Phrasal Verbs
What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb is a combination of words that forms a phrase with a verb and a preposition.
Phrasal verbs are important to learn because the meaning of a verb can change a lot with the addition of a preposition.
Examples of phrasal verbs are give up, run on, throw out, take in, back up, and make up.
These videos provide examples of phrasal verbs. You can find more of these types of videos on the LearnAmericanEnglishOnline YouTube channel.
make up
The phrasal verb “make up” has many different meanings.
- She made up her mind. (She decided on something.)
- Immigrants make up the majority of students with whom I work. (make up = consist of)
- He’s trying to make up for his mistake. (make up = compensate for)
- They made up after a big fight. (make up = reconcile)
give up
give up on
To give something up is to let go of it or quit it.
- Pam gave up drinking coffee. (She stopped drinking coffee.)
- The war ended when the other side gave up. (give up = surrender)
- The suspect gave himself up to the police. (He surrendered to the police)
- Some students give up on learning English. (They quit their pursuit of this skill.)
- Don’t give up on yourself. (Don’t stop believing in your abilities.)
get through
A very common phrasal verb is “get through.”
- Excuse me. I need to get through. (I need to pass this area.)
- It took him nine years to get through college. (get through = finish)
- How can we get through to her. (get through = communicate)
- They got through late last night. (get through = finish some kind of work.)
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