PHRASAL VERBS – O QUE SÃO E COMO USAR?

Summary

In this video, Gavin breaks down the concept of phrasal verbs, highlighting their importance and the challenges faced by Brazilian learners of English. He explains that phrasal verbs, like 'give up' or 'look after,' have meanings that go beyond literal translations. By offering examples and emphasizing context, Gavin encourages learners to treat phrasal verbs as fixed expressions. He stresses that understanding and internalizing these verbs requires recognizing their unique meanings in context, helping learners better comprehend and use them in real-life situations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs with prepositions or adverbs that create new meanings in English.
• 😀 'Give up' is an example of a phrasal verb meaning 'to quit' or 'to surrender,' not 'to give upwards.'
• 😀 Understanding phrasal verbs as a whole unit is essential; don’t translate them word by word.
• 😀 Context plays a crucial role in identifying the correct meaning of a phrasal verb in a sentence.
• 😀 Learning phrasal verbs takes practice, but they are an important part of becoming fluent in English.
• 😀 Examples of common phrasal verbs include 'look after' (to care for), 'take off' (to remove or depart), and 'call off' (to cancel).
• 😀 'Look forward to' means 'to eagerly anticipate' something, and should not be translated literally.
• 😀 Phrasal verbs with three parts, like 'come up with' (to create or suggest), are also common in English.
• 😀 Many phrasal verbs can have multiple meanings depending on the context, such as 'turn up' (arrive) or 'turn down' (decline).
• 😀 Don’t give up! Even if phrasal verbs seem difficult at first, practice and repetition will help you internalize them.
• 😀 To improve your understanding of phrasal verbs, focus on using them in real-life situations and conversations.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video?

The main topic discussed is the complexity of phrasal verbs in English, including how their meanings change when combined with other words such as prepositions or adverbs.

What is a phrasal verb, according to the speaker?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and another word, usually a preposition or adverb, that changes the meaning of the original verb.

What does 'Give up' mean in English, and why is it a challenging phrasal verb for Brazilian learners?

'Give up' means 'to quit' or 'to stop trying'. It is challenging for Brazilian learners because the direct translation 'dar up' doesn't capture the true meaning of the phrasal verb in English.

How should one approach learning phrasal verbs, according to Gavin?

Gavin suggests treating phrasal verbs as single units or blocks, rather than translating them word-for-word. Context is crucial for understanding their meaning.

Can you explain the phrasal verb 'look after' and how it differs from 'look'?

'Look after' means 'to take care of' something or someone, while 'look' on its own means 'to see' or 'to glance'. The addition of 'after' changes the meaning completely.

How can context help in understanding phrasal verbs?

Context helps by indicating the intended meaning of a phrasal verb. For example, 'look after' means 'to care for', but if used in another context, 'look' might just mean 'to see'.

What is the meaning of 'turn up' and how is it used?

'Turn up' can mean 'to arrive' or 'to appear'. For example, 'She turned up at the party' means she arrived at the party.

What does the phrasal verb 'take off' mean?

'Take off' means 'to remove' or 'to leave the ground' (as in a plane taking off). For example, 'I love the part when the plane takes off' refers to the plane leaving the ground.

What is the meaning of 'get along', and how is it used in a sentence?

'Get along' means to have a good relationship with someone. For example, 'Do you get along with your mother-in-law?' means 'Do you have a good relationship with your mother-in-law?'

What is the difference between 'look for' and 'look after'?

'Look for' means 'to search for something', whereas 'look after' means 'to take care of something or someone'.

What is the meaning of 'run into', and how is it used?

'Run into' means to meet someone unexpectedly. For example, 'I ran into an old friend at the supermarket' means 'I unexpectedly met an old friend.'

What does 'come up with' mean, and can you provide an example?

'Come up with' means to create, invent, or suggest something. For example, 'Tony always comes up with great ideas' means Tony always suggests creative ideas.

How do we understand the phrasal verb 'look forward to' in context?

'Look forward to' means 'to eagerly anticipate something'. For example, 'I look forward to our next chat' means 'I am excited about our next conversation'.

What does 'run out of' mean, and how is it used?

'Run out of' means to exhaust or deplete something. For example, 'We ran out of time' means there is no more time left.