The meaning of particles: up, out, off, on, down
Understanding phrasal verbs through the meaning of the particle.
| Particle | General idea | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| up | completion, increase, upwards | eat up (eat everything), fill up, speed up, grow up, give up |
| out | outwards, to the end, disappearing | find out, run out, sort out, work out, point out |
| off | separation, departure, stopping | take off, turn off, call off (cancel), set off (leave), put off (postpone) |
| on | continuation, contact, starting | carry on, go on, keep on, turn on, try on |
| down | decrease, on paper, ending | slow down, calm down, write down, break down, turn down (refuse) |
| back | return, reply | call back, pay back, get back |
| over | examining, transferring, repeating | look over, take over, think over |
Test yourself
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What does «call off the meeting» mean?
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cancel the meeting -
What does «turn down an offer» mean?
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refuse an offer -
Tell someone to relax (phrasal verb).
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Calm down! -
What does «put up with» mean?
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tolerate