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Showing posts with label Verbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Verbs. Show all posts

Phrasal verbs beginning with put

Posted by About Tuesday, 17 December 2013 0 comments


The word put is used in a large number of phrasal verbs.

Put across

To put something across is to make it understood.
He failed to put his message across. (= He failed to convey his idea.)
People working in sales and marketing should be able to put themselves across well.

Put aside

To put something aside is to set it aside.
He was feeling sleepy, so he put his books aside and went to bed.

Put away

a) To put something away is to keep them in their proper place.
You must put away those toys when you have finished playing with them.
b) To put something away is to save them for later use.
She makes it a point to put away a few dollars each week.
c. To put something away is to discard it.
It is high time you put away those false notions.
d. Put away can also mean eat or drink a large quantity of food or beverages.
If he is really hungry he needs just two minutes to put away a full meal.
e) To put somebody away is to send them to jail.
They put him away for killing his neighbor.
f) To put an animal away is to subject them to mercy killing.
The dog was so badly wounded that the doctor had to put him away.

Put down

a) To put something down is to write it down.
b) To put somebody down is to suppress them.
The government called the military to put down the rebellion.
c) To put something down to something else is to attribute the former to the latter.
He put the mistakes down to carelessness.
 c) To put somebody down is to regard or categorize them as..
He was put down as a chronic nuisance.
d) To put somebody down is to belittle them.
I hate men who put their wives down in front of visitors.

Copular or linking verbs

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We have already learned that intransitive verbs do not take objects.
Examples are: sleep, sit, rest, weep, laugh, cry etc.
She is weeping.
The child sleeps.
The boy was laughing.
There is yet another variety of verbs which do not normally take objects. These are called copular verbs or linking verbs. While intransitive verbs make complete sense on their own, copular verbs require a word or phrase to make their meaning complete.
Consider the example given below.
She is….
As you can see this sentence does not make complete sense. To make it complete we need to supply a word or a phrase. The word or phrase thus added at the end of a sentence to make its meaning complete is called a complement. And the verb which joins a subject with its complement is called a copular or linking verb.
When this word/phrase refers to the subject, it is called a subject complement. When it refers to the object, it is called an object complement. The linking verb is also called a verb of incomplete predication.
The most common copular verbs are: act, be, become, feel, appear, grow, taste, sound etc.
Copular verbs do not normally take an object. But sometimes these verbs may be used transitively.
Examples are given below.
She acted well. (Copular use)
She acted her part well. (Transitive use)
I am feeling unwell. (Copular use)
The doctor felt the patient’s pulse. (Transitive use)
The proposal sounds interesting. (Copular verb)
The general sounded the bugle. (Transitive verb)
The boy has grown taller. (Copular verb)
The farmers grow vegetables.. (Transitive verb)

Verbs: Some common mistakes

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The verb write can take two objects. Sometimes this causes problems.
  • Incorrect: He wrote me.
  • Correct: He wrote to me.

Notes

We write something. (He wrote a letter.)
We write something to someone. (He wrote a letter to his mother.) (NOT He wrote a letter his mother.)
We write someone something. (He wrote his mother a letter.) (NOT He wrote to his mother a letter.)
We write to someone. (He wrote to me.) (NOT He wrote me.)
Explain
The verb explain can be followed by two objects – a direct object and an indirect object.
Note that we explain something to someone. (NOT We explain someone something.)
  • Incorrect: I shall explain them this.
  • Correct: I shall explain this to them.

The verb suggest

We suggest something to somebody. We cannot suggest somebody something.
  • Incorrect: He suggested me this.
  • Correct: He suggested this to me.

Oblige

The verb oblige takes the preposition to. When you are obliged to do something, you are forced to do it because it is a law, a rule or a duty.
  • I felt obliged to help him.
  • I am obliged to you for this good turn. (NOT I am obliged of you for this good turn.)

The verb invite

The verb invite can be followed by to or for.
We invite someone to/for something:
  • I have invited my uncle and aunt to dinner.
  • He invited me for a drink but I politely refused.

The verb tell

The verb tell does not take a preposition.
  • Incorrect: He told to me to go.
  • Correct: He told me to go.

The verb ask

When ask is followed by two objects, the indirect object (the person) normally comes first, without a preposition.
  • Incorrect: She did not ask any question to him.
  • Correct: She did not ask him any question.
  • Incorrect: I will ask the time to that man.
  • Correct: I will ask that man the time.

Verb terminology

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While learning about verbs, you will come across grammatical terms like infinitives and gerunds. Below are explanations of these frequently used grammar terms.

Infinitives

The infinitive is the base form of the verb. It is sometimes preceded by the marker to and then it is called the to-infinitive. Remember that that ‘to’ is a not a part of the infinitive and the infinitive can also be used without to.
Read the examples given below.
  • She wants to go. (Here the phrase ‘to go’ is an example of a to-infinitive.)
  • She made me cry. (Here the infinitive ‘cry’ is used without the marker to.)
The infinitive is a non-finite verb. In other words, it does not change its form when the number or person of the subject changes.
  • She wants to leave.
  • I want to leave.
  • They want to leave.
  • John wants to leave.
As you can see the infinitive ‘to leave’ remains the same regardless of the change in the number and the person of the subject. Non-finite verbs cannot act as principal verbs.

The gerunds

A gerund is a verb form ending in –ing. Gerunds are non-finite verbs. A gerund can be the subject or object of a verb. It can also act as the object of a preposition.
  • Smoking can cause cancer. (Here the gerund smoking acts as the subject of the verb.)
  • We don’t allow smoking in the kitchen. (Here the gerund smoking acts as the object of the verb allow.)
A gerund can also act as the object of a preposition.
  • I am thinking of taking a break. (Here the gerund taking is the object of the preposition of.)
Remember that only –ing forms can be used after a preposition. Infinitives are not possible.
  • She is confident of winning. (NOT She is confident of to win.) (NOT She is confident to win.)

Copular verbs and action verbs

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In English, there are mainly two types of verbs: copular verbs and action verbs.
Copular verbs are also called linking verbs because they link the subject with a following adjective or noun. The most common copular verb is be. It has several forms. Examples are: is, am, are, was, were, being, been etc. As you can see, being and been are the present and past participle forms of be.
Copular verbs refer to states, rather than actions. Therefore, they are also called stative verbs.
Although copular verbs are different from action verbs, they are still considered finite verbs. And therefore, each clause can have just one copular verb. Note that infinitives, participles and gerunds are not finite verbs.
Action verbs, on the other hand, actually describe accomplishments, achievements or activity.
Copular verbs do not state what the subject does. Instead, they show what or who the subject is.
  • She is an architect.
  • That seems impossible.
  • She turned pale.
  • The night grew dark.
  • The milk turned sour.
As you can see, in all of the sentences given above, the copular verb shows a certain state of the subject.
We use adjectives to modify copular verbs. Action verbs, on the other hand, are modified by adverbs.
Compare:
  • She drove carefully through the streets. (Here the adverb carefully modifies the action verb drove.)
  • She was careful as she drove through the streets. (Here the adjective careful modifies the copular verb was.)

The future perfect tense

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The future perfect tense is used to describe an action that will have been completed at a certain point of time in the future. Consider this situation. You are working on a project and you will finish it in two months. Then at the end of two months, you will have completed that project. Note the form of the verb in used in this tense: will / shall + have + past participle form of the verb.
The future perfect tense is commonly used with a future time expression like by next week, by the end of this year etc.
  • The train will have left by the time you reach the station. (Here the phrase by the time you reach identifies a certain point of time in the future.)
  • I will have moved into my new office by the end of this month.
  • I will have eaten every chocolate in that box before my mom returns from work.
  • Susan will have finished her studies before she gets married.
Negative forms are made by putting not after will / shall.
  • I will not have learned my lessons before dad arrives.
  • We will not have repaired the roof before monsoon sets in.
The question forms are made by putting will / shall before the subject.
  • Will you have gone to bed before I arrive?
  • Will they have returned the money before the end of this week?
An overview of the future tenses
The future perfect tense is one of the four future tenses. Here is an overview of the other three future tense forms.
Simple future
Form: will / shall + infinitive.
  • She will come.
  • I shall help you.
Future continuous
Form: will / shall + be + -ing form of the verb.
  • She will be working on that report now.
  • They will be having dinner.
Future perfect continuous tense
Form: will / shall + have + been + -ing form of the verb
  • She will have been writing an essay.
Note that this tense form is very rarely used.

Not so common reporting verbs

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In informal spoken reports, say, think and ask are the most common reporting verbs. These verbs can go before sentences or between clauses.
  • She asked me what I was doing there.
  • He said that he wouldn’t go.
  • I thought that it was funny.
A much wider variety of reporting verbs are also available in English. If you repeat the reporting verbs say and think, your writing and speech will become boring after a while.
The reporting verbs given in this lesson are not very common, but they are quite useful.
To say something suddenly
Use a reporting verb like blurt, exclaim or snap to suggest that somebody said something suddenly.
Blurt
To blurt something out is to say something suddenly without thinking about the consequences.
  • She blurted out his name.
To snap is to speak to someone in a sudden, angry way.
  • ‘Who do you think you are?’ he snapped angrily.
Exclaim
To exclaim is to say something suddenly and loudly, especially because you are surprised, impressed, upset, angry etc
  • ‘Hurrah!’ Jack exclaimed. ‘We’ve won!’
Giving advice, opinion etc.
Some common reporting verbs used to give advice or express your opinion are: advise, argue, caution, note, observe, warn etc.
  • The mother cautioned the child to be careful while crossing the road.
  • The teacher warned the students to be extra careful while handling harmful chemicals.
Say loudly
The following reporting verbs can be used to suggest that somebody said something loudly: exclaim, bellow, call, cry, scream, shout, yell
Bellow
To bellow is to shout something loudly.
  • ‘I won’t go!’ he bellowed.
Scream
To scream is to make a loud cry because you are frightened or hurt.
  • When he saw a dark figure moving towards him, the boy screamed in horror.
Yell
To yell is to say something in a loud voice.
  • Why are you yelling at me?
Shout
To shout is to say something loudly.
  • He shouted that he was busy.

Phrasal verbs with bring

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Bring is used in a number of common phrasal verbs. Here is a list of them.
Bring something about – cause it to happen
Bring someone round – make him conscious again
Bring up – a) raise a child; b) cause something to be considered; c) vomit
Bring down – cause to be lower
Bring off – cause to be successful; succeed in an attempt
Bring on – lead to; help to produce
Bring out – cause to appear clearly
Bring somebody round to (one’s opinion) – cause or persuade him to accept it or agree with it
Bring out – publish
Bring in – introduce
Phrasal verbs with bring exercise
Complete the following sentences.
1. His dishonesty brought ……………………………….. his ruin.
a) in                       b) about               c) out
2. The government plans to bring ……………………………………….. a new legislation to eliminate corruption.
a) in                       b) round              c) about
3. Vitamin deficiency brings ……………………………………….. many ailments.
a) in                       b) on                     c) down
4. The publisher is bringing ………………………………………. a new edition of this book.
a) out                    b) on                     c) down
5. He was hit hard on the head but the doctors managed to bring him ……………………………………… after a while.
a) about               b) round              c) on
6. At last I brought him …………………………………………. to my opinion.
a) about               b) round              c) up
7. The matter was brought ………………………………………….. by a member of the council.
a) up                      b) about               c) out
Answers
1. His dishonesty brought about his ruin. (bring about – cause to happen)
2. The government plans to bring in a new legislation to eliminate corruption. (bring in – introduce)
3. Vitamin deficiency brings on many ailments. (bring on – cause)
4. The publisher is bringing out a new edition of this book. (bring out – publish)
5. He was hit hard on the head but the doctors managed to bring him round after a while. (bring round – cause somebody to regain consciousness)
6. At last I brought him round to my opinion. (bring somebody round to – persuade)
7. The matter was brought up by a member of the council. (brought up – raise for discussion)

Uses of the verb do

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Read the following sentences in the simple present tense.
  • I walk. I don’t drive. Do I walk? Yes, I do. Do I drive? No, I don’t drive.
  • He speaks English. He does not speak French. Does he speak English? Yes, he does. Does he speak French? No, he doesn’t.
  • I like coffee. I do not like tea. Do I like coffee? Yes, I do. Do I like tea? No, I don’t.
  • Birds fly. Animals don’t fly. Do birds fly? Yes, they do. Do animals fly? No, they don’t.
  • Cats chase mice. Cats don’t chase dogs. Do cats chase mice? Yes, they do. Do cats chase dogs? No, they don’t.
The auxiliary verb do is used to make questions and negative sentences in the simple present tense. Does is the singular form of do.
Note that don’t and doesn’t are the contracted forms of do not and does not.
In the sentences given above, do is used as an auxiliary verb. Do can also be used as the main verb in affirmative clauses. When do is used as a main verb, it can refer to any kind of activity.
  • Do your homework.
  • He does his work diligently.
  • He did his job well.
  • I do my homework in the evening.
  • Who did this?
  • I have cooked the meals, and I will do the dishes now.
Do as a substitute verb
In British English, do can also be used as a substitute for the main verb after an auxiliary.
  • ‘Do you think she will recognize me?’ ‘She might do.’ (= She might recognize you.)
In American English, do is not normally used like this.
  • ‘Do you think our team will win?’ ‘They might do.’ (GB) ‘They might.’ (US)

Phrasal verbs with take

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Take is used in a number of common phrasal verbs. Here is a simple exercise about phrases using the word take.
Complete the following sentences.
1. The new manager is expected to take ………………………………….. on March 15th.
a) on                      b) over                 c) down
2. He took ……………………………………. fishing on retirement.
a) to                       b) for                     c) over
3. We moved that table to another room because it was taking …………………………………… a lot of space.
a) up                      b) over                 c) to
4. The inn-keeper refused to take us ……………………………………..
a) in                       b) on                     c) over
5. She was taken ………………………………………. a French woman.
a) for                     b) to                      c) up
6. Julie takes ……………………………………… her elder sister.
a) after                 b) on                     b) up
7. The opposition asked the minister to take his statement ………………………………………….
a) back                  b) on                     c) up
8. The aircraft took …………………………………………….. on time.
a) off                     b) on                     c) down
Answers
1. The new manager is expected to take over on March 15th. (take over – assume charge)
2. He took to fishing on retirement. (take to – develop as a hobby)
3. We moved that table to another room because it was taking up a lot of space. (take up – occupy space)
4. The inn-keeper refused to take us in. (take in – receive people as guests)
5. She was taken for a French woman. (take for – suppose to be)
6. Julie takes after her elder sister. (take after – resemble)
7. The opposition asked the minister to take his statement back. (take back – withdraw a statement)
8. The aircraft took off on time.

Idioms and phrases with play

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A number of common idiomatic expressions use the word play. Here is a list of them.
Play along
To play along is to pretend that something is funny or good just to make someone else happy.
I knew that she was playing a prank on me but I decided to play along.
Play around
  • To play around is to act in a silly manner.
Play at = to do something just for fun
  • He played at painting for a while, but he never really got serious about it.
Play back
To play back is to listen to something that has been recorded.
  • I will play it back once the recording is over.
Play down
To play something down is to try to make it seem less important.
  • He played down the fact that there was a police complaint against him.
Play off
A play off is usually a game played to decide the winner of a tie.
Play off can also mean ‘make people compete against each other for your own benefits.’
  • He is a shrewd businessman who has always managed to make his rivals play off each other.
Play on
To play on is to exploit the feelings or fears of another person to one’s own advantage.
  • He always plays on her insecurities.
Play out = see through till the end
  • We are determined to play it out until the very end, no matter what the outcome will be.

Phrasal verbs with pass

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A phrasal verb is a two-word idiomatic expression. It is made by putting a verb and a preposition or an adverb particle together.
Pass is used in a number of common phrasal verbs. Here is a list of them.
Pass around
To pass something around is to give it to everyone present.
She passed the notice around.
Pass away
To pass away is to die.
She passed away peacefully last night.
Pass by
Pass by has several meanings
a) to miss an opportunity
I don’t want this opportunity to pass me by.
b) to visit briefly
We passed by the supermarket on the way home.
c) to go past without stopping
Somebody just passed by the window.
Pass on
Pass on has several meanings.
a) to die
She passed on when she was just thirty-three.
b) give a message to someone
Will you pass on that the match has been cancelled?
c) to decline an opportunity or an offer
It was such a good opportunity that I didn’t want to pass it on.
Pass out
To pass out is to lose consciousness.
She passed out from fatigue.
Pass through
To pass through is to visit a place briefly.
I passed through Thane on my way to Mumbai.
Pass to
To pass something to someone else is to give them the ownership of it.
This restaurant will pass to his son when he dies.
Pass up
To pass up is to decline an opportunity.

Word order: position of verbs

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Verbs usually go immediately after subjects. There are mainly two kinds of verbs: auxiliary verbs and main verbs.
A verb can consist of just one word. Affirmative sentences in the simple present and simple past tenses have one-word verbs.
  • John broke another window yesterday.
  • Alice invited me to her party.
  • He rejected the offer.
Sentences in other tenses have verbs consisting of more than one word. Note that in a three-word verb, the first two are auxiliary verbs whereas the third one is the main verb.
  • They have been invited. (Auxiliary verbs: have, been; main verb: invited)
  • Susie is writing. (Auxiliary verb: is; main verb: writing)
Auxiliary verbs always go before main verbs.
In questions the auxiliary verb comes before the subject whereas the main verb goes after the subject.
  • Has Susie arrived? (NOT Has arrived Susie?)
  • What did he say? (NOT What said he?)
In WH-questions, question words go before the auxiliary verbs.
We can form affirmative sentences without auxiliary verbs, but we cannot form questions or negatives without them.
The only type of word that can go between the subject and the verb are adverbs of frequency. Examples are: usually, often, never, seldom, always and occasionally.
  • She often visits her friends in Singapore.
  • I usually get up at 7 am.
  • We sometimes watch action films.
When the verb consists of three words, the frequency adverb goes after the first.
  • I have never been invited to their parties. (NOT I have been never invited to their parties.) (NOT I have been invited never to their parties.)
Other adverbs usually go at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

Verbs: some common mistakes

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Here is a list of errors students often make in the use of verbs.
  • Incorrect: My father told me that honesty was the best policy.
  • Correct: My father told me that honesty is the best policy.
We usually use a past tense in the subordinate clause when the verb in the main clause is in the past tense. However, a past tense is unnecessary when the subordinate clause gives information that is always true.
  • Incorrect: The cashier-cum-accountant are on leave today.
  • Correct: The cashier-cum-accountant is on leave today.
Expressions like the cashier-cum-accountant refer to one person and hence a singular verb is needed.
  • Incorrect: The cashier and the accountant is on leave today.
  • Correct: The cashier and the accountant are on leave today.
  • Incorrect: I am so weak that I may not walk.
  • Correct: I am so weak that I cannot walk.
To talk about ability we use can, not may.
  • Incorrect: Tell me why are you beating the child.
  • Correct: Tell me why you are beating the child.
  • Incorrect: I don’t know why is she late.
  • Correct: I don’t know why she is late.
The two sentences given above are examples of indirect questions. In indirect questions, there is no inversion of subject and verb.
  • Incorrect: The ship was drowned.
  • Correct: The ship sank.
People drown. Ships and boats sink.
  • Incorrect: Seldom I visit my parents.
  • Correct: Seldom do I visit my parents.
  • Incorrect: This food is hard to be digested.
  • Correct: This food is hard to digest.
  • Incorrect: I never have, and I never will do it.
  • Correct: I have never done and I will never do it.

Using want

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Infinitive with to
After want, we normally use an infinitive with to.
  • I want to go. (NOT I want go.) (NOT I want going.)
  • I want to come back here again.
  • She wants to be a pilot.
Want cannot be followed by that-clauses, but we can use an object + infinitive structure.
  • I want him to go now.
  • Do you want me to make you some tea? (NOT Do you want that I make you some coffee?)
  • I don’t want him to come here again.
  • I want you to be my queen.
Want can be followed by an object + complement.
  • We want him dead or alive.
  • I want him back.
  • I want the job finished by Tuesday.
When the object complement is a noun, we use to be or as before it.
  • I want you to be my girlfriend.
  • OR I want you as my girlfriend.
In British English, want can mean ‘need’. In this case, it can be followed by an –ing form.
  • Your hair wants cutting. (= Your hair needs to be cut.)
  • That carpet wants a clean. (= That carpet needs to be cleaned.)
Note that we do not use want in polite offers or requests.
  • Would you like some help? (NOT Would you want some help?)

Different kinds of phrasal verbs

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There are mainly four kinds of phrasal verbs. Here is a guide to the basics of phrasal verbs.

Separable and non-separable phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are made by putting adverb particles or prepositions after verbs. Phrasal verbs made with prepositions are usually non-separable. That means the verb and the preposition always go together.
We set off for the beach. (NOT We set for the beach off.)
He fell off the ladder. (NOT He fell the ladder off.)
Phrasal verbs made with adverb particles are usually separable. That means the particle can go before or after the object.
I picked up the baby. OR I picked the baby up.
She switched off the light. OR She switched the light off.
The two parts of a separable phrasal verb are always separated when the object is a pronoun.
I picked her up. (NOT I picked up her.)

Phrasal Verbs which Don’t Take Objects

Phrasal verbs which take objects are always separable. Some phrasal verbs do not take objects. These are always inseparable.
They have gotten away.
The car broke down on the way to work.
I get up early in the morning.
How do you know whether a phrasal verb is separable or not? Well, there is no easy way of finding it out. But you can do one thing. Use a noun or noun phrase as object and do not separate the phrasal verb. In this way, you will always be correct.

Be and have

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To talk about experiencing physical sensations like hunger, thirst, heat and cold, we use the structure be + adjective. Feel + adjective is also possible. Note that we do not usually use have + noun to express these ideas.
  • I am hungry. (NOT I have hunger.)
  • Are you thirsty? (NOT Do you have thirst?)
  • Are you warm enough?
  • I am sleepy.
  • I am afraid.
  • I feel hungry.
  • I feel fine.
  • I feel cold.
Note also the expressions:
Be right, be wrong and be lucky.
  • You are right.
  • He is lucky.
  • Am I wrong?

Height, weight, age, size and color

Be, and not have, is used to talk about height, weight, age, size and color.
  • She is nearly forty. (NOT She has nearly forty.)
  • Her eyes are blue. (NOT Her eyes have blue.)
  • My brother is six feet tall. (NOT My brother has six feet height.)
  • She is the same height as her husband.
  • What size are your shoes?
  • I wish I was a few inches taller.
  • I wish I was a few kilos lighter.
Note that in measuring expressions we do not use be heavy.
  • She weighs forty-eight kilos. (NOT She is forty-eight kilos heavy.)
Note on the verb weigh
Weigh is one of those verbs which are not normally used in the progressive form.
  • I weighed fifty-six kilos two months ago. (NOT I was weighing fifty-six kilos two months ago.)
However, weigh can be used in the progressive form when it does not mean ‘have weight’.
  • The scales broke when she was weighing herself the other day.

Verb + object + complement

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Some transitive verbs can be followed by an object together with an object complement which is usually an expression that gives more information about the object.
  • They elected him their leader. (Object – him; object complement – their leader)
  • You make me happy. (Object – me; object complement – happy)
  • I found her attitude disgusting. (Object – her attitude; object complement – disgusting)
After some verbs we use the structure ‘object + as + complement’. Verbs that are usually followed by this structure are: see, describe, regard, identify, consider etc.
  • I see him as a nice person.
  • We considered the project as wasteful.
  • She described her lover as a tall, dark and handsome guy.
  • We regard him as a genius.
Sometimes we use as being instead of as.
  • The police regard him as being dangerous.
After some verbs we use an object + infinitive. In an informal style, we can use a that-clause.
  • We considered him to be a genius. (Formal)
  • We considered that he is a genius. (Informal)
  • We believed him to be reliable. (Formal)
  • We believed that he is reliable. (Informal)
Note that the verb think cannot be followed by an object + to-infinitive. Instead, we use a that-clause.
  • I thought that she was reliable. (NOT I thought her to be reliable.)

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