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[C-C+] Multi-Word Verbs

LET'S READ! 📖

Direction: Read the passage below then answer the questions being asked.

Multi-Word Verbs


When I set off for work this morning, my car broke down, so I ended up taking the bus. As soon as I got off, I bumped into an old schoolmate, Mark. While we were talking, he brought up something I had already found out from some mutual friends- that he had come into some money and had set up his own business. He told me that there was a lot to sort out, and offered to take me on, but I turned him down straight away.


When I clocked in, my boss had a go at me, telling me off in front of everyone. When I got over the initial shock, I told her I’d make up for being late, but it turned out that she had blown up over a deal that had fallen through after a client of mine had pulled out of a contract. She told me that I wouldn't get away with it, that I’d let everybody down, and just went on and on….


Eventually, I ran out of patience and answered back– I said I was not going to put up with it anymore, and if she wanted to lay me off, she should go ahead. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I stormed out and phoned Mark’s secretary, who put me through to him. I told Mark I’d like take him up on his offer. So, in the end, everything worked out perfectly!

QUESTIONS:

1. Who did she meet on her way to work? What does he do?

2. What was the reason for her boss' rave?

LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚

What are multi-word verbs?

🔺 These are verbs which consist of a verb and one or two particles or prepositions.

1. Prepositional verbs

🔺 These have two or three words: verb + preposition (+preposition).


🔺 The meanings of some prepositional verbs are clear but you need to know which preposition to use.

    Example:

  • The price depends on the intricacy of the work.

  • Be positive about your future and get on with living a normal life.

two-word verbs
(dis)agree with believe in belong to come from complain about
consist of depend on get in (to) get off get on
get out (of) happen to hear of know about laugh at
learn about listen to look at pay for run into
two-word verbs with very different meaning of the verb alone
ask for come across deal with go for
go with look after look for look like
three-word verbs with very different meaning of the verb alone
come up with get on with
look forward to put up with

🔺 Some prepositional verbs take two objects

prepositional verbs that take two objects
accuse (sb) of (sth) ask (sb) for (sth) blame (sth) on (sb) blame (sb) for (sth)
discuss (sth) with (sb) divide (sth) into (sth) pay (sb) for (sth) remind (sb) of (sb)
Grammar Note 💡
  1. 📌 There is often a one-word verb equivalent for prepositional verbs. The one-word verb is usually more formal than the prepositional verb.

    Examples:

    look for = search

    go for = choose

    talk about = discuss

2. Phrasal Verbs

🔺 These have two words: verb + particle (usually an adverb)


🔺 Some phrasal verbs have an object and some don't.

two-word verbs with very different meaning of the verb alone
break down come in / go in come on
come out / go out come over get away
get in get out get up
go off go on hurry up
lie down run away run out
sit down stand up turn around
Phrasal verbs used WITH an object
look up make up pick up
put down put on set up
take away take up tell off
throw away turn off / on take back
Phrasal verbs that can be used in both ways
get back find out give up take off
tidy up turn down/up wake up wash up

LET'S PRACTICE! 📝

Direction: Choose an emotion or feeling from the box. Describe each emotion using multi-word verbs that are commonly associated with expressing those emotions. You can talk about your personal experiences.

happiness sadness anger
surprise excitement love
disgust fear guilt

YOUR TURN Photo