V = verb; p = particle] N (Subject)  Verb Particle  N (Object) SheIMy father takescan countcomes afteronfrom her motheryouMadrid Some transitive two part verbs (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases) are phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs have two different patterns: • The usual pattern is: N + V + N + p N (Subject) Verb (N) Object Particle SheHe We gaveknockedwill be leaving the moneythe glassour friends and neighbours backoverbehind  • But sometimes these verbs have the pattern: N (subject) + V + p + N (object) N (Subject) Verb Particle N (Object) SheHe We gaveknockedwill be leaving backoverbehind the moneythe glassour friends and neighbours When the object is a personal pronoun,these verbs always have the pattern: N + V +N + p: >> She gave it back  >> knocked it over >> We will be leaving them behind • Phrasal verbs are nearly always made up of a transitive verb and a particle. Common verbs with their most frequent particles are: bring: about, along, back, forward, in, off, out, round, up buy: out, up call: off, up carry: off, out cut: back, down, off, out, up give: away, back, off hand: back, down, in, on out, over, round knock: down, out, over leave: behind, out let: down, in, off, out pass: down, over, round point: out push: about, around, over put: across, away, down, forward, off, on, out, through, together, up read: out set: apart, aside, back, down shut: away, in, off, out take: apart, away, back, down, in, on, up, over think: over, through, up

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