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How to understand and use phrasal verbs with prepositions (mulity-meaning)

Phrasal verbs with prepositions are a key part of English communication, combining a verb with one or more prepositions to create new meanings.
Understanding these phrases can be challenging, but they are essential for natural and fluent English.



What are phrasal verbs with prepositions?
A phrasal verb with a preposition consists of:
1. A main verb (e.g., look, put, get).
2. A preposition (e.g., up, out, into) that changes the meaning of the verb.

For example:
- Look → Look up (search for information).
- Put → Put off (postpone).
- Get → Get into (become involved in).

Common phrasal verbs with prepositions
Here are some frequently used phrasal verbs with their meanings and examples:

1. Look up
  - Meaning: To search for information.
  - Examples:
    - I need to look up the word in the dictionary.
    - Can you look up the directions online?

2. Put off
  - Meaning: To postpone or delay.
  - Examples:
    - We decided to put off the meeting until next week.
    - Don’t put off studying for the exam.

3. Get into
  - Meaning: To become involved in something.
  - Examples:
    - She got into trouble at school.
    - How did you get into photography?

4. Run out of
  - Meaning: To have no more of something.
  - Examples:
    - We ran out of milk, so I need to go to the store.
    - They ran out of time before finishing the project.

5. Take care of
  - Meaning: To look after or manage something or someone.
  - Examples:
    - I’ll take care of the children while you’re away.
    - He took care of all the details for the event.

Why are phrasal verbs with prepositions important?
Phrasal verbs are used in casual and formal contexts, making them vital for:
- Everyday conversations.
- Professional communication.
- Understanding idiomatic expressions in English.

Tips for learning phrasal verbs with prepositions
1. Group by Preposition
  Organize phrasal verbs by prepositions to notice patterns. For example:
  - Up: Look up, pick up, bring up.
  - Out: Run out of, figure out, drop out.

2. Practice in context
  Use phrasal verbs in sentences or conversations to reinforce their meanings.

3. Learn phrasal verbs in pairs or groups
  Learn similar phrasal verbs together to remember them more effectively.

Practice exercises
1. Match the phrasal verb with its meaning:
  - Look up:
    - a) Postpone
    - b) Search for information
    - c) Run out of something

  - Put off:
    - a) Take care of
    - b) Delay
    - c) Get involved in

2. Write sentences using these phrasal verbs:
  - Run out of
  - Take care of
  - Get into

3. Use the following phrasal verbs in a conversation: Look up, Put off, Get into.


A quick challenge
Write a paragraph about your daily routine using at least five phrasal verbs with prepositions. For example:
- I usually run out of time in the morning because I put off my tasks. However, I always take care of my responsibilities and try to look up solutions when needed.

By mastering phrasal verbs with prepositions, you’ll enhance your ability to communicate naturally and fluently.
Keep practicing to make these phrases a part of your everyday English!

Use our online Quizzes and learn how to construct sentences.
English Puzzle:

Select "Phrasal Verbs (Mulity-meaning") in the grammar dropdown

https://fluencyonlife.com/english-fill-in-gaps-quizzes/

Practice speaking by listening and engaging in Wordly topics.
World Topics In English:

https://fluencyonlife.com/english-world-topics-with-questions-and-audio/