Four Common Phrasal Verbs with 'Off'
2021-01-22
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Today, we are going to talk about phrasal verbs.
2You may remember that a phrasal verb is a verb plus one or two more words called "particles."
3Particles can be prepositions or adverbs.
4There are several common particles in phrasal verbs, such as the word "off."
5One example of a phrasal verb is "go off."
6Phrasal verbs usually have idiomatic meanings.
7In other words, the verb and particle together mean something different from what each individual word suggests.
8The phrasal verb "go off," for instance, is made of the verb "go" and the particle "off."
9But "go off" can mean to make a sudden loud noise.
10The English language contains a lot of phrasal verbs.
11Luckily, you do not need to know all of them.
12Some are more common than others.
13On today's Everyday Grammar program, we will talk about four common phrasal verbs with the word "off."
14They are "go off," "put off" "drop off" and "pay off."
15As you will learn today, some of these verbs can be separated by other words. Others cannot.
16Let's do a short listening exercise.
17Listen to this speaker talk about starting his day.
18Pay attention to the four phrasal verbs with "off" and make a mental note that some are separated by other words:
19This morning, as my alarm went off, I remembered that I have a few important things to do today.
20It has been a busy week, but I can't put these tasks off any longer.
21First, I have to drop some donations off at local food banks.
22Then, I am going to pay off my car loan.
23I am so excited to make the final payment!
24Did you catch all four verbs?
25And did notice that some were separated by other words while others were not? Good.
26Now, let's examine meanings for each verb and talk about how to use them.
27Note that each of today's verbs has more than one meaning; we will focus on the meanings used in the listening exercise.
28The verb "go off" means to make a sudden loud noise.
29We use this meaning in relation to alarms on machines or electronics, such as an alarm clock or a phone alarm or fire alarm.
30Listen again to how our speaker used it:
31This morning, as my alarm went off, I remembered that I have a few important things to do today.
32Notice that the speaker used the simple past tense form of the verb "go," which is "went."
33"Go off" is what we call an intransitive verb.
34Phrasal verbs in English are either transitive or intransitive.
35A transitive verb needs a direct object to express a complete thought.
36A direct object is a person or thing that receives the action of the verb.
37Intransitive verbs, such as "go off," do not have a direct object.
38And they are not separable.
39That means, in sentences, we cannot separate them with other words.
40But, transitive phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable.
41That means you can put the direct object in the middle of the verb or after it.
42A good example of a transitive and separable phrasal verb is "put off."
43It means to delay something or decide it will happen at a later time.
44Here is how our speaker used it:
45It has been a busy week but I can't put these tasks off any longer.
46Can you find the direct object in the sentence? It is "these tasks."
47Notice that this object appears in the middle of the verb.
48Again, with separable phrasal verbs, direct objects can appear after the verb.
49So how would the sentence read then? Think about it as we move to our next verb.
50Next up is the verb "drop off."
51It means to take something or someone to a place and then leave.
52This verb is also transitive and separable.
53Here is how our speaker used it a moment ago:
54First, I have to drop some donations off at local food banks.
55Notice that the speaker separated the verb "drop off" by the direct object "some donations."
56Since it is possible to put the direct object after this verb, let's hear how that would sound:
57First, I have to drop off some donations at local food banks.
58Both ways of using separable phrasal verbs are common and grammatically correct. And there is no change in meaning.
59Finally, we have the verb "pay off."
60It means to complete payment on something that you owe, such as a bill or a loan.
61This verb, too, is transitive and separable.
62Do you remember how it was used? The speaker talked about his car loan. Here is what he said:
63Then, I am going to pay off my car loan. I am so excited to make the final payment!
64The speaker did not separate the verb with the direct object.
65However, if he had put the object in the middle, how would the sentence read then?
66Think about it for a moment.
67Well, that brings us to the end of today's program.
68Phrasal verbs can be difficult, but often their particles provide clues to their meanings.
69For example, many phrasal verbs with the particle "off" relate to separating, completing or ending something.
70I'm Alice Bryant.
1Today, we are going to talk about phrasal verbs. 2You may remember that a phrasal verb is a verb plus one or two more words called "particles." Particles can be prepositions or adverbs. There are several common particles in phrasal verbs, such as the word "off." One example of a phrasal verb is "go off." 3Phrasal verbs usually have idiomatic meanings. In other words, the verb and particle together mean something different from what each individual word suggests. 4The phrasal verb "go off," for instance, is made of the verb "go" and the particle "off." But "go off" can mean to make a sudden loud noise. 5The English language contains a lot of phrasal verbs. Luckily, you do not need to know all of them. Some are more common than others. 6A listening exercise 7On today's Everyday Grammar program, we will talk about four common phrasal verbs with the word "off." They are "go off," "put off" "drop off" and "pay off." As you will learn today, some of these verbs can be separated by other words. Others cannot. 8Let's do a short listening exercise. 9Listen to this speaker talk about starting his day. Pay attention to the four phrasal verbs with "off" and make a mental note that some are separated by other words: 10This morning, as my alarm went off, I remembered that I have a few important things to do today. It has been a busy week, but I can't put these tasks off any longer. First, I have to drop some donations off at local food banks. Then, I am going to pay off my car loan. I am so excited to make the final payment! 11Did you catch all four verbs? And did notice that some were separated by other words while others were not? Good. 12Now, let's examine meanings for each verb and talk about how to use them. Note that each of today's verbs has more than one meaning; we will focus on the meanings used in the listening exercise. 13Go off (intransitive verb) 14The verb "go off" means to make a sudden loud noise. We use this meaning in relation to alarms on machines or electronics, such as an alarm clock or a phone alarm or fire alarm. 15Listen again to how our speaker used it: 16This morning, as my alarm went off, I remembered that I have a few important things to do today. 17Notice that the speaker used the simple past tense form of the verb "go," which is "went." 18"Go off" is what we call an intransitive verb. 19Transitive or intransitive 20Phrasal verbs in English are either transitive or intransitive. 21A transitive verb needs a direct object to express a complete thought. A direct object is a person or thing that receives the action of the verb. 22Intransitive verbs, such as "go off," do not have a direct object. And they are not separable. That means, in sentences, we cannot separate them with other words. 23But, transitive phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable. That means you can put the direct object in the middle of the verb or after it. 24Put off (something) 25Put (something) off 26A good example of a transitive and separable phrasal verb is "put off." It means to delay something or decide it will happen at a later time. 27Here is how our speaker used it: 28It has been a busy week but I can't put these tasks off any longer. 29Can you find the direct object in the sentence? It is "these tasks." Notice that this object appears in the middle of the verb. 30Again, with separable phrasal verbs, direct objects can appear after the verb. So how would the sentence read then? Think about it as we move to our next verb. 31Drop off (something) 32Drop (something) off 33Next up is the verb "drop off." It means to take something or someone to a place and then leave. This verb is also transitive and separable. 34Here is how our speaker used it a moment ago: 35First, I have to drop some donations off at local food banks. 36Notice that the speaker separated the verb "drop off" by the direct object "some donations." 37Since it is possible to put the direct object after this verb, let's hear how that would sound: 38First, I have to drop off some donations at local food banks. 39Both ways of using separable phrasal verbs are common and grammatically correct. And there is no change in meaning. 40Pay off (something) 41Pay (something) off 42Finally, we have the verb "pay off." It means to complete payment on something that you owe, such as a bill or a loan. This verb, too, is transitive and separable. 43Do you remember how it was used? The speaker talked about his car loan. Here is what he said: 44Then, I am going to pay off my car loan. I am so excited to make the final payment! 45The speaker did not separate the verb with the direct object. However, if he had put the object in the middle, how would the sentence read then? Think about it for a moment. 46Closing thoughts 47Well, that brings us to the end of today's program. 48Phrasal verbs can be difficult, but often their particles provide clues to their meanings. For example, many phrasal verbs with the particle "off" relate to separating, completing or ending something. 49I'm Alice Bryant. 50Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 51Practice what you learned today! 52In the comments section below, rewrite the sentence examples for "put off" and "pay off" by placing the direct objects after the phrasal verbs. 53________________________________________________________________ 54Words in This Story 55task -n. a piece of work that is given to someone to do 56focus -v. to cause attention to be brought to something or someone 57alarm -n. a device that makes a loud sound as a warning or signal 58tense -n. a form of a verb in English that shows when an action happened 59bill -n. a document that shows how much you owe for a certain good or service 60clue -n. a piece of information or sign that helps a person find something or someone