English Forums

Hi, there! For me 1 of the hardest thing in learning english is phrasal verbs. There’re so many and i fail to learn them. Are they really often used in english speech and how to remember them??

Phrasal verbs are difficult to memorize by rote. The best way to learn them is through the context of usage, so try reading a lot.

Kak skazal Lenin: uchis! uchis! uchis!

Try this quiz and let us know how it goes.

http://www.stuff.co.uk/phrasal.htm

Here is a list:

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/

Use one in a sentence.

Example:

"I plan to auction off three of my guitars."

Auction off means to sell something in an auction, in this case they will be sold on Ebay.

Thank you so much for this reference!

It's interesting to me that there are actual terms for parts of the language I speak. I'm not sure, as I've said before, if it helps to know the 'term' or the actual meaning of what people say. I guess if you are going to teach, it's good to know the terms. But I can't see sitting down to learn as many phrasal verbs as possible in one sitting. 

The problem I see is that if you are learning all of the grammar just to speak the language, and you never use the terms again, then what is the sense of learning the terms? I swear, if I ever teach professionally, I will ignore the terms and concentrate on communication.
Lastly, I think that phrasal verbs could be regional. You could spend a long time learning some, then move to a location that uses completely different ones. I know that many British pvs are difficult to decipher here in Canada. 

Good links Nu!

I agree with everything Mapleleaf Man said and to add to it, some are or were part of a particular generation.

Lin, if you come across one and do not know the meaning, ask the person to explain what they mean. I have spoke American English my entire life and I have run across a few in my day. Especially when I visit the southern U.S.

Really? but my english teacher says there’s no spoken english without phrasals, e.g. give up, come out, call on, get away, go through and so on,
do you mean you don’t use such things in your speech?

Really?
Yes, really.

but my english teacher says there’s no spoken english without phrasals,
I am not an English teacher, just a speaker.
Phrasal verbs are a verb + a particle (preposition or adverb) that changes the meaning to make a new verb.
Why not use a verb that means the same thing as this newly created verb?
e.g.
From the link I posted.
give up can mean but is not limited to:
- Stop doing something that has been a habit
- Stop being friendly, end relationships
- Stop doing something
- Surrender, stop trying
- Sacrifice or dedicate time, etc, to something
- Allow someone to sit in your chair, take your place, etc
- Allow or give away a run while pitching (baseball)
come out,
- A secret is revealed
- Be published or otherwise available to the public
- Disappear when washed
- Let people know that you are lesbian or gay
- When the sun appears
call on,
- Ask for help
- Visit
- Challenge
- Ask someone to do something, especially to speak in public. (Formal)
get away,
- Escape
- Go on holiday or for a short break
- Move, leave somewhere
go through
- Experience
- Read again
- Examine, search
- Do something in a certain way or following certain procedures
- Explain
- Be approved formally or sanctioned
- Enter
- Consume or spend
- Perform or carry something out
and so on, do you mean you don’t use such things in your speech?
Yes, I have in a casual environment, you know, when I'm flibbing my jibs with my bleeds.
In some ways, I would consider many phrasal verbs slang.
Some are easy expressions that hold a complex situation.
An example would be: She's looking after the kids.
Looking after is sometimes replaced by watching or babysitting. In this case it means she is the caretaker of the children.

Do you have any that are used in a complete sentence?

What do you mean: “a complete sentence”? How can a sentence be not complete?

It can be a sentence fragment.

Since he came to New York.  
Since he came, what (has he been doing)?
Because my dog loves it.   
Because the dog loves it, (loves what)?
Unless you see me.  
Unless you see me, what (will happen)?

All of these sentences end too quickly.  After reading these sentences, the reader asks questions because he/she needs more information.

I'll use give up in a complete sentence.

I decided to give up smoking.

The pitcher decided it was better to turn a double play and give up a run rather than get the out at home plate.

I cannot remember seeing Vladislav Tretiak give up a bad goal.

It works with hockey too.