There are thousands of phrasal verbs in English. Let’s take a look at some of the most useful phrasal verbs using the verb put.
A Video Summary about 'Put' Phrasal Verbs
A few explanations about 'Put' Phrasal Verbs
WHAT IS A PHRASAL VERB?
A phrasal verb is the combination of two or three words from different grammatical categories – a verb and a particle, such as an adverb or a preposition – to form a single phrase. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb.
Many students translate both words separately rather than see the whole phrase, this can be confusing as the meaning translated this way will often not make sense.
MORE THAN ONE MEANING
Often phrasal verbs will have more than one meaning therefore it’s important to select the correct phrasal verb for context of the sentence. For example:
1. Put down – stop holding something to place on a surface
2. Put down – make a deposit payment on something like a house or car
3. Put down (on paper) – to write something down
4. Put down – to criticize someone
5. Put down – to stop a riot or rebellion by force
USING PHRASAL VERBS OF PUT
PUT ACROSS | ● Give opinion clearly, explain an idea well, describe articulately ● Speak and express yourself clearly, make a positive impression |
PUT ASIDE | ● Keep or save something for later ● Not allow yourself to be negatively affected by something, ignore something temporarily |
PUT AWAY | ● Return something to its usual place ● Send to prison or a mental hospital ● Save (up) money ● Consume food or drink quickly or in large quantities (informal) ● Score a goal (informal) in football |
PUT BACK | ● Postpone, delay, schedule for a later date ● Return something to its original location ● Change a clock/watch to an earlier time ● Delay or hold up progress |
PUT BY | ● Save (up) money ● To set aside / hold or reserve something (UK) |
PUT DOWN | ● Insult, humiliate, criticise someone ● Suppress, stop with force ● Write down, make a note of ● Leave a deposit, make a down payment ● Put a baby or child to bed (USA) ● Euthanize an animal or pet because it ill (UK) |
PUT DOWN FOR | ● Book place as, sign up as, list as, register a name on a waiting list |
PUT DOWN TO | ● Be due to be the reason for, attribute to something |
PUT FORWARD | ● Suggest an idea, opinion or candidate ● Change the time on a clock to a later time ● Schedule to an earlier time |
PUT IN | ● Invest time or effort ● Install ● Formally submit (request, claim, proposal, etc.) ● Interrupt (a conversation) USA) ● Invest, contribute money ● Give position or place to someone ● Stop at a port (about a cruise ship) |
PUT IN FOR | ● Make formal request |
PUT OFF | ● Delay, postpone ● Make someone feel dislike for, discourage someone from doing something ● Distract ● Avoid through postponement |
PUT ON | ● Present, host, organise something ● Get dressed ● Gain weight ● Pretend, fake, recreate something ● Apply, spread on a surface ● Turn on, cause device to start working, play ● Place a bet ● Call someone to the phone ● Add to a list |
PUT OUT | ● Defeat in a sporting competition ● Hurt or injure (usually about the back or joints) ● Have sexual relations with someone (American slang) ● Stop a fire from burning, extinguish ● Place outside, give away for collection ● Inconvenience, create extra work for ● Broadcast, publish, produce and make public, introduce to market ● Move hand/arm/leg away from your body |
PUT OVER | ● Express, convey information ● postpone something (USA) |
PUT THROUGH | ● Connect someone by phone ● Make someone do something difficult ● Test or trial something ● Pay for someone’s education ● Ensure something is submitted, approved or implemented |
PUT TOGETHER | ● Create a group of people or things ● Assemble, build from separate parts ● Compile, organise, create from separate items |
PUT TOWARDS | ● Use an amount of money to cover part of the cost of something |
PUT UP | ● Build or erect something often outside ● Raise the price or value of something ● Allow someone to stay for a short time ● Fix or hang on a wall or vertical surface ● Provide a large sum of money for something ● Raise something so it is ready for use ● Suggest someone as a candidate ● Raise hand in class or meeting ● Make an effort to achieve or prevent something |
PUT UP TO | ● Encourage someone to do something bad |
PUT UP WITH | ● Tolerate someone or something unpleasant or annoying |
Exercises About ‘Put’ Phrasal Verbs
Exercise 1: Select the correct phrasal verb of put (in brackets) to fit these sentences:
Exercise 2: Select the correct phrasal verb of put (in brackets) to fit these sentences:
Exercise 3: Match the meanings to the verbs:
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