What Are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs are made up of a verb and a preposition or an adverb, such as in this example. “Grow up”. “Grow up” means, to get older. “Up” is a preposition.
Phrasal verbs are difficult. Although some of them are simple, most of them have more than one meaning. Sometimes the meaning isn’t easy to understand, so you have to learn each one individually.
Episode Summary
🔑 Separable Phrasal Verbs
These verbs can have the noun or "it" placed between the verb and preposition. Example: Turn up the music / Turn the music up.
🔗 Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
The verb and preposition always stay together. Example: Hang onto the rope ✅ / Hang the rope onto ❌
📚 How to Learn Phrasal Verbs
Learn them in context, in full sentences, and check if they are separable. Practise using them yourself to remember them better.
🛏️ Story Example
I turned up at the hostel late, sorted out the money, set up my room, and later came across a nice restaurant. Using phrasal verbs like this in stories helps you remember them.
📖 Vocabulary
- To turn up: To arrive – I turned up to work on a Sunday by mistake.
- To think over: To consider carefully – I need to think over what to have for dinner tonight.
- To sort out: 1) Solve a problem 2) Organise – I sorted out the plane tickets to go to Canada.
- To set up: To prepare – I set up the table with plates and cutlery.
- To go through: To experience something difficult – I went through a hard time.
- To come across: To find by chance – I came across a lost cat while looking for my phone.
Hello,
It was amazing topic. I actually I have struggle with Phrasal verbs, as you said there has multi meanings. So, I reckon the best way to learn it is in content or practicing in their lives. In fact, it is normal to forget some Phrasal Verbs as not native language. I don’t make excuses, but this is reality. We are human in the last.
So, Thank you teacher about what you do for us.
Sincerely,
Mubarak Alsubaie
I totally agree! Learn them slowly bit by bit, and maybe just learn one meaning at a time. Learning all the meanings of one phrasal verb might be too confusing. And it’s totally normal to forget. The important ones will stay around 🙂
Hello MICHAEL for an example of “cotton on” phrasal verb can I say :
“My brother cotton on his lesson”
Thank you .
Hi Maysara. Good try! Almost.
We usually say “cotton on” + the specific lesson we’re learning.
For example: He cottoned on to the game we were playing (he began to understand the game)
You could say: My brother cottoned on to the grammar in the lesson
Yes!!!
Great idea. I’ll see about doing that for one of my next podcasts
Hi Michael, first cheers for the podcast , interesting learn about phrasal verbs, second can you make a podcats talking about series on tv for learn english. I hope you are fine. See you soon!!!
Thanks Debb, I appreciate the feedback. Sure I can do that. Do you mean my recommendations for what series to watch?