Grammar

Phrasal Verbs (Introduction)

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (like up, off, on, out) that often creates a new meaning. Some can be separated by their object, and some cannot.

Post

Level B1 Verbs & Verb Patterns

Summary

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (like up, off, on, out) that often creates a new meaning. Some can be separated by their object, and some cannot.

Structure

verb + particle (+ object) | verb + object + particle (separable)

Examples

Please turn off the lights. / Please turn the lights off.
I ran into an old friend yesterday.
She gave up smoking last year.
We need to look after the children.

Common mistakes

• With separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun object must go in the middle: NOT 'turn off it' → 'turn it off.'
• Don't separate inseparable phrasal verbs: NOT 'look the children after' → 'look after the children.'

Related

Gerunds vs Infinitives

More verbs & verb patterns

Used To (Past Habits and States) A2

Use 'used to' to talk about habits or states that were true in the past but are not true now.

Gerunds vs Infinitives B2

Some verbs are followed by a gerund (-ing form) and others by an infinitive (to + verb). The choice depends on the first verb, and a few verbs change meaning depending on which form follows.

'Have got' is a common British way to talk about possession, relationships, and characteristics. It means the same as 'have' but forms questions and negatives without 'do'.

Imperatives give orders, instructions, invitations, and warnings. They use the base form of the verb with no subject; for negatives, put 'don't' first.

Like, Love, Hate + Verb-ing A2

After verbs of liking and disliking such as like, love, enjoy, and hate, we usually use the -ing form of the next verb to talk about activities in general.

Be: Present Forms A1

The verb 'be' has three present forms: am, is, and are. It links the subject to a description, identity, or location.

External links

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