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UCC LC Open Night - Phrasal Verbs Presentation

This document discusses phrasal verbs, which are verb-preposition combinations with idiomatic meanings that are difficult for learners to guess. It notes that phrasal verbs are very common in informal speech and writing. While there are over 12,000 examples, research shows the top 25 account for over 30% of usage, and the top 100 account for over 50%. The document provides tips for learners to focus on the most common verb-preposition combinations and find examples to study. It emphasizes starting with the verbs go, come, get, put, bring, turn, look, set, take, and turn combined with the prepositions on, up, down, out, in, back, over and off.

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Alexey Zhestkov
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58 views12 pages

UCC LC Open Night - Phrasal Verbs Presentation

This document discusses phrasal verbs, which are verb-preposition combinations with idiomatic meanings that are difficult for learners to guess. It notes that phrasal verbs are very common in informal speech and writing. While there are over 12,000 examples, research shows the top 25 account for over 30% of usage, and the top 100 account for over 50%. The document provides tips for learners to focus on the most common verb-preposition combinations and find examples to study. It emphasizes starting with the verbs go, come, get, put, bring, turn, look, set, take, and turn combined with the prepositions on, up, down, out, in, back, over and off.

Uploaded by

Alexey Zhestkov
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHRASAL

VERBS
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you will:
• have increased your understanding of which
phrasal verbs are commonly used, and when

• have practised speaking using frequent


phrasal verbs

• have received guidance on learning


strategies for studying phrasal verbs yourself
What are phrasal verbs?
Combinations of verbs + prepositions /
particles

e.g. work out, break down, go up, hurry up

The meaning is often idiomatic / difficult to


guess from individual words.
When do people use phrasal verbs?
• very frequently in colloquial conversation and
fiction
• very often in imperatives – commands and
instructions
• research shows that approximately 1 in every
40 verbs is a phrasal verb
• non-native speakers tend to avoid using them
Problems for learners
There are How can I
so many! remember
them?

The
meaning
isn’t clear! Where
should I
start?
Can’t I just
use more
formal
words?
Conversation Questions
1. When was the last time you shouted “come on”?
2. Is the price of accommodation going up or down in
your country?
3. Did you take up any new hobbies during lockdown?
4. Why do you want to carry on learning English?
5. Do people in your country turn up late or on time for
dinner parties?
6. Would you like to set up your own business?
7. Is your hometown a good place to bring up children?
8. Has anything in your kitchen gone off recently?
The good news from corpus research

• The 25 most common phrasal verbs – over 30% of


total
• Top 50 – over 40%
• Top 100 – over 50%
• The other 50% - approximately 12,000 of
examples in British National Corpus
(Gardner & Davies, 2007)
The most common phrasal verb?
Frequent verbs and prepositions
• The verbs most frequently found in phrasal
verbs are:
go, come, get, put, bring, turn, look, set,
take, turn

• The 8 prepositions on, up, down, out, in,


back, over and off are found in over 50%
of phrasal verbs
on up down out in back over off
go
come
get
put
bring
turn
look
set
take
turn
Study tips
• Start with the most common verbs +
prepositions
• Find and note down examples in texts
• Use a good online dictionary and note
example phrases or sentences
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/bring-up
• Explore more examples
https://youglish.com/pronounce/bring%20up/english
• Set yourself goals – “Today I will study…”
/ “Today I will try to use …”
References
TOP 100 MOST FREQUENT PHRASAL VERBS IN THE BRITISH NATIONAL CORPUS

Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S. & Finegan, E.(1999). Longman Grammar of
Spoken and Written English. Longman.

Carter, R. & McCarthy, M. (2006). Cambridge Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press.

Gardner, D. & Davies, M. (2007). Pointing Out Frequent Phrasal Verbs: A Corpus-Based
Analysis. TESOL Quarterly. Vol 41, no. 2.

Garnier, M & Schmitt, N. (2014). The PHaVE List: A pedagogical list of phrasal verbs and their
most frequent meaning senses. Retrieved from: https://www.norbertschmitt.co.uk/vocabulary-
resources

www.ldoceonline.com

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/

https://youglish.com/

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