GRAMMAR

Multiword Verbs

Multiword verbs, also called phrasal verbs, are made up of a verb and a particle, or, sometimes, two particles. Sometimes it is easy to guess the meaning (e.g. He picked up the pencil), but very often it is necessary to check in a dictionary (e.g. Marco picked up English very quickly when he lived in London).

• Separable verbs

  • The verb and the particle can be apart or together, the meaning doesn’t change.

    He cut the tree down OR He cut down the tree.

  • However, when the object is a pronoun, it must come between the verb and the particle.

    He cut it down.

• Non-separable verbs

  • The particle and the verb cannot be separated.

    She looks after the baby.

  • When there is a pronoun, the verb and the particle remain together.

    She looks after him/her.

• Verbs with two particles

  • Verbs with two particles act like non-separable verbs.

    Mike doesn’t put up with his neighbours OR Mike doesn’t put up with them.

• Intransitive verbs

  • These verbs do not have an object.

    Mike always speaks up.

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10. Complete the sentences with the multiword verb in brackets. Check in a dictionary if you are not sure. Use the correct form of the verb for each sentence.

1. The plane ............................... (take off) at the scheduled time yesterday.
2. Please, ............................... (turn on) the radio.
3. The volume is too high. ............................... (turn down) it.
4. Mike ............................... (come up with) a fantastic idea yesterday.
5. Don’t ............................... (give up) hope.
6. Your story is very interesting. ............................... (go on) with it.
7. Don’t leave me alone. ............................... (stand by) me.
8. Stop using your computer! ............................... (switch off) it.
9. I’m going to ............................... (take up) golf.
10. What does accessibility mean? – I don’t know, ............................... (look up) it in a dictionary.