jueves, 26 de abril de 2012

Hello to everybody, welcome to grammar for ESL, this blog was created to help students to increase their abilities in some areas of the Englis language,also you can see videos and add your comments.


Introduction: Phrasal verbs are verbs form of two particles. these verbs are very difficult to learn for ESL students.


There are different types of phrasal verbs. Some of them can be sapareble and inseparable and can take and object or not.
Separable phrasal verbs can remain together when using an object that is a noun or noun phrase.
  • I picked Tom up. OR I picked up Tom.
  • They put their friends up. OR They put up their friends.
Separable phrasal verbs MUST be separated when a pronoun is used:
  • We picked him up at the station. NOT We picked up him at the station.
  • They put them up. NOT They put up them.
Inseparable phrasal verbs always remain together.

Phrasal verbs that do not take objects: these type of phrasal verbs are always inseparable.
Ex. I broke down my car.
Now i will show you a list of phrasal verbs that can be separable or inseparable.


ask aroundask many people the same questionI asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.
add up to somethingequalYour purchases add up to $205.32.
back something upreverseYou'll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
back someone upsupportMy wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.
blow upexplodeThe racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
blow something upadd airWe have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.
break downstop functioning (vehicle, machine)Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.
break downget upsetThe woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.
break something downdivide into smaller partsOur teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.
break inforce entry to a buildingSomebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.
break into somethingenter forciblyThe firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.
break something inwear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel newI need to break these shoes in before we run next week.
break ininterruptThe TV station broke in to report the news of the president's death.
break upend a relationshipMy boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.
break upstart laughing (informal)The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
break outescapeThe prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking.
break out in somethingdevelop a skin conditionI broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
bring someone downmake unhappyThis sad music is bringing me down.
bring someone upraise a childMy grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
bring something upstart talking about a subjectMy mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports.
bring something upvomitHe drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.
call aroundphone many different places/peopleWe called around but we weren't able to find the car part we needed.
call someone backreturn a phone callI called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend.
call something offcancelJason called the wedding off because he wasn't in love with his fiancé.
call on someoneask for an answer or opinionThe professor called on me for question 1.
call on someonevisit someoneWe called on you last night but you weren't home.
call someone upphoneGive me your phone number and I will call you up when we are in town.
calm downrelax after being angryYou are still mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car.
not care for someone/somethingnot like (formal)I don't care for his behaviour.
catch upget to the same point as someone elseYou'll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty.
check inarrive and register at a hotel or airportWe will get the hotel keys when we check in.
check outleave a hotelYou have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.
check someone/something outlook at carefully, investigateThe company checks out all new employees.
check out someone/somethinglook at (informal)Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
cheer upbecome happierShe cheered up when she heard the good news.
cheer someone upmake happierI brought you some flowers to cheer you up.
chip inhelpIf everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon.
clean something uptidy, cleanPlease clean up your bedroom before you go outside.
come across somethingfind unexpectedlyI came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet.
come apartseparateThe top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.
come down with somethingbecome sickMy nephew came down with chicken pox this weekend.
come forwardvolunteer for a task or to give evidenceThe woman came forward with her husband's finger prints.
come from somewhereoriginate inThe art of origami comes from Asia.
count on someone/somethingrely onI am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.
cross something outdraw a line throughPlease cross out your old address and write your new one.
cut back on somethingconsume lessMy doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.
cut something downmake something fall to the groundWe had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm.
cut ininterruptYour father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle.
cut inpull in too closely in front of another vehicleThe bus driver got angry when that car cut in.



I hope this class help you to understand more the phrasal verbs and its different uses. In next posts I will be teaching you more interesting topics.

No hay comentarios:

Publicar un comentario