UNIT 136 Phrasal verbs (getup/ breakdown /fill in etc.)

A. We often use verbs with the following words:

in out on off up down away back round through about along over forward by

So you can say put out/get on/take off/run away etc. These verbs are phrasal verbs. We often use out/off/up etc. with verbs of movement. For example:

get on: * The bus was full. We couldn't get on.

drive off: * A woman got into the car and drove off.

come back: * Sally is leaving tomorrow and coming back on Saturday.

turn round: * When I touched him on the shoulder, he turned round.

But often the second word (out/off/up etc.) gives a special meaning to the verb. For example:

break down: * Sorry I'm late. The car broke down. (= the engine stopped working)

look out: * Look out! There's a car coming. (= be careful)

take off: * It was my first flight. I was nervous as the plane took off. (= went into the air)

get up: * I was very tired this morning. I couldn't get up. (= get out of bed)

get on: * How was the exam? How did you get on? (= how did you do?)

get by: * My French isn't very good but it's enough to get by. (= to manage)

B. Sometimes a phrasal verb is followed by a preposition. For example:

* Why did you run away from me?

* You're walking too fast. I can't keep up with you.

* Are you looking forward to your holiday?

* Jack is trying to cut down on smoking. (=reduce smoking)

C. Sometimes a phrasal verb has an object. Usually there are two possible positions for the object. So you can say:

I turned off _the light._(object) or I turned the light off.

If the object is a pronoun (it/them/me/him etc.), only one position is possible:

I turned it off. (not 'I turned off it')

Some more examples:

* Could you fill in this form?

* Could you fill this form in?

but They gave me a form and told me to fill it in. (not 'fill in it')

* The police got into the house by breaking down the door.

* The police got into the house by breaking the door down.

but The door wasn't locked. Why did the police break it down? (not 'break down it')

* I think I'll throw away these newspapers.

* I think I'll throw these newspapers away.

but Do you want these newspapers or shall I throw them away? (not 'throw away them')

* Don't wake up the baby.

* Don't wake the baby up.

but The baby is asleep. Don't wake her up. (not 'wake up her')