Many phrasal verbs consist of a verb followed by an adverb. Some of these phrasal verbs are intransitive and some are transitive.
I. Intransitive verbs followed by adverbs
Here are some intransitive phrasal verbs which consist of a verb followed by an adverb and each phrasal verb has its meaning.
| Intransitive Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
| blow over boil away boil over bounce back buckle down catch on cloud over die down double up drop in fade away fall off get away get by give in go on grow up keep on level off log on log off move in move out nod off pass out pitch in play along pull in pull out set off settle down settle in show up stay up step down step in take off touch down tune in watch out wear off | pass disappear by boiling overflow by boiling recover work seriously be widely accepted become overcast become less bend over visit become less become less escape barely succeed admit defeat continue became an adult persist in stop rising contact a computer break contact with a computer system take possession of living quarters give up possession of living go to sleep faint help pretend to agree arrive (of vehicles) leave (of vehicles) leave become peaceful become used to arrive not go to bed resign intervene leave the ground land (of places) find a station on the radio beware gradually disappear |
NOTE: The intransitive phrasal verb to show up is formed by the verb to show followed by the adverb up. In the following example, the phrasal verb does not have an object.
Example: At ten o’ clock, her brother showed up.
II. Transitive verbs followed by adverbs
Here are some transitive phrasal verbs which consist of a verb followed by an adverb and each phrasal verb has its meaning.
| Transitive Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
| back up bail out break in breathe in breathe out bring back bring around bring up butter up call in call off call up cheer on chop down clean up fend off ferret out figure out fill in fill out fill up give back give off hand down hand in hand on hand over hang up hold back iron out knock out lap up lay off leave behind leave out let down live down look up make up pass up pension off phase in phase out pick up pin down play down point out polish off pull down pull off put away put back put off reel off rope in rub out rule out scale down sell off set back shout down shrug off single out size up sort out sound out stammer out sum up summon up take in take out take over talk over tear up think over think up track down trade in try on try out turn away turn back turn off turn on water down wear out write down write off write up | support rescue make something new fit for use inhale exhale return persuade raise flatter ask to assist cancel telephone cheer, encourage fell tidy repel find with difficult solve, understand complete complete make full return send out give to someone younger give to person in authority give to another person transfer break a telephone connection restrain, delay remove make unconscious accept eagerly put out of work leave, not bring omit disappoint live so that past faults are forgotten find (information) invent not take advantage dismiss with a pension introduce gradually cease gradually collect get a commitment de-emphasize draw attention to finish demolish succeed put in proper place return to original location postpone recite a long list persuade to help erase remove from consideration reduce dispose of by selling delay stop from speaking by shouting dismiss as unimportant select from others assess organize talk with to learn the opinion of stammer summarize gather absorb invite to a restaurant assume control discuss destroy by tearing consider invent search for and find give as part payment test clothes by putting them on test by using refuse admission reverse direction deactivate by using a switch activate by using a switch dilute gradually destroy by wearing or using make a note cancel, regard as compose in writing |
NOTE: The transitive phrasal verb to sort out is formed from the verb to sort followed by the adverb out.
Example: We sorted out the papers.
1) The position of an object of the verb
In the case of transitive phrasal verbs consisting of a verb followed by an adverb, if the object of the verb is a nun, the object can usually either follow or precede the adverb. In the following examples, the verb objects are underlined.
Example:
- I called off the meeting.
- I called the meeting off.
NOTE: In the first example the object meeting follows the adverb off, while in the second example the object meeting precedes the adverb off.
ç However, in the case of a few phrasal verbs, a noun object must usually follow the adverb.
Example: We attempted to smooth over is the disagreement.
NOTE: In this example, the phrasal verb to smooth over is followed by the noun object disagreement. In this case, the object disagreement cannot be placed before the adverb over.
The following are examples of transitive phrasal verbs where a noun object must usually follow the adverb. Each phrasal verb is accompanied by its meaning and an example
The following are examples of transitive phrasal verbs where a noun object must usually follow the adverb. Each phrasal verb is accompanied by its meaning and an example of its use. The objects of the verbs are underlined.
Verbs followed by adverb followed by noun object
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
| drum up paper over smooth over | raise repair superficially improve |
Example:
- She has drummed up support for the plan.
- They attempted to paper over their differences.
- We tried to smooth over the station.
ç In the case of transitive phrasal verbs consisting of a verb followed by an adverb, if the object of the verb is a pronoun, the object must usually precede the adverb. In the following examples, the pronoun objects are underlined.
Example:
- I called it off.
- We attempted to smooth it over.
NOTE: In these examples, the object pronoun it precedes the adverbs off and over.
ç Most transitive phrasal verbs may be used in the passive voice.
Example:
- The meeting was called off by me.
- The disagreement was smooth over.
NOTE: In these examples, the phrasal verbs to call off and to smooth over are used in the passive voice.
2) The position of an adverb of manner modifying the verb
In the case of a phrasal verb consisting of a verb followed by an adverb, the verb and the adverb usually may not be separated by an adverb of manner. In the following example, the adverb of manner is underline.
Example: I hurriedly called off the meeting.
NOTE: In this example, the adverb of manner hurriedly precedes the phrasal verb called off. The adverb hurriedly may also be placed at the beginning or the end of the sentence, but may not be placed between the verb called and the adverb off.
3) Stress in spoken English
When a phrasal verb consisting of a verb followed by an adverb occurs at the end of a clause, it is usually the adverb which is stressed in spoken English. In the following examples, the words which are tressed are printed in bold type.
Example:
- How did that come about?
- Please drop in whenever you have time.
NOTE: In the first example, the verb come followed by the adverb about occurs at the end of a clause, and the adverb about is stressed. In the second example, the verb drop followed by the adverb in occurs at the end of a clause, and the adverb in is stressed.
4) Ergative verbs
It should be noted that there are a few phrasal verbs consisting of a verb followed by an adverb, which have the same meaning whether they are used transitively or intransitively.
Example:
- The engineer slowed down the train.
- The train slowed down.
NOTE: In the first example, the phrasal verb to slow down is used transitively, with the object train. In the second example, the phrasal verb to slow down is used intransitively, without naming the originator of the action. In these two examples, it can be seen that the object of the transitive verb is the subject of the intransitive verb. However, the general meaning of the two sentences is the same. Verbs which can be used in this way may be referred to as ergative verbs.
Ergative phrasal verbs
The following are examples of expressions which can function as ergative phrasal verbs and each ergative phrasal has its meaning.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
| Blare out Blow up Break up Burn down Calm down Dry out Get across Liven up Pull through Rol up Shut down Wake up Wash out Wear away Wear out | Make a loud sound Destroy by an explosion Break into pieces Detroy by fire Become calm Become dry Transmit Become lively Recover from, survive Wrap into a cylinder Close, stop working Stop sleeping Remove by washing Gradually remove Gradually destroy by using |
