Phrasal verbs with a verb + preposition

Some phrasal verbs consist of a verb followed by a proposition. However, in the case of a phrasal verb, the verb followed by the preposition forms an expression with an idiomatic meaning. For example, the phrasal verb to come across is an idiomatic expression with the meaning to find. Similarly, the phrasal verb to frown on is an idiomatic expression with the meaning to disapprove of.

Example:

- We came across an old diary while we were cleaning out the attic.

- The workers frown on the practice of smoking in the office.

NOTE: It should be noted that some phrasal verbs consisting of a verb followed by a preposition can be used in the passive voice.

Example:

- The practice of smoking in the office was frowned on by the workers.

- The children were looked after by their aunt.

ç The following are some examples of phrasal verbs which consist of a verb followed by a preposition and each phrasal verb has its meaning.

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

abide by

account for

ask for

bank on

bear with

border on

break into

build on

burst into

call for

call on

come across

come upon

confide in

count on

cut across

dawn on

deal in

deal with

decide on

dispense with

dispose of

dwell on

enlarge on

enter into

expand on

frown on

get at

get into

get over

get through

go against

go over

go through

go with

grow on

guard against

hinge on

inquire into

keep to

laugh at

launch into

leaf through

live on

look after

look into

look through

part with

pick on

prey on

provide for

reason with

reckon on

rise above

run across

run into

run over

see through

send for

settle for

side with

sit through

stand by

stand for

stick to

stumble across

survive on

take after

tamper with

touch on

verge on

wade through

watch over

adhere to

explain

request

depend on

be patient with

be near, be next to

enter by force

develop from

suddenly enter

demand

ask, order

find accidentally

discover

share a secret

depend on

use a short route

realize

stock, sell

handle successfully

settle on

proceed without

get rid of

emphasize

say more about

begin, commence

say more about

disapprove of

reach

become involved with

recover from

survive, finish

oppose

review

examine in detail

look good with

become more attractive to

take precautions

depend on

investigate

adhere to

mock, make fun of

start

turn the pages

survive using

take care of

investigate

examine quickly

give up reluctantly

be unkind to

hunt and eat; disturb

prepare for

try to persuade

calculate

be superior to

find accidentally

meet accidentally

injured by a vehicle

not be deceived by

ask to be sent

reluctantly accept

support in a dispute

sit and endure

support

represent

adhere to

find accidentally

survive using

resemble an ancestor

interfere with

mention

approach

slowly peruse

guard

1) The position of an object of the preposition

The object of preposition usually follows the preposition, whether the object is a noun or a pronoun. In the following examples, the objects are underlined.

Example:

- We have launched into a new project. or

- We have launched into a new it.

NOTE: In these examples, the noun project and the pronoun it are the objects of the preposition into of the phrasal verb to launch into. Both the noun object and pronoun object follow the preposition.

2) The position of an adverb of manner modifying the verb

If a verb is followed by a preposition, an adverb of manner may be placed between the verb and the preposition. In the following examples, the adverbs of manner are underlined.

Example:

- They reasoned patiently with the little girl.

- I leafed quickly through the book.

NOTE: In the first example, the adverb of manner patiently is placed between the verb reasoned and the preposition with of the phrasal verb to reason with. In the second example, the adverb of manner quickly is placed between the verb leafed and the preposition through of the phrasal verb to leaf through.

3) Stress in spoken English

When a verb followed by a preposition occurs at the end of a clause, it is usually the verb which is stressed in spoken English. In the following examples, the words which are stressed are printed in bold type.

Example:

- No one likes to be laughed at.

- I need someone to confide in.

NOTE: In the first example, the verb laughed followed by the preposition at occurs at the end of a clause and the verb laughed is stressed. In the second example, the verb confide followed by the preposition in occurs at the end of a clause, and the verb confide is stressed.

ç It should be noted that, when used in a phrasal verb at the end of a clause, the prepositions after, into, and over are often pronounced with somewhat greater emphasis than the verb. In this case, both the verb and the preposition are stressed.

Example:

- The twins are easy to look after.

- The building would be difficult to break into.

- You’ll never guess whom I ran into.

- I heard that someone was run over.

ç The prepositions above, across, and through are also occasionally emphasized in this way.

Example: The research papers were difficult to wade through.

4) Expressions in which the verb has an object

In the case of some phrasal verbs consisting of a verb followed by a preposition, the verb and the prepositions may each have an object. In the following examples, the objects are underlined.

Example:

- I can make nothing of the situation.

- We talked my sister into agreeing.

NOTE: In the first example, the verb make of the phrasal verb to make of has the object nothing, and the preposition of has the object situation. In the second example, the verb talked of the phrasal verb to talk into has the object sister, and the preposition into has the object agreeing.

ç The following examples of the phrasal verbs consisting of a verb followed by a preposition, where the verb may have an object and each phrasal verb has its meaning.

Phrasal Verb

Meaning

drag into

draw into

drum into

frighten into

hold against

lay before

let into

make of

read into

set against

set on

talk into

trust upon

write into

involve unwillingly

involve gradually

teach by repetition

control by fear

blame for

present to

allow to share

understand

find other meanings

make antagonistic

order to attack

persuade

force upon

add to in writing