get something across/ over
communicate, make understandable
I tried to get my point across/over to the judge but she wouldn't listen.
The following is a list of commonly deployed phrasal verbs that find one use or another in academic texts. These (and others) can be acceptably used in academic texts. Along with these examples, however, are a number of one-word substitutions to illustrate that in each case the phrasal verb can be easily replaced.Table of contents
This flexibility means that although these substitutions work for the examples given, and although the examples are common uses of phrasal verbs, a suggested replacement will not cover every possible use of its phrasal verb.
Simply put, a phrasal verb is the combination of a verb with another word or two from a different grammatical category. It could be an adverb, a preposition, or in some cases even both.
Phrasal verbs do not simply come under one huge umbrella. Whilst they are a subject to learn in their own right, they can then be further split into sub categories such as business phrasal verbs, animal phrasal verbs, travel phrasal verbs etc.
When learning the English language, it is vital not to try to overload your brain with too much information as this will result in not being able to remember it all effectively. Instead, you should focus on bite sized pieces of information that are much more easy to digest. This is why looking at the immense amount of phrasal verbs by topic can make for much more simple learning.
By choosing your favourite topic and beginning with that, you will be able to grasp a better understanding of phrasal verbs. You might also begin with a topic that is important to the reason why you are leaning English. For example, if you are learning for your career, you might begin with business phrasal verbs.
These topics are especially important as they tend to be used in more informal conversations, which, for the most part are the type of conversations that occur in the English language. On top of this, understanding which phrasal verbs relate to which topic is an excellent way to make your English sound much more natural and fluid.
Phrasal verbs (like look up and find out) present many challenges to non-native English speakers. In this article, we'll review those challenges, offer some tips to help you handle them, and share activities and resources for helping you improve your mastery of these verbs.
In the first sentence, the main verb is "run," and the phrase "up the hill" describes where they ran. In the second sentence, the phrasal verb "run up" is used. In this context, "run up" means "greatly increase" as in "My friend ordered too many appetizers and really ran up the bill." Since these two sentences look very similar, though, it can be hard to recognize that a phrasal verb is being used if you aren't familiar with that verb.
When you look up phrasal verbs in the dictionary, you'll often find a long list of meanings. One study found that frequently-used phrasal verbs had an average of 5.6 meanings (Gardner and Davies, 2007). So, if you want to study a list of 20 phrasal verbs, that means you actually have over 100 definitions to learn!
You've probably noticed that they don't always appear this way, though. Some phrasal verbs can be separated and allow other words to appear between the parts, while others are non-separable and need to stay together.
"Idiomatic" means that the combination of the words has a meaning that is different than what you may expect from the individual components. Some phrasal verbs are quite literal and can be easily understood even if you haven't seen them before:
While it's true that phrasal verbs do often have one-word verb alternatives (e.g. extinguish = put out), those alternatives usually have a much more formal register than phrasal verbs. In example A below, the speaker uses phrasal verbs, and the degree of formality is appropriate for the situation. In example B below, the speaker avoids using phrasal verbs and sounds overly formal for this casual conversation topic.
So, if these challenges make you want to avoid using phrasal verbs when you speak, that's completely understandable! They are definitely one of the more challenging vocabulary items to learn and master in English, but if you spend some time practicing these important verbs, it should be easier for you to communicate with fluency in English. The tips and resources below can help you start becoming more skillful and confident with your use of phrasal verbs.
Start with practicing the most frequent phrasal verbs and their most frequent meanings. The Phrasal Verb (PHaVE) List compiled by Garnier & Schmitt (2015) provides the 150 phrasal verbs with the highest frequency, and you can explore and practice them using the link below!
Particles like out and in have some commonly-used meanings across phrasal verbs, and it can be helpful to gain a general understanding of those meanings. If you're interested in learning more, you can take a look at Word Power: Phrasal Verbs and Compounds by Brygida Rudzka-Ostyn, which is freely available to UC Davis students online. The particle descriptions start on page 14.
As you learn new phrasal verbs, think about how YOU would use them. Write phrases or sentences you may use in the future that use those phrasal verbs, and review them regularly. Just a couple minutes of reviewing your list each day can make a big difference in your ability to use those terms while you're speaking.
To help you practice and review phrasal verbs, we've divided the Phrasal Verb (PHaVE) List compiled by Garnier & Schmitt (2015) into 10 Quizlet practice sets with 15 phrasal verbs each. Only the most common meaning(s) for each phrasal verb are given.
This list does not include all of the phrasal verbs in English, and it does not include all of the meanings of the phrasal verbs it contains. This is intentional so that you can target the frequent occurrences first. In fact, the phrasal verbs and meanings included in this list account for approximately 83% of phrasal verb occurrences1 (Garnier & Schmitt, 2015).
The sets are organized by frequency, with the highest frequency words starting in Set 1. Each set also has a corresponding set with practice sentences that allow you to practice using the phrasal verbs in context. We recommend that you practice both sets for each group of words.
The practice sets are embedded below, but you can also practice them in your browser or in the mobile app. If you create a Quizlet account, you can track your progress and prioritize the phrasal verbs you haven't yet mastered. Each set can be practiced with several exercises and games. Sets 4-10 will be posted soon.
Phrasal verbs list are a type of verb phrase that consist of a main verb followed by one or more particles (such as prepositions or adverbs). The combination of the main verb and particle(s) often creates a new meaning that is different from the meaning of the individual words.
There are many more phrasal verbs in English, and they can be challenging to learn because their meanings are often idiomatic or figurative. However, mastering phrasal verbs is an important part of improving your English speaking and writing skills.
Phrasal verbs can be challenging to learn because their meanings often cannot be guessed from the individual words. However, with practice and exposure to the way native speakers use them, they can become easier to understand and use in conversation.
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language, and they play a significant role in helping English language learners speak fluently. Here are a few reasons why phrasal verbs are important for speaking English fluently:
2. Where can I find a comprehensive list of phrasal verbs?
A: Comprehensive lists of phrasal verbs are available in various English language learning resources, including dictionaries, grammar books, and online platforms specializing in language learning. Websites, language apps, and educational books often offer detailed lists with meanings and examples.
3. How can I memorize phrasal verbs more effectively?
A: Memorizing phrasal verbs can be more effective through frequent usage, contextual learning, and consistent practice. Techniques like creating flashcards, using them in sentences, or associating them with real-life situations can aid in better retention and understanding.
4. Are there any exercises or activities to practice using phrasal verbs?
A: Many resources offer exercises and activities to practice phrasal verbs, such as fill-in-the-blank exercises, sentence completions, and quizzes. Language learning websites, apps, and workbooks often provide interactive exercises for learners to practice and reinforce their understanding of phrasal verbs.
Phrasal verbs (also called multi-word verbs) are idiomatic expressions, combining verbs and prepositions to make new verbs whose meaning is often not obvious from the dictionary definitions of the individual words. They are widely used in both written and spoken English, and new ones are formed all the time as they are a flexible way of creating new terms.
A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a preposition or adverb that modifies or changes the meaning; 'give up' is a phrasal verb that means 'stop doing' something, which is very different from 'give'. The word or words that modify a verb in this manner can also go under the name particle.
Click on the A-Z menu to browse our phrasal verb list alphabetically. Click on a verb to see the definition,example sentences, whether it is British or American English, and whether it is separable or not.
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