Search results for 'tag:Conversations tag:Phrasal verbs' matching tags 'Conversations' and 'Phrasal verbs'

Re: a question for all native speakers of English

CalifJim — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:17:35 GMT

Anonymous
Have you ever come across words or vocabulary or slang or phrasal verbs in your everyday conversation or in the newspapers or movies or songs that you don't know or understand their meanings that you have to guess? Are there a lot of them you don't know?

Yes, it occasionally happens to me, but not often. Usually it's an unusual new word invented by teenagers. Since I seldom converse with teenagers, it hardly ever happens.

As for newspapers, I sometimes come acoss technical terms that are unfamiliar to me.

a question for all native speakers of English

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:45:16 GMT

Have you ever come across words or vocabulary or slang or phrasal verbs in your everyday conversation or in the newspapers or movies or songs that you don't know or understand their meanings that you have to guess? Are there a lot of them you don't know?

Re: which vs of which

CalifJim — Wed, 21 May 2008 01:47:44 GMT

which, of which, among which, to which, about which, for which, ...

Combine The car is big with the following:

The car is blue. > The car which is blue is big. [no preposition before the car]

The car is parked there. > The car which is parked there is big. [no preposition before the car]

I bought the car. > The car which I bought is big. [no preposition before the car]

Helen likes the car. > The car which Helen likes is big. [no preposition before the car]

The workmen repaired the car in two hours. > The car which the workmen repaired in two hours is big. [no preposition before the car]

The strongman picked up the car. > The car which the strongman picked up is big. [no preposition before the car -- pick up is a phrasal verb]

The Smiths auctioned off the car. > The car which the Smiths auctioned off is big. [no preposition before the car -- auction off is a phrasal verb]

Jerry is talking about the car. > The car about which Jerry is talking is big.

I paid $10,000 for the car. > The for which I paid $10,000 is big.

The new puppy is afaid of the car. > The car of which the new puppy is afraid is big.

Robert traveled to Chicago in the car. > The car in which Robert traveled to Chicago is big.

A breeze is blowing through the car. > The car through which a breeze is blowing is big.

I hit a tree with the car. > The car with which I hit a tree is big.

A truck is headed toward the car. > The car toward which a truck is headed is big.

The children danced around the car. > The car around which the children danced is big.

Karen knows the owner of the car. > The car of which Karen knows the owner is big.

Albert lost the key to the car. > The car to which Albert lost the key is big.

Marty had trouble with the car. > The car with which Marty had trouble is big.

Lucy set a book on the car. > The car on which Lucy set a book is big.

There's not enough gas in the car. > The car in which there's not enough gas is big.

A stranger walked up to the car. > The car up to which a stranger walked is big. [up to - a compound preposition]

The stranger ran away from the car. > The car from which the stranger ran away is big. [run away - a phrasal verb]

______

Note that these sentences are for pattern practice only. They are not particularly useful in conversations or in written essays!

Re: I confuse myself when i try to use phrasal verbs in conversation!!

David Little — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 11:25:15 GMT

Thank you very much

Marius Hancu and CalifJim.

Re: I confuse myself when i try to use phrasal verbs in conversation!!

English_Learner — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:35:10 GMT

Grammar Geek wrote:
...and if I knew the person well, I would quietly provide the correct phrase.

I will be very thankfull for ANY & EVERY correction/explanation.

Re: I confuse myself when i try to use phrasal verbs in conversation!!

CalifJim — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:01:29 GMT

How can I get rid of this problem friends?

Some students find it easier to study them in groups by the adverbial particle, not by the main verb. Thus, instead of practicing turn up, turn down, turn around, turn over, turn in, etc. all at once, practice show up, turn up, wind up, pop up, jump up, wake up, get up, etc. in a group, then turn out, pop out, stand out, find out, etc.

It seems that the adverbial particle is so small and insignificant sounding that it's harder to tell one meaning from another when the main verb doesn't change, but it's easier to remember different verbs, all of which have the same adverbial particle.

Whether this is true of not -- who knows? -- but it might be worth a try.

Another method is to study opposites at the same time: take in, bring out; put up, take down; go away, come back; etc.

In any case, you need to make as many sentences as possible, using these verbs. Check with us on the forum to be sure your sentences are OK. Once you're sure they're OK, memorize them. Use them as often as you can.

CJ

Re: I confuse myself when i try to use phrasal verbs in conversation!!

Marius Hancu — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:35:53 GMT

Buy it and study a page a day:

Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs

by National Book Company, Richard A. Spears

Re: I confuse myself when i try to use phrasal verbs in conversation!!

David Little — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 03:24:18 GMT

Thank you Grammar Geek.I appreciate your helping tendency.

Re: I confuse myself when i try to use phrasal verbs in conversation!!

Grammar Geek — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:59:16 GMT

Vorpar wrote:

I can't speak for everyone, but I wouldn't make fun of someone that makes language mistakes. (unless they're a native speaker )

Me neither. Actually, I would respect an English learner who was trying to use such idiomatic language, and if I knew the person well, I would quietly provide the correct phrase.

Re: I confuse myself when i try to use phrasal verbs in conversation!!

David Little — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:42:28 GMT

Thank you Mister Micawber and Vorpar for your reply.