Phrasal Verbs (Advanced): Two-Word Wonders with Multiple Meanings

Introduction:

Welcome back, word detectives! Today, we’re going to unravel the mysteries of phrasal verbs. These two-word combos are like chameleons – they can change their meanings depending on the context. Mastering phrasal verbs is key to sounding more natural and fluent in English conversation.

Part 1: What are Phrasal Verbs?

• A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a particle (a preposition or adverb).
• The particle changes the meaning of the verb.
• Some phrasal verbs have literal meanings, while others have figurative meanings.

Examples:

• Literal: “pick up” (lift something from the ground)
• Figurative: “pick up” (learn a new skill or language)

Activity: Phrasal Verb Charades

• Divide into two teams.
• One team acts out a phrasal verb (e.g., “look up”).
• The other team guesses the phrasal verb and its meaning.

Part 2: Phrasal Verbs with Multiple Meanings

• Some phrasal verbs have more than one meaning, depending on the context.
• Let’s explore some examples:

Phrasal Verb	Meaning 1	Meaning 2	Example Sentences
get over	To recover from (an illness, loss, etc.)	To overcome a difficulty or obstacle	She’s getting over the flu. / I need to get over my fear of public speaking.
run into	To meet someone unexpectedly	To collide with something	I ran into my old friend at the mall. / The car ran into a tree.
look up	To search for information in a reference book or online	To improve or become better	Look up the word in the dictionary. / Things are looking up!
put off	To postpone or delay something	To cause someone to dislike something or someone	We put off the meeting until next week. / His rude behavior put me off.
give up	To stop trying or quit	To surrender or relinquish something	Don’t give up on your dreams. / The soldiers gave up their weapons.

Activity: Multiple-Meaning Match

• Match each phrasal verb to its two different meanings.
• Write a sentence using each phrasal verb in both contexts.

Part 3: Phrasal Verbs in Context

• The meaning of a phrasal verb can change depending on the context.
• Let’s read some sentences and figure out the meaning of the phrasal verbs:

1. I’m going to the store to pick up some milk.
2. She’s trying to pick up Spanish before her trip to Mexico.
3. He ran into his ex-girlfriend at the concert.
4. The bus ran into the back of the car.

Wrap-up:

• Phrasal verbs are an important part of everyday English.
• They can be tricky because they have multiple meanings, but context is key to understanding them.
• Keep practicing using phrasal verbs in different situations to improve your fluency and comprehension!

Homework:

• Choose three phrasal verbs from this lesson.
• Write two sentences for each phrasal verb, using it in both of its meanings.
• Share your sentences with a partner and discuss the different meanings.

Additional Tips for Teachers:

• Use authentic materials (e.g., songs, news articles, conversations) to expose students to phrasal verbs in context.
• Encourage students to create their own sentences using phrasal verbs.
• Use online resources and quizzes for additional practice.
• Provide feedback on correct usage and pronunciation.