Phrases

A phrase is a few words put together to express a particular meaning in a sentence. Learn to use the right phrases in English to be able to express yourself better with it.

2022.02.20

Look through the junk and find a treasure map – Everything you need to know about Phrasal Verbs

Meaning of Look Through and its uses

All Phrasal Verbs are idiomatic. Their meaning isn’t true in the dictionary. The Phrasal Verb “look through” is no different.

By saying “look through the junk drawer,” the speaker is telling the listener to search for something. This differs from “look through a telescope,” a Declarative that commands the listener to look at the stars.

And so, to “ Look through the junk and find a treasure map” commands that the listener search through the batteries, receipts, and other things that one stores in a junk drawer in hopes of finding a treasure map.

2022.02.17

I look forward to receiving your email – Everything you need to know about this Phrasal Verb

Meaning of Look Forward To as Phrasal Verb and its uses

The Phrasal Verb “look forward to,” like all other Phrasal Verbs we’ve covered, is idiomatic. Its meaning isn’t true in the dictionary.

And by saying “I’m looking forward to receiving your email,” the speaker isn’t actually using their eyes to look at something in the future. The speaker is thrilled at the idea of receiving an email.

Note: Every Germanic language has Phrasal Verbs.

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2022.01.06

“Look After Yourself” – Learn the Phrasal Verb easily, with examples

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb and its use

Phrasal Verbs are much like idioms; their meaning isn’t clear at first. However, it’s easier to get their meaning through context.

The Phrasal Verb “look after” according to the Oxford dictionary means to care for something or someone. For example, you may hear a native English speaker say:

“Look after yourself.”

By saying this, the speaker is telling the listener to take care of him or herself.

2021.12.18

Know Polite Imperatives I Question now with a request.

What is an Imperative?

The Imperative is used to command, request, or forbid (tell others not to do things that may harm them). But, Imperative Sentences don’t come across all that polite. In fact, Imperative Sentences can sometimes be seen as rude by the listener.

Meaning of Polite Imperative:

However, the speaker can use “please” to form a Polite Imperative.

To form a Polite Imperative, place the word “please” at the beginning or end of a sentence. For example, a speaker may say:

Please turn down the radio

The above sentence is a polite way to request the listener to lower the radio’s volume. The speaker may also say:

“Please turn down the radio.”

Both Polite Imperative Sentences are correct. And, both mean the same thing.

2021.12.04

How to use Separable Phrasal Verbs – “Basics”

In general, Phrasal Verbs are a Verb + Preposition combination, like “cheer up.” But, there’s another kind of Phrasal Verb too, the Separable Phrasal Verb.

Scat Singing Cheers me up

What is Scat Singing, you may ask? In Jazz, an American style of music, Scat Singing is the use of nonsense words like “zippity zippity zippity zam za zim” to make improvised melodies.

How do nonsense words relate to learning English? In our case, these sounds cheer the Speaker up, which brings us to Phrasal Verbs – “cheer up” is a Phrasal Verb.

2021.12.04

How to use Separable Phrasal Verbs – “Advanced” with examples

Meaning of Separable Phrasal verbs and how to use it

Phrasal verbs could be separable or inseparable. Phrasal verbs are operable when the verb and the proposition are separated by an object between them. They are: Verb + Object + Preposition

They are based on simple Phrasal Verbs:

Verb + Preposition

An example of a Separable Phrasal Verb is “turn down,” the topic of today’s lesson.

Separable Phrasal Verbs

Turn the volume down

2020.12.07

What is a phrasal verb “Get away”?

A phrasal verb, such as “get away”, contains two or more words, a verb along with other elements of language. While listening to a native English speaker, you will encounter one of these three Phrasal Verb linguistic structures (word orders):

Verb + Adverb (eg break down)

Verb + Preposition (eg see to)

Verb + Adverb + Preposition (eg look down on)

The Adverbs related to these structures (syntaxes) are referred to as Adverbs of Manner. They are always placed after the Verb.

A few common examples of the Adverb + Verb structure are speaking softly, did well, and get away (the subject of today’s lesson).

2020.12.05

What is a phrasal verb “Get up”?

A phrasal verb, such as to ‘get up’, contains two or more words, a verb along with other elements of language. While listening to a native English speaker, you will encounter one of these three Phrasal Verb linguistic structures (word orders):

Verb + Adverb (example: break down)

Verb + Preposition (example: see to)

Verb + Adverb + Preposition (example look down on)