Phrasal Verbs

What are phrasal verbs?

1. A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb.

2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.

3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.

4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition / adverb.

5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a + after the preposition / adverb.

6. Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, such phrasal verbs are marked with both * and + .

7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.

Comparing And Contrasting

Expanding On A Topic

Reported Speech

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Reduced Adverb Clauses

Reduced Adverb Clauses: An Adverb Clause can be reduced only when the subject of the Adverb Clause and the subject of the Main Clause are the same:

- Omit the Subject of the clause and the "BE" form of the verb -

While I was watching TV, I fell asleep.


While watching TV , I fell asleep.

- If there is no " BE " , omit the Subject and change the Verb to "ing" form -

After I signed the report , I gave it to the director.

After signing the report , I gave it to the director.

* NOTE :

While the teacher was speaking , I fell asleep. ( Cannot be reduced, because the Subjects are different )

Past And Present Unreal Conditionals

Use of "WISH‏"

Let's start off with the easy part. ' I wish to' can mean the same as 'I want to' but it is much, much more formal and much, much less common. 

• I wish to make a complaint. 
• I wish to see the manager. 

You can also use 'wish' with a noun to 'offer good wishes'. 

• We wish you a merry Christmas. 
• I wish you all the best in your new job. 

Notice that when you want to offer good wishes using a verb, you must use 'hope ' and not 'wish'. 

• We wish you the best of luck. 
• We hope you have the best of luck. 
• I wish you a safe and pleasant journey. 
• I hope you have a safe and pleasant journey. 

However, the main use of 'wish' is to say that we would like things to be different from what they are, that we have regrets about the present situation. 

• I wish I was rich. 
• He wishes he lived in Paris. 
• They wish they'd chosen a different leader. 

Notice that the verb tense which follows 'I wish' is 'more in the past' than the tense corresponding to its meaning. 

• I'm too fat. I wish I was thin. 
• I never get invited to parties. I wish I got invited to parties. 
• It's raining. I wish it wasn't raining. 
• I went to see the latest Star Wars film. I wish I hadn't gone. 
• I've eaten too much. I wish I hadn't eaten so much. 
• I'm going to visit her later. I wish I wasn't going to visit her later. 

In the case of 'will' , where 'will' means 'show willingness' we use 'would'. 

• He won't help me. I wish he would help me. 
• You're making too much noise. I wish you would be quiet. 
• You keep interrupting me. I wish you wouldn't do that. 

Where 'will' means a future event, we cannot use 'wish' and must use 'hope'. 

• There's a strike tomorrow. I hope some buses will still be running 
• I hope everything will be fine in your new job. 

In more formal English, we use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was' after 'wish'. 

• I wish I were taller. 
• I wish it were Saturday today. 
• I wish the options were a little clearer 
  
  
  

  

  
  

Past modals - With Have

The use of "SUCH"

- The following is a mini-tutorial on the use of "SUCH" -

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Such + Adjective + Noun

USE: "Such" can be combined with an adjective and a noun to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

1) Don has such a big house! I think it's a little ridiculous.
2) Shelly has such beautiful eyes! I have never seen that shade of blue before.

*USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.

Examples:

1) Shelly has such beautiful eyes that she got a job as a make-up model. / Shelly has such beautiful eyes she got a job as a make-up model.

* NOTE *

Remember that without the noun you need to use "so."

Examples:

1) Such beautiful eyes that . . .
1.1) So beautiful that . . . 
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Such + Judgemental Noun

USE: "Such" can also be combined with judgemental nouns for emphasis. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

1) He is such an idiot! He says the stupidest things.
2) She is such a genius! We could never do this work without her.
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Such + Noun (This type of...)

USE: "Such" can also mean "this type of..." or "that type of..."

Examples:

1) The archeologist had never seen such writing before he discovered the tablet.
this/that type of writing

2) She usually doesn't receive such criticism.
this/that kind of criticism

3) Frank has never made such mistakes before.
hese/those kinds of mistakes

The use of "SO"

- The following is a mini-tutorial on the use of "SO" -

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So + Adjective

USE: "So" can be combined with adjectives to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

1) The music is so loud! I wish they would turn it down.
2) The meal was so good! It was worth the money.

* USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional.

Examples:

1) The music is so loud that I can't sleep. / The music is so loud I can't sleep.
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So + Adverb

USE: "So" can be combined with adverbs to show extreme actions. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

1) She spoke so quickly! She sounded like an auctioneer.
2) He paints so well! I am sure he is going to become a famous artist.
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So + Many / Few + Plural Noun

USE: "So" can be combined with "many" or "few" plus a plural noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

1) I never knew you had so many brothers!
2) She has so few friends! It's really quite sad.
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So + Much / Little + Non-countable Noun

USE: "So" can be combined with "much" or "little" plus a non-countable noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.

Examples:

1) Jake earns so much money! And he still has trouble paying the rent.
2) They have so little food! We need to do something to help them.

Big Screen, Small Screen

- WORLD PASS - VOCABULARY -

Chick flick: Is a romantic film that is not very serious and is intended to appeal to women.

B-Movie: Is a film which is produced quickly and cheaply and is often considered to have little artistic value.

Tearjerker: If you refer to a play, film, or book as a tear-jerker, you are indicating that it is very sad or sentimental.

Mainstream: People, activities, or ideas that are part of the mainstream are regarded as the most typical, normal, and conventional because they belong to the same group or system as most others of their kind.

Blockbuster: Is a film or book that is very popular and successful, usually because it is very exciting.

Indie: Indie films are produced by small independent companies rather than by major studios.

Strike A Compromise: Reach an agreement.

Wholesome: Considered to have no bad influence.

Give Away: Reveal.

Shot On Location: Not filmed in a studio.

Drawback: Disadvantage.

Distracting: Making it difficult to focus on something.

Nerve-Wracking: Making you feel tense.

Guilty Pleasure: Something you feel embarrassed about enjoying.