phrasal verb
Noun: A phrasal verb is a multi-word verb construction consisting of a base verb (e.g., turn, give, look) followed by one or more particles (typically an adverb or a preposition, like out, up, after). This combination forms a single semantic and syntactic unit, often with a meaning that is different from the meanings of the individual words.
Phrasal verbs are a core feature of English and are used in all registers, from informal conversation to formal writing. They function as a single verb in a sentence. The particle can sometimes be separated from the verb by an object.
- "Turn out" is a phrasal verb in the question "How many turned out to vote?" (Here, "turned out" means or .)
- She gave up smoking last year. ("Give up" means .)
- Please turn off the lights. / Please turn the lights off. ("Turn off" means ; note the separable nature.)
- He looks after his younger sister. ("Look after" means ; this is inseparable.)
- Transitivity: Phrasal verbs can be transitive (taking a direct object, like "turn off the light") or intransitive (taking no object, like "the car broke down").
- Separability: Many transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object can come between the verb and the particle, especially if the object is a pronoun (e.g., "turn it off"). Some are inseparable (e.g., "look for it," not "look it for").
- Three-Word Phrasal Verbs: Some phrasal verbs consist of a verb and two particles (usually a verb + adverb + preposition). They are always inseparable.
- Example: "I look forward to meeting you." ("Look forward to" means to anticipate with pleasure.)
- Prepositional Verb: A verb followed by a preposition where the combination does not have a strongly idiomatic meaning, and the preposition always precedes its object (e.g., "believe in," "wait for"). These are often grammatically distinct from phrasal verbs.
- Phrasal-Prepositional Verb: Another term for a three-word phrasal verb (verb + adverb + preposition).
- Multi-word verb
- Compound verb (though this term is less precise)
(As the target word is "phrasal verb," this section lists common examples of the category itself.) * Break down: to stop functioning; to emotionally collapse. * Call off: to cancel. * Find out: to discover. * Get along: to have a harmonious relationship. * Put up with: to tolerate.
- "To be hung up on something": to be overly concerned or obsessed with something. (This idiom is structured as a phrasal verb.)
- "To brush up on something": to review or improve a skill. (This idiom is structured as a phrasal verb.)
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an English verb followed by one or more particles where the combination behaves as a syntactic and semantic unit
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`turn out' is a phrasal verb in the question `how many turned out to vote?'
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