A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb with another part of speech, most commonly a preposition. English phrasal verbs are common structures in both formal and colloquial usage and serve to greatly extend and even alter the meaning of the base verb.
A good way to think of a phrasal verb is to regard it as a phrase (two or more words) that functions in the grammar of the sentence as a verb.
Examples of phrasal verbs consisting of two words include:
Get back from the sharp knives.
Times are tough, but somehow we’ll get by.
Get into the car.
I really hope he can get over himself soon.
Let’s plan to get together next week.
Sometimes a phrasal verb consists of three words. Examples of these phrasal verbs include:
Please try to get along with your brother’s friends.
That puppy can get away with anything.
I don’t know when I’ll get around to my math homework.
Careful readers will already have noticed that all of the examples given so far use the verb “get.” As can readily be seen from the examples, turning a basic verb into a phrasal verb greatly expands its range of meaning.
Because a single verb can mean so many different things when used in different phrasal verb structures, a phrasal verbs dictionary can be useful, particularly if you are unsure about the precise meaning of a particular phrasal verb. It may not be necessary to invest in a dictionary, however; phrasal verbs lists appear in many places online and also in standard English grammar texts.
Of course, there are thousands of additional verbs that can be combined with other parts of speech. Just a few examples should be sufficient to illustrate this point:
The teacher instructed the students to pair off to review their math facts.
When you see the movie, try not to get carried away.
Jot down a few ideas about the new marketing campaign.
The correct use of phrasal verbs can help you add more variety to your speech and writing.