Phrasal Verbs Quiz

Phrasal Verbs

Transitive vs. Intransitive

• Transitive Phrasal Verbs

  • Require a direct object to complete their meaning.
  • Structure: Verb + Particle + Object
  • Example: "She turned off the lights."
  • Some transitive phrasal verbs can be separable:
    • Example: "She turned the lights off."
  • Others are inseparable:
    • Example: "He ran into an old friend."

• Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

  • Do not require a direct object.
  • Structure: Verb + Particle
  • Example: "The meeting broke up."
  • Cannot be separated by an object.

Idiomatic Expressions

• Phrasal verbs often have meanings that are not directly inferred from the individual words.
• Common idiomatic expressions include:
  • Give up: To quit or stop trying.
  • Look after: To take care of someone or something.
  • Take off: To remove or to leave the ground (for airplanes).
  • Run out of: To have no more of something.
  • Bring up: To mention a topic.
• Understanding the idiomatic meaning is crucial to using phrasal verbs correctly.
• Context is key; the same phrasal verb can have different meanings depending on usage.

Phrasal Verbs: Transitive vs. Intransitive

• Transitive phrasal verbs require a direct object for their meaning to be complete, following the structure: Verb + Particle + Object.
• Example of transitive use: "She turned off the lights," where "the lights" is the direct object.
• Some transitive phrasal verbs can be separated by the object. Example: "She turned the lights off," where "the lights" is placed in the middle.
• Inseparable transitive phrasal verbs do not allow separation. Example: "He ran into an old friend," where "an old friend" cannot be placed between the verb and particle.
• Intransitive phrasal verbs do not need a direct object, following the structure: Verb + Particle.
• Example of intransitive use: "The meeting broke up," which stands alone without a direct object.
• Intransitive phrasal verbs cannot be separated by objects.

Idiomatic Expressions

• Phrasal verbs often convey meanings that differ from the literal definitions of the words involved, making context essential for proper understanding.
• Common idiomatic expressions include:
  • Give up: To quit or cease trying.
  • Look after: To provide care for someone or something.
  • Take off: To remove an item or for an airplane to leave the ground.
  • Run out of: To exhaust the supply of something.
  • Bring up: To introduce a topic for discussion.
• Grasping the idiomatic meanings is essential for correct phrasal verb usage, as the same verb can have varied meanings based on context.

Test your knowledge of transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs along with idiomatic expressions. This quiz will help you understand how these verbs function in sentences and expand your vocabulary through common expressions. Challenge yourself and see how well you know phrasal verbs!