Phrasal Verb Fun

Particle Index
about
About has several meanings: one of the most common meanings is
moving from here to there to somewhere else. For example; 'Veronica ran
about the village all morning.' means that she went from house to shop to
church to who-knows-where all morning.
Sometimes but not always
around
and
round
have the same meaning.
ask about
,
ask around
fall about
get about, get around, get round
knock about
look about, look around, look round
put about
turn about, turn around, turn round
Another meaning is 'near here' in space or 'almost now' in time.
For example -
be about to
bring about
come about
about
What was that film about? What was its theme?
see about
set about
after
Usually, this means later in time
call after
come after
go after
name after
set after
take after

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_____
ask after
look after
against
Against always has the idea of 'confrontation'. It is never friendly. To be
against something means that you don't like it, that you disagree with it.
come up against
go up against
hold against
set against
turn against
ahead
In any race, the one who is winning, is ahead. It is the direction where you
are going.
get ahead
go ahead
keep ahead
look ahead
pull ahead
push ahead
stay ahead
around
Around has two main meanings. The most common meaning is vaguely
moving from one direction to another. What do many people do on
holiday? They walk around the town where they are staying.
About
and
round
mean the same, and several verbs have all three forms which mean
the same..
The second meaning of around and about is approximate.
How much is it? About ten euros. It is around ten euros.
ask around, ask round, ask about
fall about
get around, get round, get about
knock about, knock around

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look around, look round, look about
push around
put around, put about
talk around, talk round
turn around, turn round, turn about
at
At is static. It means two things together, the same time. To be in contact.
We sit at the table - the normal position for eating or working. We arrive at
a small place like a railway station (although we arrive
in
a big place like
China). Jack and Jill work at the same place, and they both finish work at
six o'clock.
At is frequently more aggressive than
to
For example, if you shout at people, you are being abusive. But if you
shout
to
somebody across the street, you are saying hello.
If you talk or speak at your friends, you are being very boring - talking,
talking, talking, and not listening. But if you speak or talk to them, that is
normal conversation.
Compare
come at
with
come to
and
point to
with
point at
get at
get back at
go at
keep at
stick at
away
Away means you never see it again
blow away
break away
die away
fall away
get carried away
do away with
get away
get away with
give away
go away

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pass away
pull away
put away
run away
split away
take away
throw away
turn away
Although, put away is not always permanent
back
Back, after a verb, nearly always has the sense of 'return'
cut back
fall back on
get back at
get back into
go back
go back on
look back
look back at
look back on
look back to
play back
pull back
send back
take back
talk back
think back