Daily Archive for January 6th, 2009

What do you do every day ?

The theme this week at English City is every day life.  This type of language is important as if you visit another country. go on a business trip or even visit a English speaking friend it is the language you will use.

The language of daily routine is probably familiar to you already - Example: Using present simple for daily routine tasks, “I get up everyday at 6:30am”. “Every week I go to a dancing class”.  However, phrasal verbs are one of the most important parts of every day language. 

What is a phrasal verb?

1.  A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb.

Example:
I ran into my boss at the shopping centre yesterday. run + into = meet
She ran away when she was 16. run + away = leave home

2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.

Example:
He suddenly turned up. “turned up” cannot take an object

3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.

Example:
He made up the story. “story” is the object of “make up”

4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition / adverb.

Example:
I talked my aunt into letting me borrow her car.
She looked the address up.

5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a + after the preposition / adverb.

Example:
I bumped into my old teacher yesterday.
She is looking into the complaint.

6. Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, such phrasal verbs are marked with both * and + .

Example:
He looked the number up in the phone book.
He looked up the number in the phone book.

7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.

Example:
He looked the number up in the phone book.
He looked up the number in the phone book.
He looked it up in the phone book. correct
He looked up it in the phone book. incorrect

Have a go at our phrasal verbs quiz:

The outdoor dance performance was ___ because of the rain.
a. called off
b. blacked out
c. turned off

How did they ___ their errors with the figures.
a. come to
b. account for
c. jot down

She must be about 86. She is really ___.
a. getting on
b. bringing up
c. bringing forward

In the end everything ___ OK.
a. turned out
b. wore out
c. climb up

Can you ___ all right or should I get a ladder?
a. fall through
b. climb down
c. barge in

I am sorry that I am late. I got ___ in traffic.
a. lifted off
b. held down
c. caught up

I was so angry that I ___ in protest.
a. gave up
b. walked out
c. ran over

The man was ___ of jail early for good behavior.
a. let out
b. bent down
c. sent down

Even though he was tired, he ___ going.
a. kept on
b. brought out
c. fell over

After the accident a lot of people ___.
a. turned out
b. set out
c. crowded around

Answer in the comments and I will update you in the next blog post !

Good luck !