Phrasal Verbs

Mastering the American Accent » Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

A “phrasal verb” is a verb + preposition combination that carries a special meaning. Phrasal verbs are idiomatic; they cannot be translated word-for-word. For example, turn on, turn off, turn down, and turn up, are all phrasal verbs. These types of words are very common in English and are often more frequently used than their one-word synonyms. For example, you are more likely to hear “put out the fire” rather than “extinguish the fire.” In phrasal verbs, the stress is on the last word; note the bold words in the examples below.

phrasal	verb synonym
He picked up the box.	He lifted the box.
He put out his cigarette.	He extinguished his cigarette.
He looked over the material.	He reviewed the material.

Practice Dialogues

Practice with turn

a. We don’t need the heater.
b. Turn it off. (stop, extinguish)
a. The music sounds good.
b. Turn it up. (increase the volume)
a. Let’s watch TV.
b. Turn it on. (to light, to start)
a. He’s impolite.
b. That turns me off. (disgust)
a. The music is too loud.
b. Turn it down. (decrease the volume)
a. Did he ask her out?
b. She turned him down. (reject a request or a person)
a. He told me he’d be at the party.
b. He didn’t turn up. (appear, arrive)
a. Did you ask for help?
b. They turned me away. (reject, refuse)

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