A Logical Way To Understand Phrasal Verbs & Teach Them

Before providing you with a set of rules about the way to interpret and use Phrasal Verbs, let us briefly revise some basic concepts:

Language can be defined as a vocabulary & way of using it prevalent in one or more countries. We can affirm that «language» is a system of signs so arranged to facilitate the understanding among humans. Whatever we think, there is a word; whatever we conceive, there is reason. Words are the signs of our ideas only, and not for the things themselves. Words describe things of which we can form mental pictures.

Language shapes our thoughts. Then, reasoning/logics is nothing more than language well arranged. A simple process: Thought is subjective speech.. Speech is objective thought.

A large vocabulary facilitates and enriches the master of a language. However we are all aware of the lack of semantic correspondence between L1 & L2.

All languages apply to certain structured grammar rules which have come to be known as UG (Universal Grammar). At the same time, every language is rich in idioms, proverbs, sayings, collocations and the English have added in «Phrasal Verbs» to complicate matters.

We need to be clear about the difference between idioms, collocations, proverbs, sayings & phrasal verbs. Idioms are forms of expressions peculiar to a language of a people. Idioms are closely related to the culture of the people rather than to a logical way to understand them.

A proverb is an adage transmitted from generation to generation and proverbs also have meaning in themselves. Proverbs cannot be transferred from L1 to L2 by using a logical criterion. Many proverbs are connected to historic events «to hunt with the hounds and run with the hare» could be never interpreted as «andar bien con Dios y con el diablo». There is a legend behind hunters and hares as there should be one behind our God and the Devil himself!

But what about the many times hated phrasal verbs? They do not match with the above mentioned structures any other language. Why have the English created this absurb way of expressing... Why do up the room when we can perfectly decorate our room? Ditto go along with when we can agree with?

«Nothing comes from nothingness», and there is a logical an actual story behind, mostly connected to the Norman invaders and the primitive Anglo Saxons in Britain.

Phrasal Verbs do have a logical way to be understood and taught and most important: to be used spontaneously by all speakers. It is a bad idea to ask our students to study them by heart. Let´s examine a practical case:

To clear = limpiar, aclarar.

And what about to clear away, off, in, back. Are we to learn those phrasals by heart? Even if we had a good memory, when/how are we to use them?

What is a phrasal verb?

It is just the combination of a verb and one or two particles. (The word itself has a hidden meaning: a phrase(al) is a group of words that does not make complete sense – neither do phrasals out of context)

The English saying runs «the sting is in the tail». We need to understand the tail (particle) to interpret the whole meaning. Students and learners of English in general become stuck on studying them as we concentrate on the verbs and not on the particles.

Look how easy it is. Go up, come up, climb up, walk up, drive up and all the UPS are easily understood as an expression of movement –upwards–. But take care UP also means completion.

Students: How many chapters of Book One do we have to read?

Teacher: Read it up! Meaning > read the whole book.

You have learnt now that phrasals with up have basically two meanings: upward movement or completion. For the remainder particles away, in, out, etc., I invite you to personally SHARE some hints on this topic in our lecture!