Multiword verbs are an important part of speaking English. They are created using a verb and ‘particles’ such as adverbs and/or prepositions.
‘I drank so much at the party I did not come to until the afternoon.’ (wake up)
‘After the break up of the company, many people were left without jobs.’ (disintegration or division)
Commonly there are four types of multiword verb that are taught to English learners
intransitive (when there is no direct object)
she gets up early every day
the plane took off
inseparable transitive (multiword verbs that can’t be separated and take a direct object)
My boss (subject) never asks me to look after the accounts (object)
The government (subject) are unable to look after it’s people (object)
separable transitive (multiword verbs that can be separated and take a direct object)
I need someone to put me up for two nights (to give me a place to sleep)
My grandparents brought the story up of when I was a crazy child again! (re-introduced a subject)
transitive with two particles (when a direct object is used in conjunction with particles that cannot be separated)
Interns should look up to their prospective employers (respect)
Tonight, look up to the stars and think of me (to focus on’es eyes upwards)
It also possible to end clauses with a participle
Next time I see you you will have grown up! (became an adult)
By the end of business today, we need to have this deal sewn up! (positively concluded)
Other examples of multiword verbs you may like to use include:
take over, went on, lift up, drop off, eat out, hang on, join in, depend on, get into, try out, mess about, give a hand, catch up with etc…
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How about you?
How did you get into learning English?
What do you depend on every day?
Have you dropped off anything recently?