Phrasal verbs: an introduction | English Grammar B1

Phrasal verbs: an introduction

B1 — Verbs

Verb + particle = new meaning (give up, look after, run into); separable vs inseparable basics; the pronoun rule

I can use core phrasal verbs and place pronouns inside separable ones.

Verb + particle = new meaning (give up, look after, run into); separable vs inseparable basics; the pronoun rule

Examples

I ran into my old maths teacher at the airport, and she still corrected my posture. — I ran into my old maths teacher at the airport, and she still corrected my posture.
The neighbours asked us to turn the music down, so we turned it down - by one notch. — The neighbours asked us to turn the music down, so we turned it down - by one notch.

VerbsB1

Phrasal verbs: an introduction

Verb + particle = new meaning (give up, look after, run into); separable vs inseparable basics; the pronoun rule

Learning Goal

I can use core phrasal verbs and place pronouns inside separable ones.

Exam Skills:B1 Preliminary ReadingB1 Preliminary Writing

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

I ran into my old maths teacher at the airport, and she still corrected my posture.

I ran into my old maths teacher at the airport, and she still corrected my posture.

The neighbours asked us to turn the music down, so we turned it down - by one notch.

The neighbours asked us to turn the music down, so we turned it down - by one notch.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Small words, big changes:

Verb	Meaning
give up	quit
look after	take care of
run into	meet by chance
turn down	refuse / lower
put off	postpone

Separable: turn the music down = turn down the music; but pronouns go INSIDE: turn it down, never *turn down it. Inseparable (mostly with prepositions): look after the kids → look after them. Learn the particle as part of the word - up often = completely (eat up, use up).

Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises

Practice Exercises