This document discusses multi-word verbs in English, which are sometimes called phrasal verbs. It explains that multi-word verbs are made up of a verb and a particle or particles. They can be transitive or intransitive, separable or inseparable. The document provides examples of different types of multi-word verbs such as phrasal verbs, prepositional verbs, and phrasal-prepositional verbs. It emphasizes the importance of understanding whether a multi-word verb is separable or inseparable and where to place objects with the verb.
2. Multi-word verbs
There are very many multi-word verbs
(sometimes called phrasal verbs) in English and
it’s very difficult to learn them all. It can
sometimes be quite easy to guess the meaning
(He picked up the pencil) but other multi-word
verbs are less easy to guess (I picked
up Italian quite easily when I lived there) and
you should look them up in a good dictionary.
When you record new multi-word verbs in your
notebook it can be helpful to record what type
they are.
Multi-word verbs are made up of a verb and a
particle or, sometimes, two particles.
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/pt-br/grammar-reference/multi-word-verbs#sthash.HlJY7fWZ.dpuf
3. The structure of a phrasal verb is:
verb + adverb
Phrasal verbs can be:
transitive (direct object)
intransitive (no direct object)
http://www.k12reader.com/term/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs/
4. Intransitive
What time do you get up?
The plane took off and rose into the
sky.
Intransitive verbs do not have an
object. Multi-word verbs can also
be intransitive.
http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/intransitive_verbs.htm
5. Look at these examples of phrasal verbs:
phrasal verb meaning
example sentence
direct
object
transitive put off postpone We will have
to put off
the
meeting.
turn down refuse They turned
down
my offer.
intransitive get up rise from
bed
I don't like
to get up.
break
down
cease to
function
He was late
because his
car broke
down.
6. Separable
When verbs are transitive (that is, they
have a direct object), we can usually
separate the two parts.
He cut the tree down.
He cut down the tree.
With separable verbs the verb and particle
can be apart or together – the meaning
doesn’t change.
7. Look at another example:
Can you turn the radio down please?
Can you turn down the radio please?
However, when we use a pronoun –
usually ‘it’ in place of the subject – it must
come between the verb and the particle in
separable multi-word verbs.
Can you turn it down please?
Can you turn down it please? is NOT
possible.
8. Separable or inseparable?
Many dictionaries tell you when a phrasal verb
is separable. If a dictionary writes "look
(something) up", you know that the phrasal verb
"look up" is separable, and you can say "look
something up" and "look up something". It's a
good idea to write "sthg/sby" as appropriate in
your vocabulary book when you learn a new
phrasal verb, like this: get up
break down
break sthg off
turn sthg/sby down
This tells you if the verb needs a direct object
(and where to place it).
9. PREPOSITIONAL VERBS
The structure of a prepositional verb is:
verb + preposition
Because a preposition always has an
object, all prepositional verbs have direct
objects.
Prepositional verbs cannot be separated.
That means that we cannot put the direct
object between the two parts.
10. Look at these examples of prepositional verbs:
prepositional
verb meaning
example sentence
direct object
believe in have faith in
the existence
of
I believe in God.
look after take care of He is looking
after
the dog.
talk about discuss Did you talk
about
me?
wait for await John
iswaiting for
Mary.
11. Non-separable
Who looks after the baby when you’re
at work?
In non-separable verbs the verb and
particle cannot be separated.
Who looks the baby after is NOT
possible.
When there is a pronoun the verb and
particle remain together.
Who looks after her when you’re at
work?
12. Phrasal-prepositional Verbs
The structure of a phrasal-prepositional
verb is:
verb + adverb +
preposition
Because phrasal-prepositional verbs
end with a preposition, there is always
a direct object. And, like prepositional
verbs, phrasal-prepositional
verbs cannot be separated.
13. Look at these examples of phrasal-prepositional verbs:
phrasal-
prepositional
verb meaning
example sentence
direct object
get on with have a
friendly
relationship
with
He
doesn't get
on with
his wife.
put up with tolerate I won't put
up with
your attitude.
look forward
to
anticipate
with pleasure
I look
forward to
seeing you.
run out of use up,
exhaust
We have run
out of
eggs.
14. With two particles
Who came up with that idea?
I don’t know how you put up with it.
There are a few verbs with two particles
and they act like inseparable multi-word
verbs.