Sometimes we cannot translate the verb alone, but we have to translate its preposition. It is easy to understand a verb without a preposition.
For example “to go” means to move or relocate somewhere from the starting point. “To go over” means to examine. These prepositions give another meaning to a verb.
To make a verb phrasal we usually take these prepositions: about along away back down forward in off on out over round through up. Let’s discover the examples.
- About: The news got about (get about) that John and Sheila had got married.
- Along: He tries to get along with her, but without success. He tries to be friendly with her, but without success.
- Away: Throw away your old papers!
- Back: You will come back tomorrow at 7 pm, won’t you? She will come back after her holiday in Spain.
- Down: The car broke down (break down) because of you! The car isn’t working at the moment of speaking.
- Forward: I am looking forward Friday. I can’t wait Friday.
- In: Fill in these papers, please.
- Off: Turn the lights off, it is not dark. Take off your coat; it is warm inside. His car drove off (drive off).
- On: Get on! There is still enough space in the bus!
- Out: Look out! A bear is coming!
- Over: We need to go over our expenses once again. We need to examine them once again. Think over what your friend told you. Consider what your friend told you.
- Round: She promised to come round. She promised to come and see us.
- Through: I was caught in the traffic jam. My plan to visit Alan before the work fell through (fall through). I wasn’t able to visit him.
- Up: Children it’s time to get up. – No, don’t wake me up. I want to give up smoking. I want to stop smoking.