ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS AND HOW TO STUDY THEM EFFECTIVELLY
Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 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. 1 Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 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. Definitions of phrasal verbs 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. How to study English phrasal verbs effectively 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 2 Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 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 3 Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 _ Studying many grammar books _ Searching on internet and other sources _ Asking for advice from teacher and friends IV. Findings 1. Definitions of phrasal verbs _ 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 1. Definitions of phrasal verbs 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 4 Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 “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. How to study English phrasal verbs effectively 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. 5 Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 ‘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. 6 Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 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. 7 Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 *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 8 Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 _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. 9 Website: http://www.docs.vn Email : lienhe@docs.vn Tel (: 0918.775.368 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. 10