1. Lea Salmon, Johanna Meerheim
Phrasal Verbs
Lea Salmon, Johanna Meerheim

2. Outline Definition/Combinations Types of Phrasal Verbs
Use of Phrasal Verbs
Meaning
Exercises/Translation
Sources

3. I. Definition/Combinations
Consist of two (three) words
Phrasal Verb
Adverb Preposition Adverb + Preposition
turn down
reject/refuse (an offer)
reduce (noise)
eat into
- use up a part of sth
- destroy/damage sth
put up with
accept sb/sth that is annoying/unpleasant

4. Preposition vs. Adverb particle
Look out! There is a car coming.
We arranged to meet at 7.30, but she never turned up.
She is into your boyfriend. Please look after your sister. preposition object
Preposition + Adverb Particle:
I don‘t get on with him very well.
May I take you up on your offer to put me up for the night?
(to question sb about sth, because you don’t agree)

5. II. Types of Phrasal Verbs
1. Transitive
The boss had to put off the meeting.
Unfortunately, my offer was turned down.
 Require object!
separable inseparable
They called the deal off. I ran into Joe yesterday.
They called off the deal. *I ran Joe into yesterday.
Object can go before or after
the particle!

6. 2. Intransitive Most pupils don‘t like to get up early.
He was late for school because his car broke down.
 Don‘t require an object!

7. 3. Transitive & Intransitive
More than one meaning
She took off her coat. (object)
The plane took off at 7 pm. (adverb of time)
 transitive
 intransitive

8. III. Use of Phrasal Verbs
Usually used in informal context instead of the sophisticated & formal equivalent continue = carry on arrive = turn up interrupt = break in understand = make out
Meaning established through the combination of verb & particle
Those repair bills have really eaten into my savings.
to use up a part of sth, especially sb’s money or time
not literally e a t
They called off the search for evidence.
finish/cancel
not literally c a l l

9. IV. Meaning

10. Look I can look after myself. Sometimes I look back on my childhood.
1. Same verb + different particle = different phrasal verb & different meaning
Look
I can look after myself.
Sometimes I look back on my childhood.
She looks down on people who haven‘t been to college.
I‘m looking forward to the weekend.
(to be responsible)
(reflect on sth)
(to think that you are better than sb/sth)
(excited about sth)

11. GET I get with her. Get of the room! along out
She can‘t get her shyness.
over
He will get trouble with the police.
into
You have to get when the teacher comes into the classroom. up
What time did you get last night?
back
I wish I could get my headache
rid of

12. 2. Single Phrasal Verb  different meanings
I will pick you up at 10 pm.
She picked up some Spanish when she was living in Mexico.
She didn‘t waste time feeling sorry for herself – she just picked herself up and carried on.
(collect sb)
(get information)
(stand up again)

13. V. Exercises/Translation
a) Da konnte sie nicht mithalten.
She couldn‘t keep up with that.
b) Als Peter während des Urlaubs das Geld ausging, bot ihm sein Freund an, ihm auszuhelfen.
When Peter ran out of money on holiday,
his friend offered to help him out.

14. c) Er war schwer von ihr enttäuscht worden.
He had been let down badly by her.
d) Sie hat ihn verpetzt.
She told on him.

15. e) Besuch uns mal! Drop in on us some time!
f) Lass uns die gute Arbeit fortführen.
Let us carry on the good work.

16. g) Wir machen da weiter, wo wir das letzte Mal aufgehört haben.
We pick up where we left off last time.
h) Hat sich Martha von ihrer Krankheit schon erholt?
Has Martha got over her illness yet?

17. Sources
Alexander, L. G. Longman English Grammar. London: Longman,
Greenbaum, Sydney. The Oxford Reference Grammar. A readable and up-to-date guide to modern English Grammar. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, – 277.
Side, R. Phrasal verbs: sorting them out. ELT Journal (44/2),
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 2nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford UP, /
Unknown. Prepositional Verbs and Phrasal Verbs
Wehmeier, Sally (Ed.). Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. Seventh Edition. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.