Separable phrasal verbs

Use: 
Separable phrasal verbs consist of two parts. They always require an object. 
They are often used, especially in informal spoken English. The meaning of phrasal verbs is often completely different from the meaning of the verb alone.

Form:

1) The object of a phrasal verb can go either between the verb and the preposition or after the preposition.
I handed in my homework.
I handed my homework in.

2) If the object of the sentence is a pronoun, it must go between the two parts of the phrasal verb.
I handed it in      NOT        I handed in it.

Examples:
Some common separable phrasal verbs:
pick someone/something up = collect
Please can you pick me up from the station?
drop someone/something off = take and leave/ deposit
I dropped John off outside his school.
throw away = discard
I threw all my old school papers away.
write down = note
I wrote Sally’s phone number down on a piece of paper.
make up = invent
Henry likes to make stories up about dinosaurs.
take back = return
This shirt is too small. I’m going to take it back to the shop.
let down = disappoint
James studied hard because he didn’t want to let his parents down.
turn down = reject
The company offered me a job, but I turned it down.
wash up = wash (dishes)
Can you wash your plates up please?
take off = remove (clothes)
Please take off your shoes before you come inside.
put on = dress in (clothes)
You’ll need to put a coat on. It’s cold.
turn up / down = increase / decrease  volume/ temperature
Can you turn the music down please? It’s very loud.
try on = wear and test (clothes)
Please can I try on these trousers?
give up = stop doing something.
She smokes a lot, but she wants to give it up.
take up = start doing something (a new hobby)
I’ve decided to take up running.

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Inseparable phrasal verbs

Use: 
Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and one or more prepositions. They are often used, especially in informal spoken English. The meaning of phrasal verbs is often completely different from the meaning of the verb alone.

Form:
1) Some phrasal verbs never use an object.
get up = get out of bed   
I get up at seven o’clock every morning.
take off = leave the ground          
The plane took off on time.
look out = beware! be careful!   
Look out! That car is going to hit you!
get  on = be good friends             
My dad and my brother don’t get on.    
break down = stop working (for vehicles) 
Our car broke down on the way home from Scotland.
make up = become friends again after an argument
The kids often fight but they always make up afterwards.

2) Some phrasal verbs need an object.
get on / off something = exit transport   
Get off the bus at the next stop.
look after someone / something = take care of someone / something
Please can you look after our cats while we’re on holiday?             
see to something = do, arrange, prepare, organise
Don’t worry about dinner. I’ll see to it.
look into something = investigate
There has been a burglary at the school. Police are looking into it.
get to = arrive at
When you get to the end of the street, turn right.

3) Some phrasal verbs contain three words and an object.
look up to someone = respect someone
I look up to my teachers.
look forward to something = be excited about (a future event)
I’m looking forward to the party.
get on with someone =  be good friends with someone
I don’t get on with Karen.
get on with something =  continue doing something
Please be quiet and get on with your work.
put up with something = tolerate
I can’t put up with that noise any longer!

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Present Continuous for Future

Use:       
The present continuous tense has two uses:
1) Use it to describe what is happening at the moment.
        ‘Where’s dad?’
        ‘He’s watching TV in the living room’.

2) Use it to describe plans and arrangements in the future.
        ‘Tom is arriving on the three o’clock train tomorrow’.

Form:
Make the present continuous in this way.

Positive

I you / they / we he / she / it

am / ‘m are / ‘re is / ‘s

verb-ing

Examples:   I’m going  / He’s going / We’re going to Spain next week.

Negative

I you / they / we he / she / it

‘m not aren’t  / ‘re not isn’t  / ‘s not

verb-ing

Examples:   I’m not going / You’re not going / She isn’t going to the meeting.

Questions

Are Is

you / they / we he / she / it

verb-ing?

Examples:   Are you coming / Is James coming to the party?

Common Mistakes:
1) Some students use will to talk about future plans. However, present continuous is the correct tense to use.
I’ll visit my cousin in Paris this weekend.    =>   I’m visiting my cousin in Paris this weekend.

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Gerunds and Infinitives

Use:       
1) A gerund is a verb in its –ing form, used as a noun. 
                For example:     eating, going, seeing

Gerunds are used:
                a) As the subject of a sentence.
                Smoking is bad for you.
                
b) After some verbs, such as: like, hate, enjoy, quit, suggest, dislike, deny
                I like cooking. I enjoy fishing.
A good learner’s dictionary will tell you whether a verb is followed by a gerund or not.   
                
c) After prepositions.
                I’m interested in buying a computer. I’m scared of walking alone in the dark.

2) The infinitive form of the verb is the original verb. It can be with or without ‘to’.
                For example:     (to) eat, (to) go, (to) see.

The infinitive form is used:
                a) After some verbs, such as; agree, arrange, ask, promise, decide, afford
                I agreed to do the work. I arranged to see the doctor, They decided to get married.
A good learner’s dictionary will tell you whether a verb is followed by an infinitive or not.
                
b) To show the reason why you did something.
Tony went to the post office to pay a bill.             

c) After adjectives.
I was surprised to see Erica. I’m pleased to meet you.

3 a) Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or infinitive with NO CHANGE in meaning:
                For example: start, begin, hate, like, prefer, continue
                She started to cry = She started crying.
                I hate watching horror films = I hate to watch horror films.
 b) Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or a infinitive, but there is a change in meaning.
                For example: try, remember, stop
                I tried to get into the house. (Getting into the house is your goal or objective).
                I tried climbing through the window. (Climbing through the window is one thing you tried in order to obtain your final objective.)               

                I stopped cleaning the windows. (I was cleaning the windows and then I stopped).
                I stopped to clean the windows. (I was driving, and I stopped driving in order to clean the windows).
                I remembered to lock the door. (I remembered, and after that I locked the door).
                I remember locking the door. (I remember (now) that I locked the door (in the past)).

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Past continuous

Use: 
1) Use the past to ‘set the scene’ of a story before describing what happened.

    ‘It was raining. I was walking in the park. Some kids were playing football nearby. Suddenly…’

2) Use the past continuous to talk about an action which happened for some time in the past and was then interrupted. Use the past simple tense to talk about the interruption.

    I was cooking dinner when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

3) Use the past continuous to talk about events that were in progress at a certain time.

    At 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon, I was driving home from work.

Note the difference in meaning:

When James got home, I cooked dinner:-  I started cooking AFTER he got home.
When James got home, I was cooking dinner: - I started cooking BEFORE he got home.

Form:

Positive

I	was	verb+ing
You	were
He / She / It	was
We / They	were

Negative

I	wasn’t	verb+ing
You	weren’t
He / She / It	wasn’t
We / They	weren’t

Question

Was	I	verb+ing   ?
Were	you
Was	he / she / it
Were	we / they

Spelling Rules:
If a verb ends in e, delete the e before you add –ing.
have   =>I was having lunch.

If a verb ends in one vowel and one consonant, double the consonant (except w and y).
get     =>He was just getting up.
play    =>We were playing.

Common mistakes
1) Some students remember the verb be but forget ‘ing’.
I was watch television.   =>I was watching television.
2) Some students make spelling mistakes. 
I was studing.  =>I was studying.

We were eatting   =>We were eating.

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