EF5Wr567 Class 27

 

Phrasal Verbs-

Phrasal verbs are two or three-word verbs usually consisting of a verb plus a preposition (or two). 

verb + preposition – one unit, one thing, one new idea  “talk to”

talk to – He talked to his sister on the phone last Tuesday.

 

Phrasal verbs are the heart of English. The more you know phrasal verbs, the more natural your spoken and written English will sound.

 

Adding a preposition to a verb can completely change the meaning of the verb. 

talk to

talk with

talk about

talk over    He talked over his wife while she was explaining what                                happened.

talk under – whispering, talking very quietly while someone else is talking                   While the teacher was talking, a few students were

talking under him about the lesson.

 

 

For example, “speak to” ‘speak with’ and “speak for” have very different meanings.

“Don’t speak for me. I can speak for myself.”

“She will have to speak for herself.”

I spoke to/with my colleague about the project.

I spoke for my son at the doctor’s office.

 

So too do “look up”, “look up to” and “look down on”.  The meanings of phrasal verbs are idiomatic, which means their meaning is in the culture not in the dictionary.

“look up to” respect She really looks up to her grandmother.

“Don’t look down on me about my English. It is better than before.”

“Don’t look down on anyone because they have an accent. That means they know at least two languages. How about you?”

 

 

Examples with one verb: look (v)

-look + prep

-look at

-look for

-look after

-look up

-look up to – respect somebody, admire  Scott really looks up to his math teacher, Ms Chen.

-look down on – think poorly of someone, do not respect them  My mother usually looked down on my friends.

-look forward to – anticipate, waiting with a good feeling, being filled with expectation (positive)   I look forward to seeing you.

She is not looking forward to the math test.

 

 

 

- common verb “talk”

-talk to

-talk with

-talk over  She always talks over me. I don’t like being interrupted all the time. It is disrespectful.

Sorry for talking over you.

 

-talk for/speak for

-talk about- discuss, gossip,

 

tattle(v)- cannot keep a secret

tattletale(a person who rats you out), a bigmouth

IDIOM rat you out- tells on you

He is a motormouth.