Episode #1 of the course “Common English phrasal verbs: Part 1” by Angela Boothroyd
Phrasal verbs are sometimes called multi-word verbs, and they’re used just like other verbs.
They are a combination of a verb (such as ‘make’ or ‘pick’) with one or two particles (an adverb or a preposition), that results in a new word or unit of meaning.
For example:
1) ‘look up’ – to turn your eyes upwards – is not a phrasal verb
e.g. I looked up and saw a plane
2) ‘look up’ (something) – to look at a book or computer in order to find information – is a phrasal verb
e.g. I looked it up in my dictionary
I looked it up on Wikipedia
Phrasal verbs can seem hard to learn because it can be difficult or impossible to guess what they mean from the meaning of their individual verbs and particles, and because many phrasal verbs have multiple meanings.
The best way to learn them is to think of each phrasal verb as a single word, and then learn a small number each week just as you would learn any other English vocabulary.
The definitions and examples of use on this course will help you do exactly that for 50 common and useful English phrasal verbs!
believe in
1. When you believe in something or somebody you are sure that something or somebody exists.
Examples of use:
a) Do you believe in God?
b) I didn’t believe in ghosts until I stayed in an old castle in Romania: now I’m certain they exist.
c) My children still believe in
2. To believe in something is to have a strong belief that something is good or right.
Examples of use:
a) My grandparents believed in working hard and helping others.
b) They don’t believe in the death penalty.
c) We believe in discipline for our children, but we don’t believe in hitting them.
d) We don’t believe in living together before marriage.
3. When you believe in somebody, you have confidence that they are a good trustworthy person, or that they can do something well.
Examples of use:
a) We still believe in
b) I want to believe in you, but you lied to me about everything.
c) Don’t worry about your exams. We believe in you and we know you will do well.
d) You can get through these problems. I believe in
cheer up
1. To cheer up is to start to feel happier.
Examples of use:
a) I wish he would cheer up.
b) She was very unhappy last week, but she has cheered up
c) He cheers up when he sees his girlfriend.
2. To cheer up somebody (or cheer somebody up) is to make them feel happier.
Examples of use:
a) Harriet has had a very bad week. Let’s buy her some flowers to cheer her up.
b) You look sad. What can I do to cheer you up?
Recommended book
“The Ultimate Phrasal Verb Book” by Carl W. Hart
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