Collins Cobuild

Unit 50
Phrasal verbs
Main points
A  phrasal  verb  is  a  combination  of  a  verb  and  an  adverb  or
preposition.
The usual meaning of the verb is normally altered.
Phrasal verbs are used in four main structures.
1
Phrasal verbs are verbs that combine with adverbs or prepositions. The
adverbs and prepositions are called particles, for example ‘down’, ‘in’,
‘off’, ‘out’, and ‘up’.
She turned off the radio.
Mr Knight offered to put him up.
2
Phrasal verbs extend the usual meaning of the verb or create a new
meaning. For example, if you ‘break’ something, you damage it, but if
you ‘break out of’ a place, you escape from it.
They broke out of prison on Thursday night.
The pain gradually wore off.
3
Phrasal verbs are normally used in one of four main structures. In the
first  structure,  the  verb  is  followed  by  a  particle,  and  there  is  no
object.

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break out catch on check up come in
get by
give in
go away
grow up
look in
ring off start out
stay up
stop off
wait up watch out wear off
War broke out in September.
You’ll have to stay up late tonight.
4
 In  the  second  structure,  the  verb  is  followed  by  a  particle  and  an
object.
fall for
feel for grow on look after