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Phrasal verbs
In modern English, it is very usual to place prepositions or adverbs after certain verbs so as to obtain a variety of different meanings:
give away = give to someone/anyone
give up = abandon (a habit or attempt)
look after = take care of
look for = search for, seek
look out = beware
The student need not try to decide whether the combination is verb + preposition or verb + adverb, but should consider the expression as a whole.
Click here for a complete list of phrasal verbs.
Click here for a complete list of phrasal verbs.
It is also important to learn whether the combination is transitive (i.e. requires an object) or intransitive (i.e. cannot have an object):
look for is transitive: l am looking for my passport.
look out is intransitive: Look out! This ice isn't safe!
take off can also mean 'rise from the ground' (used of aircraft). Here it is intransitive:
The plane took off at ten o 'clock.
With some expressions, however, they can be placed either at the end or immediately after the verb, i.e. before the short word. We can say:
He took off his coat or He took his coat off.
Pronoun objects are sometimes placed at the end of the expression:
l am looking for them.
But they are more often placed immediately after the verb:
He took it off.
This position is usual before the following short words: up, down, in, out, away, off and on (except when used in the expression call on = visit).
go on can be followed by either infinitive or gerund but there is a considerable difference in meaning.
account
account for (tr) == give a good reason for, explain satisfactorily (some action or expenditure):
A treasurer must account/or the money he spends.
He has behaved in the most extraordinary way; I can't account for his actions at all/I can't account for his behaving like that.
allow
allow for (tr) = make provision in advance for, take into account (usually some additional requirement, expenditure, delay etc.):
It is 800 kilometers and I drive at 100 k.p.h., so I'll be there in eight hours. ~ But you'll have to allow for delays going through towns and for stops for refueling.
Allowing for depreciation your car should be worth £2,000 this time next year.
answer
answer back (intr), answer somebody back = answer a reproof impudently:
FATHER: Why were you so late last night? you weren't in till 2a.m.
SON: You should have been asleep.
FATHER: Don't answer me back. Answer my question.
ask
ask after/for somebody = ask for news of:
I met Tom at the party; he asked after you. (asked how you were/how you were getting on)
ask for
(a) = ask to speak to:
Go to the office and ask for my secretary.
(b) = request, demand:
The men asked/or more pay and shorter hours.
ask someone in (object before in) = invite him to enter the house:
He didn't ask me in: he kept me standing at the door while he read the message.
ask someone out (object before out) = invite someone to an entertainment or to a meal (usually in a public place):
She had a lot of friends and was usually asked out in the evenings, so she seldom spent an evening at home.
back
back away (intr) = step or move back slowly (because confronted by some danger or unpleasantness):
When he took a gun out everyone backed away nervously.
back out (intr) = withdraw (from some joint action previously agreed on), discontinue or refuse to provide previously promised help or support:
He agreed to help but backed out when he found how difficult it was.
back somebody up = support morally or verbally:
The headmaster never backed up his staff, (backed them up) If a parent complained about a teacher he assumed that the teacher was in the wrong.
be
be against (tr) = be opposed to (often used with gerund):
I'm for doing nothing till the police arrive./I'm against doing anything till the police arrive.
be away (intr) = be away from home/this place for at least a night.
be back (intr) = have returned after a long or short absence:
I want to see Mrs Pitt. Is she in? ~ No. I'm afraid she's out at the moment or
No, I'm afraid she's away for the weekend. ~ When wilt she be back? ~ She'll be back in half an hour/next week.
be for (tr) = be in favor of (often used with gerund).
be in (intr) = be at home/in this building.
be in for (tr) = be about to encounter (usually something unpleasant):
Did you listen to the weather forecast? I'm afraid we're in for a bumpy/light.
If you think that the work is going to be easy you're in for a shock.
be over (intr) = be finished:
The storm is over now; we can go on.
be out (intr) = be away from home/from this building for a short time-not overnight.
be up (intr) = be out of bed:
Don't expect her to answer the doorbell at eight o 'clock on Sunday morning. She won't be up.
bear
bear out (tr) = confirm: .
This report bears out my theory, (bears my theory out/bears it out)
bear up (intr) = support bad news bravely, hide feelings of grief:
The news of her death was a great shock to him but he bore up bravely and none of us realized how much he felt it.
blow
blow out (tr) = extinguish (a flame) by blowing:
The mind blew out the candle, (blew the candle out/blew it out) blow up (tr or intr)
(a) = destroy by an explosion, explode, be destroyed:
They blew up the bridges so that the enemy couldn't follow them. (blew the bridges up/blew them up) Just as we got to the bridge it blew up.
(b) = fill with air, inflate, pump up:
The children blew up their balloons and threw them into the air. (blew the balloons up/blew them up)
boil
boil away (intr) = be boiled until all (the liquid) has evaporated:
I put the kettle on the gas ring and then went away and forgot about
it. When I returned, the water had all boiled away and the flame had
burnt a hole in the kettle.
boil over (intr) = to rise and flow over the sides of the container (used only of hot liquids):
The milk boiled over and there was a horrible smell of burning.
Break
break down figures = take a total and sub-divide it under various
headings so as to give additional information:
You say that lO.OWpeople use this library. Could you break that
down into age-groups? (say how many of these are under 25, over
50 etc.) break down a door etc. = cause to collapse by using force:
The firemen had to break down the door to get into the burning
house, (break the door down/break it down) break down (intr) = collapse, cease to function properly, owing to some fault or weakness:
(a) Used of people, it normally implies a temporary emotional collapse:
He broke down when telling me about his son's tragic death. (He was overcome by his sorrow; he wept.)
(b) It can express collapse of mental resistance-
At first he refused to admit his guilt hut when he was shown the evidence he broke down and confessed.
bum
bum down (tr or intr) = destroy, or be destroyed completely by fire (used of buildings):
They burnt down the embassy, {burnt the embassy
down/burnt it down)
The hotel bumf down before help came.
Bring sth up = to start discussing a subject
I’m sorry to bring this up John, but you still owe me £100 from last month.
Call sth off = to cancel something
Pamela called off the wedding after deciding that Lee wasn’t the right
person for her.
Give sth away = to give something for free
I’m moving house soon and I’m giving away all the stuff I don’t need.
Please take whatever you like.
Fill sb in = to tell someone the details about something
Please fill me in on the progress of the project you’re working on. It’s
important that you keep me informed.
Bring sth up = to start discussing a subject
Call sth off = to cancel something
Give sth away = to give something for free
Fill sb in = to tell someone the details about something
I really like Jack, but talking to him is difficult sometimes. He’s always bringing up his
problems and health issues.
Tina: John, I want to talk about our relationship and our future together.
John: Why are you bringing this up now? Let’s talk about it another time.
There are several points that I’d like to bring up in the next meeting. The most important
being the vote of the new chairperson.
Lee: How is the new guy?
Tom: He’s cool, but don’t bring up a sport if you want a quiet conversation. He can talk about
it for hours!
Tim will be so disappointed about his school trip being called off. He was so excited about
visiting the seaside.
We planned a party for tomorrow evening, but Jim is feeling really sick. Do you think it’s too
late to call it off?
Concert organizer: It looks like there’s a problem getting all your equipment ready. Do you
still want to perform?
www.SirEnglish.com
Musician: Of course. There’s no way we’re going to call the concert off.
The space shuttle launch was called off at the last minute due to the hurricane. The launch
will be rescheduled for next month.
It’s competition time! This week, we’re giving five laptops away. To enter, simply type your
name and address below.
You’ve got thousands of old records and tapes in the attic. Isn’t it time you sold them or
gave them away?
I’m trying to sell my car, but it seems no one is interested in buying it. I might just have to
give the old thing away.
To try and gain interest and customers, the new shop is giving away free samples of their
products to passers-by.
I usually have two papers delivered to my house in the morning to fill me in on the latest
news.
Emma: I can’t believe what Sarah did at the party last night. Did you see it?
Pam: No, we left early so I didn’t see it. Fill me in on what happened.
Hi Jack, I hope you enjoyed your holiday. A lot has changed while you’ve been away. Let me
fill you in on all the changes.
Mary knows all the secrets of the people in the town. She always fills me in with the latest
gossip when we meet.
Situation: A concert organizer is talking to a member of a band about their
upcoming performance.
Harry, I’m sorry to bring this up again, but we might have to call off your
performance next weekend. Tickets just aren’t selling. We’ve even tried giving
some tickets away, but no one wanted them. I think your band just isn’t well
known enough in this city for people to come and watch you. Anyway, we’ll
wait for another few days before deciding for sure. I’ll keep you filled in about
everything as it happens.
The future perfect Tense
Form
will/shall + perfect infinitive for first persons, will + perfect infinitive for the other persons.
Use
It is normally used with a time expression beginning with by: by then, by that time, by the 24th:
By the end of next month he will have been here for ten years.
It is used for an action which at a given future time will be in the past, or will just have finished. Imagine that it is 3 December and Samir is very worried about an exam that he is taking on 13 December.
Someone planning a party might say:
We'd better wait until 14 December. Samir will have had his exam by then, so he'll be able to enjoy himself.
Note also:
I save 100 dirhams a month and I started in January. So by the end of the year, I will/shall have saved 1200 dirhams.
TOM:. I drink eight bottles a week. I'll have drunk all these by the end of this year.
The future perfect continuous
Form
will/shall have been + present participle for the first persons,
will have been + present participle for the other persons.
Use
Like the future perfect, it is normally used with a time expression beginning with by:
By the end of this year he'll have been acting for thirty years.
The future perfect continuous bears the same relationship to the future perfect as the present perfect continuous bears to the present perfect, i.e. the future perfect continuous can be used instead of the future perfect:
1 When the action is continuous:
By the end of the month, he will have been living/working/studying here for ten years.
2 When the action is expressed as a continuous action:
By the end of the month, he will have been training horses/climbing mountains for twenty years.
But if we mention the number of horses or mountains, or divide this action in any way, we must use the future perfect.
Examples
Future Perfect Simple Tense Examples
o I will have written articles on different topics before you come.
o Robert will have read various kinds of books.
o They will have played football in that field before you reach.
o April will have gone to the coffee shop before she comes here.
o Bob will have gone to the library before he comes to the class.
o We will have shopped in that market before you come home.
o We will have watched a movie in this Cineplex before you come.
o You will have shopped at that market before we come.
o I will have sung different kinds of songs before you join us.
o I will have attended the program before I come here.
o Jeff will have traveled around the world before he comes to Bangladesh.
o They will have played hockey in that field before you reach.
o The poet will have written a romantic poem before the program starts.
o The lyricist will have written a realistic song for the film.
o Will you have gone to the concert of the realistic songs before I come?
o I will not have attended the program because of my busy schedule.
o Robin will have joined us at the meeting before you reach.
o I will have helped him to do the task before the class starts.
o We will have enjoyed the musical drama before the game show starts.
o I will have arranged all the necessary materials before the program starts.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense Examples
o I will have been written articles on different topics before you come.
o Robert will have been reading various kinds of books on this topic.
o They will have been playing football in that field before you reach.
o April will have been gossiping in the coffee shop before she comes here.
o Bob will have been studying in the library before he comes to the class.
o We will have been shopping in that market before you come home.
o We will have been watching a movie in the Cineplex before you come.
o You will have been shopping in that market before we come.
o I will have been singing different kinds of songs before you join us.
o I will have been attending the program before I come here.
o Jeff will have been traveling around the world before he comes to Bangladesh.
o They will have been playing hockey in that field before you reach.
o The poet will have been writing a romantic poem before the program starts.
o The lyricist will have been writing a realistic song for the film.
o Will you have been going to the concert of the realistic songs before I come?
o I will not have been attending the program before I finish this job.
o Robin will have been joining us at the meeting before you reach.
o I will have been helping him to do the task before the class starts.
o We will have been enjoying the musical drama before the game show starts.
o I will have been arranging all the necessary materials before the program starts.
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