Introduction

The Relevance of the Topic

The study of Phrasal Verbs in English is a critical step in the education of any student. It is an especially important concept, given its wide applicability and frequency in the English language. Phrasal Verbs are nothing less than the combination of verbs with prepositions or adverbs, which give them completely different meanings from the original verbs. It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 of these expressions in the English language. Learning to interpret and use Phrasal Verbs correctly can open doors to a deeper and more authentic understanding of the language and Anglophone culture.

Contextualization

Phrasal Verbs are frequently covered topics in the 3rd year of High School, as they are fundamental for the development of reading and understanding authentic texts. This is because, in addition to appearing frequently in writings of various genres and complexities, the understanding of Phrasal Verbs is often vital for the correct interpretation of the meaning of sentences and paragraphs. Moreover, these expressions are commonly used by native speakers, and therefore, mastery of Phrasal Verbs is an indicator of an advanced level of proficiency in English. As such, the study of Phrasal Verbs provides a bridge for students to advance from simple English users to true bilingual communicators.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Separable and inseparable phrasal verbs: This classification is crucial to understanding the structure of Phrasal Verbs. Separable phrasal verbs are those in which the object can be placed between the verb and the preposition/adverb. Inseparable phrasal verbs are those in which the object can only come after the composition. For example:
  • Separable verb: turn off (turn off), object: I turn the TV off vs I turn off the TV.
  • Inseparable verb: catch up (catch up), object: I can't catch up with the leader (Wrong: I can't catch the leader up).
• Change of meaning: Phrasal verbs are famous for completely changing the meaning of the original verbs when used together. These changes in meaning can be slight or radical, depending on the verb. For example:
  • Put off (postpone) vs Put on (put on): the verbs 'put' alone mean 'put', but when combined with 'off' and 'on', they acquire the meanings of 'postpone' and 'dress', respectively.
• Multi-letters: Some phrasal verbs are composed of more than one preposition or adverb. For example:
  • Look forward to (look forward to): This p.v. is formed by three words, each with its respective role in the sentence structure. The verb is look, the adverb is forward and the preposition is to.

Key Terms

• Phrasal Verbs (P.V): Term that refers to the combination of verbs with prepositions or adverbs, which result in meanings distinct from the original verbs.
• Verb: Class of words that indicates action, state, or natural phenomenon.

Examples and Cases

• Example of separable Phrasal Verb: She put the book down = She put the book down. (Here, "put down" is separable, as the object is placed between the verb and the preposition.)
• Example of inseparable Phrasal Verb: He gave up smoking = He gave up smoking. (In this case, "gave up" is inseparable, as it is not possible to place the object between the verb and the preposition.)
• Example of Change of meaning: I turned on the TV = I turned on the TV. (The verb 'turn' alone means 'turn', but when combined with 'on', it acquires the meaning of 'turn on'.)
• Use of Multi-letters: They ran out of ideas = They ran out of ideas. (The phrasal verb 'ran out of' is formed by three words: 'ran' (verb), 'out' (adverb) and 'of' (preposition)).

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points:

• Definition and structure: Phrasal Verbs (PV) are the combination of verbs with prepositions or adverbs, giving them completely different meanings. They can be separable (object between verb and preposition/adverb) or inseparable (object after the composition).
• Importance of PVs: Phrasal Verbs are commonly used in the English language and their mastery is an indicator of proficiency. They are widely used in authentic texts and in everyday conversations, therefore, understanding them contributes to a more authentic understanding of the language and Anglophone culture.
• Applications: Understanding and proper use of PVs are essential for reading and writing competence, as they are present in different textual genres.

Conclusions:

• Inherent versatility of PVs: The combination of verbs with prepositions or adverbs considerably broadens the spectrum of meanings and contexts that can be expressed in English.
• Continuous learning: Given the vast amount of P.Vs in the English language, learning is a continuous process. Constant exposure to different texts and conversational situations is vital to deepen knowledge and familiarity with PVs.
• Correct use versus literal translation: Proper use of PVs is not always directly translatable from Portuguese. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the context and how native speakers use PVs in different situations.

Exercises:

1. Identification of PVs: Given a text, students should identify and annotate all the PVs present, classifying them as separable or inseparable.
2. Sentence Composition: Students should create 5 sentences, each containing a different PV. After completion, they should exchange sentences with a classmate and recognize whether each PV is separable or inseparable.
3. Multiple Letters: The given words should be used to form sentences with multi-letter PVs. The words are: came, in, up, with, out, of (example sentence: They came up with a great idea - They came up with a great idea.)