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ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS AND HOW TO STUDY

THEM EFFECTIVELLY

Abstract

In studying a foreign language, learners could not pay attention to only its

pronunciation, vocabulary but also its grammar. The learners, in fact, have to

meet grammatical problem very much such as: tense, adjective, adverb…

especially phrasal verbs. The correct use of phrasal verbs is complex and

difficult problem in English grammar. It requires learners to have a very

good knowledge of verbs and how to use them effectively. Therefore, in my

study, I describe research to phrasal verbs in English and how to study them

effectively. I present definition, some ways to use phrasal verbs better.

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Outline of the report

I. Introduction

II. Aims

III. Procedure

IV. Findings

1. Definitions of phrasal verbs

2. Classification of phrasal verbs

3. How to study English phrasal verbs effectively

V. Analysis and Interpretation


1.1. According to Tom McArthur

1.2. According to Dictionary.com Unabridged

2. Classification of phrasal verbs

2.1. Intransitive phrasal verbs

2.2. Transitive phrasal verbs


3.1. Studying phrasal verbs through combination of the verbs

with particles/ prepositions

3.2. Studying phrasal verbs through pairs of antonym

3.3. Studying phrasal verbs through topic

VI. Conclusion

VII. Recommendation

Reference

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I. INTRODUCTION

Together with the development of information industry, English, nowadays,

has become more and more dominant in every continent. In Vietnam,

English has an important position in many fields such as information and

technology, science, economy and even political system. In English as well

as in other languages, Grammar plays an important role, it will help learners

listen, speak, read, write English correctly. However, Grammar is not always

simple.

During the time studying English at university, I personally realize that

Phrasal verbs are one of the most difficult parts in English grammar. A

Phrasal verbs is a phrase consisting of a verb and either or both a preposition

or adverb, that has idiomatic meaning. Moreover, the complex structure of

phrasal verbs sometimes also makes learners confused. Thus, though this

study I will help learners understand more about phrasal verbs and use it

more effective.

II. Aims of the study

The use of phrasal verbs is so popular in English. However, it is not quite

easy for learners to master. Therefore, English learner always meet

difficulties even misunderstand and use wrongly. I will give some

background information about the Phrasal verbs .For this reason, I have

choose this subject for my study.

III. Procedure

From the above aims, the following methods have been used:

_ Collecting all data and information

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_ Studying many grammar books

_ Searching on internet and other sources

_ Asking for advice from teacher and friends

IV. Findings


_ According to Tom McArthur

_ According to Dictionary.com Unabridged

2 . How to study English phrasal verbs effectively

_ Studying phrasal verbs through combination of the verbs with particles/

prepositions

_ Studying phrasal verbs through pairs of synonym

_ Studying phrasal verbs through topic

V. Analysis and Interpretation


There are a variety of definitions of phrasal verbs

1.1. According to Tom McArthur

“A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition, a verb and an

adverb, or a verb with both an adverb and a preposition, any of which are

part of the syntax of the sentence, and so are complete semantic units.

Sentences, however, may contain direct and indirect objects in addition to

the phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs are particularly frequent in the English

language. A phrasal verb often has a meaning which is different from the

original verb.”

1.2. According to Dictionary.com Unabridged

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language


“A phrasal verb is a combination of verb and one or more adverbial or

prepositional particles, as catch on, take off, bring up, or put up with,

functioning as a single semantic unit and often having an idiomatic meaning

that could not be predicted from the meanings of the individual parts.”

“A Phrasal Verb is an English verb which is composed of two or three

words. One verb is combined with a preposition (like on, in, under) or an

adverb (like up, down, away). Sometimes a phrasal verb can have a meaning

that is very different to the meaning of at least one of those two or three

words separately. Phrasal verbs are used more frequently in everyday speech

than in formal, official writing or speaking.”


2.1. Studying phrasal verbs through combination of the verbs with

particles/ prepositions

In English, the verbs can combine with many particles/ preposition and

each combination form a different meaning. Thus, I will give a list of verbs

and the particles/ preposition; they can combine with to remember easily.

Here are some common verbs with particles:

• Phrasal verbs with “take”

_ Take up _To begin or start a new hobby.

‘He took up jogging after his doctor advised him to get some

exercise.’

_ Take out – To remove something to outside

‘Take out the rubbish when you leave.

_ Take in – To understand or comprehend something.

‘Sarah couldn’t take in all the information at the meeting.’

_ Take after – To have a similar character or personality to a family

member.

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‘In my family, I take after my mother. We have the same eyes and nose.’

• Phrasal verbs with “ keep”

_Keep around _ continue to possess or keep near you

I have know idea why they keep around this piece of junk. They'll

never use it.

_Keep at _ continue with something (usually difficult)

Jill kept at the puzzle until she put all the pieces together.

_Keep away _ prevent from gaining access; not allow near

The warehouse has a guard dog to keep away would be thieves.

_Keep back _ maintain a safe distance

The police kept back the crowd by blocking off the street.

• Phrasal verbs with “ go”

_Go away _ leave

I made the neighbor kids go away by yelling at them.

_Go around _ avoid contact, circumvent

We can't go in the back door we got to go around to the front.

_Go back _ return

When are you going back to school?

_Go back _ not keep a promise or ones word

It's hard doing business with them. They always go back on their

promises.

2.2. Studying phrasal verbs through pairs of synonym

This method will help you remember pairs of phrasal verbs of synonym. By

this way you can learn the meaning of two phrasal verbs at the same time. I

will give you some illustration.

_Carry on / Carry in with

I can’t carry on alone any longer. I’ll have to get help.

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The doctor told her to carry in with this treatment.

_Come across/ Come upon

When I was looking for my passport I came across these old photographs.

_ Call in/ look in/ drop in

Call in/ look in on your way home and tell me how the interview went.

_ Call for/ Ask for

The situation calls for tack.

Ask for a manage.

_ Break off / Call off

Ann has been broken off her engagement to Tom.

They had to call off the match as the ground was too wet to play in.

_ Back up / Be for

The headmaster never backed up his staff. If a parent complained about a

teacher he assumed that the teacher was in the wrong.

I am for not allowing children to watch TV too much!

_ Look forward to / Look up to / Long for

I’m looking forward to her arrival.

Schoolboys usually look up to become great athletes.

_ Ask someone in / ask someone out

He didn’t ask me in, he kept me standing at the door while he read the

message.

She had a lot of friends and was usually asked out in the evenings, so she

seldom spent an evening at home.

2.3 Studying phrasal verbs through topic

According to this method, you can note down phrasal verbs, which

release to the same topic together. It will help you use phrasal verbs more

flexibly. I will give you some topics in many fields of life.

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*Food

_Whip up _ to make food for a meal very quickly and easily

_Pig out _ to eat a lot of food

_Pick at _ to eat only a small amount of a meal because you are not

hungry or because you are feeling ill

_Knock back _ to quickly drink a lot of alcohol

_Eat up _ to eat all of the food you have been given

_Bolt down _ to eat food very quickly

*Health

_Get over _ to feel better after having an illness

_Come round _ to become conscious again

_Keep down _ to be able to eat or drink something without vomiting

_Pass away _ to die

_Look after _ to take care of someone

_Pick up _ to get an infectious disease from someone or something

_Fight off _ to try hard to get rid of an illness

*Money

_Dip into _ to spend part of a supply of money that you have been

keeping or saving

_Cough up _ to provide money for something, especially when you

are not very willing to do this

_Get by _ to have just enough money to pay for the things that you

need, but nothing more

_Pay back _ to give someone the money that you owe them

_Tide over _ to help someone, usually by giving them money for a

period of time when they have no money

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_Splash out to spend a lot of money on something, which is very

pleasant but which you do not need

*Travel

_Take off _ (aircraft) to move from the ground and begin to fly

_Touch down _ (aircraft) to land on the ground

_Set off _ to start a journey

_Check in _ to show your ticket at an airport so you can be told where

you are sitting and so that your bags can be put on the aircraft

_See off _ to go to the place that someone is leaving from in order to

say goodbye.

VI. Conclusion

I decided to do research on “English phrasal verbs and how to study them

effectively” because of I felt this topic was very interesting. I write this topic

with the purpose of improving my knowledge of phrasal verbs in English. I

want to share with you. All methods above help me a lot during my studying

process at university.

VII. Recommendation

In this paper, I have discusses the three ways to use phrasal verbs effectively

and easily. Besides, I can give you some other ways to learn better such as:

classification of phrasal verbs, comparison of phrasal verbs and non_phrasal

verbs….I hope you will improve common knowledge about phrasal verbs.

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References

1. Cowie, A.P.& Markin, R. (1993). Oxford Dictionary of Phrasal verbs.

London : Oxford University Press.

2. Alexander, L.G (1992). Longman English Grammar. New York:

Longman Publishing.

3. The American Heritage. Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth

Edition

4. McCarthy, M& O’ Dell, F. (2001). English Phrasal verbs in use.

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh: Nhà xuất bản trẻ.

5. Collins Cobuild (2001). Dictionary of Phrasal verbs. Glasgow: Harper

Collins Publishers.

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