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Czasowniki złożone, czyli Phrasal verbs

Dziś zajmiemy się mało wdzięcznym, a wręcz znienawidzonym przez wielu uczniów tematem – Phrasal verbs, czyli czasownikami złożonymi (lub frazowymi) w języku angielskim. Jakkolwiek straszne by owe czasowniki nie były i jakich uczuć grozy czy odrazy by nie budziły, prędzej czy później trzeba stawić im czoła, albowiem rodowici Anglicy złośliwie używają tychże konstrukcji gdzie popadnie, siejąc zamęt w i tak wystarczająco chaotycznym języku. By jeszcze odrobinę uprzykrzyć egzystencję wszystkich nieboraków zgłębiających tajniki języka angielskiego dodam, iż wiele czasowników złożonych posiada kilka znaczeń, często nijak ze sobą niezwiązanych.



W tym momencie zapewne zastanawiacie się, czy istnieje jakaś sprytna, łatwa i przyjemna metoda nauki tej pokrętnej części słownictwa? Czy buduję napięcie, by potem jednym zdaniem z powrotem przywrócić uśmiechy na twarze mych dzielnych Czytelników (i Czytelniczek)? Cóż, powiem krótko – nie. Trzeba zacząć wkuwać, ot co. Zatem do roboty moi drodzy! Poniżej (na rozgrzewkę) lista 25 popularnych, przydatnych i powszechnie stosowanych czasowników frazowych, które po prostu trzeba znać. Każdy czasownik opatrzony jest definicją w języku angielskim i ilustrującym znaczenie przykładem.


1. Add up


To be added together and equal the expected or correct total.


Example: “We have added up the plums and there are 17 in total″


To make sense : to seem to be logical or true.


Example: “Her story didn’t add up, I think she was lying, it didn’t make any sense at all”


2. Blow up


To fill (something) with air or gas


Example: “Please could you blow up those balloons for me?”


To explode or to cause something, such as a bomb to explode.


Example: “The hangar was blown up by a bomb”


To become very angry.


Example: “When Josh said he couldn’t visit Jill in the evening, she blew up”


3. Bring up


To take care of and look after a child who is growing up.


Example: “His grandparents brought him up because his parents were always travelling”


To mention something when talking : to start to talk about a new subject.


Example: “Don’t bring up this embarrassing subject ever again, please!”


4. Call off


To stop doing or planning to do something.


Example: “Cathy called off the wedding, because she decided she didn’t love her fiancé”


To cause or tell a person or animal to stop attacking, chasing, etc.


Example: “Call off your crazy dog! He’s attacking my poor little kitty.”


5. Carry on


To continue to do what you have been doing


Example: “Sorry I interrupted, please carry on explaining the subject”


To behave or speak in an excited or foolish way.


Example: “The naughty little girl was carrying on shouting and kicking all day long”


6. Come across


To seem to have a particular quality or character; to make a particular impression.


Example: “Sarah came across as an extremely selfish person”


To be expressed to someone.


Example: “I tried to appear cheerful but it came across as over-excited”


To meet or find something or someone by chance.


Example: “Michael was leaving the restaurant and he came across Terry, which was quite a coincidence”


7. Come up with


To get or think of something that is needed or wanted.


Example: “We finally came up with a solution to this difficult and challenging problem!”


8. Fall apart


To break into parts in usually a sudden and unexpected way,


Example: “Unfortunately my cake completely fell apart when I tried to cut it”


To become unable to live in a normal way because you are experiencing a lot of confusion or emotional pain


Example: “After the divorce, Eve fell apart and had a lot of problems with her life.”


9. Get along


To be or remain friendly


Example: “We’re not together anymore with my ex-girlfriend, but we get along great, so we are both happy.”


To make progress while doing something.


Example: “How are you getting along at playing the piano?”


To leave a place


Example: “It was a real pleasure to see you, but my friend has to get along, because she has some lessons soon”


10. Get away


To go away from a place.


Example: “I can’t wait to get away from the city and visit the countryside.”


To avoid being caught : to escape


Example: “The robbers somehow managed to get away in a stolen car”


11. Get over


To stop being controlled or bothered by something, such as a problem or feeling.


Example: “I got over my fear of spiders, but I am still afraid of snakes.”


To stop feeling unhappy about something.


Example: “At last! Sandra got over her ex-boyfriend”


12. Give up


To stop an activity or effort; to admit that you cannot do something and stop trying


Example: “We all gave up smoking on January 1st, which was our resolution for that year.”


13. Go on


To continue.


Example: “They arrived in Cracow and then went on to Warsaw.”


To happen


Example: “What’s going on? What’s happening?”


Used in speech to urge someone to do something


Example: “Go on! Try it, it’s delicious and I am sure you will like it!”


14. Hold on


To have or keep your hand, arms, etc., tightly around something.


Example: “Hold on to the railing, that way you won’t fall.”


15. Look after


To take care of someone or something.


Example: “The nurse looked after the patient for weeks, until he got better”


16. Look forward to


To expect something with pleasure.


Example: “Andy is really looking forward to spending the weekend in the mountains”


17. Look up


Improve.


Example: “The economic situation of that country is finally looking up”


To search for something in a reference book, on the Internet, etc.


Example: “Let’s look up this difficult word in a dictionary.”


18. Make out


To hear and understand something


Example: “I can’t make out what you’re saying, can you speak more clearly please?”


To kiss and touch for a long time in a sexual way.


Example: “We made out after the party in the park nearby.”


19. Pass out


To fall asleep or become unconscious.


Example: “Monica was so tired, she got home and passed out on the sofa while the TV was still on.”


to give something to several or many people.


Example: “I passed out leaflets with information on our meeting next Sunday.”


20. Pull over


To move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop.


Example: “That looks like a pleasant cafe, can you pull the car over and park?”


21. Put down


To place someone or something that you have been holding or carrying on a table, on the floor, etc.


Example: “You can put all the luggage down in the corridor”


To write something; to record something in writing


Example: “He put down all the details of the meeting in order not to forget anything.”


22. Put off


To decide that something will happen at a later time; postpone.


Example: “David was so exhausted that he put the shopping off until Tuesday”


To cause someone to dislike someone or something


Example: “You’re putting me off my dinner, stop talking about spiders, bugs and other creepy-crawlies!”


23. Put up with


To allow someone or something unpleasant or annoying to exist or happen.


Example: “My neighbor won’t put up with any bad language in his house”


24. Turn up


To arrive at a place


Example: “As always, Sally turned up late at the meeting.”


To increase the volume, temperature, etc., of something by pressing a button, moving a switch, etc.


Example: “Please turn the music down, I cannot concentrate with all that noise.”


25. Watch out


To be aware of something dangerous.


Example: “Watch out in the mountain, there are bears, wolves and other dangerous animals there!”

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