Hand Out This Handout: Phrasal Verbs by Arlene Miller, Grammar Diva

We know what a verb is. And we know that a phrase is a group of words, usually a small group. So a phrasal verb is a verb that is more than one word. Usually it is a verb followed by a preposition:hand out. Well, that isn’t quite right because handis a noun. But when paired without,it becomes a verb. You can also pairhandwith in, off, over,and toand voila! You have a verb. Most phrasal verbs, however, are verbs paired with prepositions — or what seem to be prepositions. Actually, they are often referred to as adverbs, not prepositions.

A preposition is generally thought to be part of a prepositional phrase: preposition+article (usually)+noun or pronoun:

• in the doghouse
• above the clouds
• under the table
• to the mall
• between the houses
• outside the lines

  When you put what looks like a preposition after a verb, it becomes an adverb: She walked outside. Please come in.

In any case, a verb that contains more than one word is a phrasal verb. And many phrasal verbs are also nouns. However, when you make a phrasal verb into a noun, it usually becomes one word, and that is where many people mess up. I see phrasal verbs written as one word, when they should be two. It is the noun that is one word. It is not as common that I will see the noun written as two words. Here are some examples of phrasal verbs and the nouns they become:

• I need to set up the exhibit. I don’t like the setup of the room.
• I need to back up my computer. I need to perform a backup on my computer.
• Please take out the trash. Let’s get takeout for dinner.
• We will blow up these balloons. My boss and I had a huge blowup.
• Tomorrow we will break down the exhibit. She had a nervous breakdown. (Is that even a thing anymore?)
• Break up the peanut brittle into pieces for everyone. She and her boyfriend just had a breakup.
• I am going to break out my dancing shoes. My skin is having another of its breakouts.
• The candle will burn out shortly. I have burnout from my stressful job.
• Hand out these papers to the class. Did you get the handout to help you study for the quiz?
• We will kick off Back to School Week tomorrow. Can you come to the kickoff on Saturday?
• It is time to let down your defenses. When vacation ends, it is a real letdown.
• I need to make up my test today. You are wearing too much makeup.
• Did you pay back your loan yet. This is payback for how you treated me!
• You need to show off that new ring! You are such a showoff!
• I work out for an hour every day. I am really tired from my workout.
• Did you mix up the days for the parties? It was just an innocent mixup.

  One way to remember that the verb is two words and the noun one is simply by the old pause trick. We usually pause when saying the phrasal verb, but not when saying the noun.