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The Phrasal Verb:How many kinds are there?There is more than one kind of phrasal verb. By the way, they are ordinary english verbs with a preposition added after them, to change the meaning, often in unexpected ways. You can divide them into three big groups. Depending on what comes after the verb we can divide them into these groups:
No ObjectLike the title, these have no object (they are intransitive, if you like grammar). An example is 'catch on' (= understand).The
boys were studying a second language because their teachers were
confident they would catch
on quickly.
Object at the Very EndShe
listened to their jokes for years, secretly hating them, but finally
she broke
down.
Object Always After the Main VerbThere is an object after these verbs, and it is after the main verb or after the preposition in the expression. An example is 'turn down'.After
the company turned Anna down, she
decided she had to go and make money for herself.
Be careful with this last group. The object can go after the preposition unless it is a pronoun. So... YesYesNoI want to emphasize: the best way to remember these verbs is by listening to them many times in context, until it 'sounds right'. Then you do not have to spend time trying to remember rules when you are speaking. You will be a much better speaker. And if you shadow the stories, you will learn and remember the verbs faster and deeper than if you only listen. My teachers told me, "The key to mastery is repetition." I tell my students, "Listen to the story. Shadow it. Each time you hear a phrasal verb, write it down. Put this list in your pocket." When you take this list out of your pocket, read it carefully. Remember the story. Remember how the phrasal verb was used. Can you use the phrasal verb yourself? Make a sentence you can say using the phrasal verb. Nervous TimesVerb list1. help out to give somebody some help, e.g. by doing some work or giving money 2. fall through to fail to happen in the expected way 3. run out of to consume all of a supply of something 4. leave out to fail to include somebody or something, whether by choice or accident 5. count on to rely on somebody to do something |
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