ABOUT PHRASAL VERBS
Phrasal verbs, or multi - word verbs as they are often referred to, can be rather daunting for non natives of the English language. A mistake in using the wrong particle or the wrong word order can completely change the intended meaning. This can lead to misunderstandings which can either be horrific or hilarious.
Students of the English language are not expected to be able to remember all the phrasal verbs - they are too numerous - but they should be familiar with the most common ones and they should also be able to recognise their meanings in context. Context is key.
Phrasal verbs play an important role in the English language. There is no getting away from them. Every time natives speak they use them.
Take a look at the ones below. Did you know that the following two sentences have different meanings?
Peter hung up after a few minutes = he ended the telephone call.
Peter hung up on me after a few minutes = he ended the call by interrupting the conversation abruptly, angrily and rudely.
How about this one? I saw through him and I saw him through. Both have different meanings. I saw through him = I understood his deception/the mask he wore, whereas I saw him through = I gave him my support during a difficult period of his life.
Now look at these two examples: Pretty flabbergasting!
I've gone off cheese = I no longer like cheese.
The cheese has gone off = the cheese is not fresh anymore. It is not good to eat. If you eat it you could become sick.
The alarm clock has just gone off = Can you turn it off please? I want to sleep for another few minutes. Does this mean that the alarm clock is not fresh anymore? NOOOO!!!!! Does it mean the alarm clock doesn't like someone or something anymore? NOOO!!! Well what does it mean you may be asking yourself. You should be able to understand from the context. Out of context 'to go off' is devoid of any meaning whatsoever. In the case of the alarm clock, it means, it didn't ring.
Another example is:
He turned on me = he either attacked me physically or verbally.
He turned me on = he caused me to become excited.
Now can you see why the wrong use can lead to numerous misunderstandings?
Phrasal verbs can be separable, that is, as seen in the example 'he turned me on', and inseparable as in the example 'he turned on me'.

There are also phrasal verbs which are both separable and inseparable
Example: She took off her jacket/she took her jacket off = she removed her jacket.
In this book you will learn and become familiar with each phrasal verb type. Good clear examples are set out to illustrate the meanings.

HOW TO REMEMBER PHRASAL VERBS
Choose a few phrasal verbs each day and write down a personal example. By personalisation, phrasal verbs become easier to remember. Recycling in clear and well-defined contexts aids familiarization. Learning requires being frequently exposed to the language.
Listen out for them in songs. Songs are full of phrasal verbs. Try to decipher the contextualised meaning. "Don't let me down" is one phrasal verb which is often heard in songs and means, "don't disappoint me". Read newspaper articles and look out for phrasal verb examples. Again, decipher them by their context and write down your own examples related to your personal life. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

The author is a qualified English language instructor - certified with Cambridge RSA DELTA since 1997.


Verbi Frasali in inglese - Les verbes à particule en anglais - Phrasenverben in Englisch - Verbos compuestos en Inglés - 英語の句動詞