Phrasal verbs are a peculiar feature of the English language. They are found quite often both in everyday speech and in fiction.
Essence of Phrasal Verbs
In combination with adverbs or prepositions, the meaning of the verb changes partially or completely. One of the most frequent mistakes of beginners is the desire to translate every single word. But if we are talking about constructions or stable phrases, such as idioms or phrasal verbs, it should be remembered that these are indivisible semantic units.
Therefore, you need to pay special attention to this topic and to work out at least the most common phrasal verbs of the English language: get, take, do, go, break, make, look, etc. Each group needs to be given enough time to work with examples and exercises on translation and paraphrasing. The main goal is to make them part of your active vocabulary and begin to use it when talking.
Verb to get: main meaning and forms
This word covers a very wide range of meanings. The most common translation options are as follows:
- get, receive, mine;
- acquire, buy;
- to have, to possess;
- generate, produce;
- pick up (about illness), become infected;
- get + adjective - becomes (for example, it's getting dark - it gets dark)
This is not a complete list of possible values. When translating, you should always pay attention to related words and translate in context. Get refers to irregular verbs: get, got, got. In the American version, the past participle form (third column of the table) is gotten.
Phrase verb get: a list of the most common combinations
The following is a list of the most common combinations of get + preposition or adverb. Some phrases have several translation options. In order to choose the right one, pay attention to the neighboring words. The correct translation depends on an understanding of the context.
Consider the phrasal verb get + preposition.
| get | about | 1) walk, travel, ride
2) spread (about gossip, rumors)
3) to proceed (to duties) |
| along | 1) succeed
2) to cope (with difficulties), to do (without anything) |
| along with (smb.) | get along (with someone), get along, find a common language |
| at | 1) get there
2) get to the point, understand
3) keep in mind
4) to find fault, to joke |
| by | 1) be acceptable, acceptable
2) make ends meet
3) go unpunished, get away with it, "ride" |
| in | 1) enter (into the room)
2) to get on (by train, etc.)
3) arrive
4) bring |
| into | put on |
| off | 1) go out
2) avoid punishment
3) take off (clothes)
4) clean (from paint) |
| on | 1) put on
2) to sit down (by train, bus, horse)
3) grow old
4) to live (in the question: "How are you?") |
| on (with) | 1) succeed, make progress
2) get along, be on good terms |
| out | 1) go out
2) take out
3) find out |
| over | 1) to cross, climb, cross
2) recover, recover (after illness)
3) transmit (information, information)
4) overcome |
| through | 1) finish, complete
2) take an exam
3) get through
4) spend (time, money) |
| up | 1) get up (out of bed)
2) rise, intensify (about fire, wind)
3) organize (party)
4) to stage (a play in the theater) |
We present you the phrasal verb get + adverb (or adverb and preposition).
| get | across | cross over |
| ahead | overtake |
| away | 1) go, go
2) to be saved, to get rid |
| away with | go dry out of the water, get off easy |
| back | return, get back |
| down | 1) go down, go, take off
2) suppress, oppress |
| down to | sit down for study, take up |
| round | 1) to persuade, to make it your own way,
win over
2) bypass (rule, law, instructions) |
Phrase verb get: usage examples
The desire to memorize lists of words and phrases is unlikely to lead to a good result. In order to master any rule and new vocabulary, you need to try as soon as possible to apply the learned material in practice. The following are a few examples of the most common phrases:
- The rumour has got about everywhere. - Rumors spread everywhere.
- Children, get about your homework. - Children, start homework.
- He got across the street. - He crossed the street.
- I want to get at the truth. “I want to find out the truth.”
- She won't be able to get away for the holidays. “She can't leave for the holidays.”
- I lent him money two weeks ago and I want to get it back . “I gave him a loan two weeks ago and I want to get it back.”
- This cloudy weather is getting me down . - This cloudy weather depresses me.
- He was ill but now he is getting over . - He was sick, but now getting better.
Answer Exercises
Another good way to learn the phrasal verb get is to work through a few exercises, making automatic translation, word substitution, or synonym substitution skills.
1. Translate into English:
- Tomorrow I want to take up English books.
- Coldly. Put on your coat.
- When the bus stopped, she got off first.
- In the evening the wind rose (intensified) .
- Stories are spreading all over the place.
2. Get over - a phrasal verb that has several translation options. The task is to translate Russian sentences with its use:
- I know that I must overcome these difficulties.
- He plays the piano very well, but cannot pass it on to others.
- She is recovering from the flu.
- I can’t overcome such a distance.
- Some boy climbed over the fence.
Answers 1
- Tomorrow I want get down to the English books.
- It's cold. Get on your coat.
- When the bus stopped she was the first to get out .
- In the evening the wind got up .
- The stories are getting about everywhere.
Answers 2
- I know that I have to get over that difficulties.
- He plays the piano very well but he is unable to get it over to the other.
- She is getting over flue.
- I can't get over such a distance.
- A boy got over the fence.
The
Phrasal verbs topic is quite extensive, so you should devote enough time to developing this material. Having mastered this topic, you will significantly approach success in learning English.