Phrasal Nouns

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Phrasal nouns are related to phrasal verbs.

However, what is a phrasal verb. It is a type of verb that is formed by combining two or more verbs together to form a new verb.

Phrasal nouns can then be formed from the phrasal verb. However, the biggest difference between these two is that a phrasal noun is a single word with no spaces are connected by a hyphen.[1]https://www.dailywritingtips.com/phrasal-verbs-and-phrasal-nouns/

Common Phrasal Nouns

Below is a list of some common phrasal nouns and the phrasal verbs that they come from.[2]https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/30/phrasal-verbs-vs-nouns/

Backdown

Original Phrasal Verb: back down

Verb Example: You can’t back down from a bully.

Noun Example: There was a backdown of tensions between the two sides.

Backup

Original Phrasal Verb: back up

Verb Example: Please back up your car.

Noun Example: They didn’t have any backup plans.

Breakup

Original Phrasal Verb: break up

Verb Example: We need to break up the ice in the lake to go fishing.

Noun Example: The couple had a bad breakup.

Carry-on

Original Phrasal Verb: carry on

Verb Example: You can carry on one bag onto the plane.

Noun Example: I don’t have a lot of carry-on luggage.

Check-in

Original Phrasal Verb: check in

Verb Example: Let me check in with my boss.

Noun Example: I walked up to the check-in desk at the hotel.

Checkout

Original Phrasal Verb: check out

Verb Example: Check out that cool car!

Noun Example: I am going to pay for my stuff at the checkout counter.

Fallback

Original Phrasal Verb: fall back

Verb Example: The soldiers had to fall back from their position.

Noun Example: Do you have any fallback plans if this plan fails?

Getaway

Original Phrasal Verb: get away

Verb Example: The bad guys got away from the police.

Noun Example: The bank robbers had a getaway plan.

Handout

Original Phrasal Verb: hand out

Verb Example: He was handing out flyers.

Noun Example: I don’t need any handouts. I can earn my own money.

Hangup

Original Phrasal Verb: hang up

Verb Example: I hung up the phone.

Noun Example: Do you have any hangups with doing this job?

Layoff

Original Phrasal Verb: lay off

Verb Example: The CEO had to lay off a lot of workers today.

Noun Example: There were a lot of layoffs today at work.

Makeup

Original Phrasal Verb: make up

Verb Example: Did you just make up that joke?

Noun Example: I need to put on some makeup.

Pickup

Original Phrasal Verb: pick up

Verb Example: Don’t forget to pick up the children from school today.

Noun Example: I drive a pickup truck.

Rollover

Original Phrasal Verb: roll over

Verb Example: The rolled over onto its back.

Noun Example: There is a high rollover risk with that type of car.

Setup

Original Phrasal Verb: set up

Verb Example: Please set up the tv before the meeting.

Noun Example: It was a big setup. I swear it wasn’t my fault!

Tipoff

Original Phrasal Verb: tip off

Verb Example: The informant tipped off the police to the criminal activity.

Noun Example: The game is about to start. It is almost tipoff.

Turnover

Original Phrasal Verb: turn over

Verb Example: You can now turn over your tests and start.

Noun Example: There is a high turnover rate at that company. They are always having to hire new workers.

Warm-up

Original Phrasal Verb: warm up

Verb Example: Please warm up the food for dinner.

Noun Example: Warm-up exercises is important before heavy physical activity.

References[+]

Common Idiomatic Phrases

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Idioms are everyday expressions in common speech. Literally, idiomatic phrases often don’t make a lot of sense. Rather, they are used to express some sort of figurative meaning. Check out some of the most common English idiomatic phrases below.[1]https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-idioms/

against the clock

meaning: forced to hurry to meet a deadline

We had to pull an all nighter because we were running against the clock.

beat around the bush

meaning: to speak in a roundabout way in order to avoid confronting an unpleasant topic

Don’t beat around the bush, tell me how bad you did on the test.

best thing since sliced bread

meaning: a good idea

That’s such a great idea! It’s the best thing since sliced bread!

bring home the bacon

meaning: earn money for one’s family

I need to find a good job so that I can bring home the bacon to my family.

busy bee

meaning: a busy person

She is such a busy bee always running from one activity to the next.

cat nap

meaning: a short sleep during the day

I am not tired anymore, I took a cat nap right before this.

costs an arm and a leg

meaning: very expensive

Are you sure you want to buy that? It costs an arm and a leg!

curiosity killed the cat

meaning: stop asking questions

Stopping asking more questions, you know what they say, “curiosity killed the cat”.

cutting corners

meaning: to economize by reducing quality

This is really bad workmanship, they really have been cutting corners.

Devil’s advocate

meaning: someone who argues a point not out of conviction, but in order to air various points of view

I’ll be the Devil’s advocate to help you prepare for the debate.

green thumb

meaning: good at gardening/growing things

She really has a green thumb. It seems like whatever she touches grows!

hit the books

meaning: to study

Stop playing video games! It is time to hit the books! You have a big test tomorrow.

hit the sack

meaning: to go to sleep

I am really tired. I think I will hit the sack.

it takes two to tango

meaning: when something goes wrong involving two people

It is not just my fault! You know it takes two to tango.

jump on the bandwagon

meaning: to follow a trend or craze

All of these people here are just jumping on the bandwagon. They aren’t true fans.

lemon

meaning: a vehicle that does not work properly

My car is a lemon.

lone wolf

meaning: someone who is not very social with other people

He doesn’t really like working with others. He is more of a lone wolf.

miss the boat

meaning: miss an opportunity

I really missed the boat with that job offer.

once in a blue moon

meaning: very rare

You better try it, it doesn’t come around that often, it really is a once in a blue moon opportunity.

piece of cake

meaning: very easy

That exam was a piece of cake.

sit on the fence

meaning: not able to make a decision

Stop sitting on the fence. Make up your mind already!

sitting duck

meaning: a person or object in a vulnerable position that is easy to attack or injure

You got to move. You are a sitting duck in that position.

spill the beans

meaning: to tell a secret

Please don’t spill the beans about the surprise birthday party.

that’s corny

meaning: it’s sentimental, old, and not funny anymore

That joke is corny.

twist my arm

meaning: you convinced me

Ok! Twist my arm. I will help you.

under the weather

meaning: to be sick

Sorry, I can’t come into work today. I feel under the weather.

Ideas for these common idiomatic phrases came from the following sources. [2]https://7esl.com/english-idioms/[3]https://www.smart-words.org/quotes-sayings/idioms-meaning.html[4]https://englishstudyonline.org/important-american-idioms/

References[+]

Phrases with Get

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Get is one of the most common verbs in English. Phrases with get can mean many different things depending on the context.[1]https://englishpost.org/expressions-with-get/[2]https://www.espressoenglish.net/36-expressions-with-get/

phrases with get

Phrases with Get

Receive

Get an e-mail

I didn’t get your e-mail.

Get a present

I got a lot of presents for Christmas.

Get grades

She got good grades in High School.

Get a phone call

Did you get my phone call?

Buy or Obtain

Get a job

I have to get a job this summer to earn some money.

Get shoes

Go get your shoes so we can go on a run.

Get [something]

What did you get at the store?

Get + Adjective

Get angry

He gets angry very easily.

Get tired

I got very tired yesterday when I was working out.

Get dark

It is going to get dark soon.

Get + Comparative

Get better

The weather is getting better.

Get worse

I think my illness is getting worse.

Get more expensive

Gas is only getting more expensive.

Get + Preposition (Phrasal Verb)

Get up

I get up at 6:30 am every morning.

Get along with

I am a friendly person. I can get along with anyone.

Get out

Sorry, I am not free at that time. I don’t get out of work until 7 pm.

Get + A Place

These phrases with get mean to arrive somewhere.

For example:

Get home

I get home at 6pm every day.

Get there

When will you get there?

References[+]

Building Words with Suffixes

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Suffixes are similar to prefixes. However, they are different in that you add them to the end of a word in order to give it a different meaning.[1]https://www.thoughtco.com/common-suffixes-in-english-1692725

The Most Common English Suffixes

The 4 most common English suffixes are: -ate, -en, -(i)fy, and -ise.[2]http://www.uefap.com/vocab/build/building.htm

-ate

This suffix means cause to be.

For example:

  • differentiate
  • duplicate
  • fabricate
  • liquidate
  • pollinate

-en

This suffix means cause to be.

For example:

  • awaken
  • fasten
  • moisten
  • shorten

-(i)fy

This suffix means cause to be.

For example:

  • classify
  • exemplify
  • justify
  • simplify

-ise

This suffix means cause to be.

For example:

  • characterise
  • specialise
  • stabilise
  • symbolise
  • visualise

Some Common Suffixes

There are a lost of suffixes in English.

Below are some of the most common. If you memorize these suffixes, it can help you identify and understand words that you might have never seen before.

SuffixMeaningExample
-ablecapable of beingedible
-acystate or qualityprivacy
-alact or process ofrefusal
-alpertaining to regional
-ancestate or quality ofmaintenance
-atebecomeregulate
-domplace or state of beingfreedom
-enbecomeenlighten
-esquereminiscent of picturesque
-fulnotable forfanciful
-icpertaining tomusical
-ifymake or becometerrify
-iouscharacterized bynutritious
-ishhaving the quality ofchildish
-ismdoctrine, beliefcommunism
-istone whochemist
-ityquality ofinactivity
-ivehave the nature of creative
-izebecomecivilize
-lesswithoutendless
-mentcondition ofargument
-nessstate of beingheaviness
-shipposition heldownership
-sionstate of beingconcession
-ycharacterized bysleazy

References[+]

Building Words with Prefixes

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Prefixes are letters that you add to the front of a word in order to give it a different meaning. In many cases, it can actually completely reverse the original meaning of the word.[1]https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/prefixes

 The Most Common English Prefixes

 The 4 most common English prefixes are: dis-, in-, re-, and un-.

In fact, they make up around 58% of all English words with prefixes![2]https://howtospell-letterpatterns.co.uk/building-words-prefixes/

Dis-

This prefix means negative, not, or opposite.

For example:

  • disadvantage
  • disagree
  • disappear
  • disgrace
  • dishonest
  • dislike
  • disloyal
  • disobey
  • dissatisfied
  • distrust

In-

This prefix means negative, not, or opposite.

For example:

  • inaccurate
  • incompetent
  • incomplete
  • incorrect
  • indecent
  • indirect
  • inefficient
  • informal
  • insecure

Re-

This prefix means reverse, back, or again.

For example:

  • rebuild
  • redo
  • regain
  • remodel
  • repaint
  • replay
  • retell
  • retry
  • return
  • reuse
  • reword

Un-

This prefix means negative, not, or opposite.

For example:

  • unable
  • uncover
  • unequal
  • uneven
  • unfair
  • unkind
  • untidy
  • unusual

Hyphens

There isn’t any absolute rules for using hyphens with prefixes. The best way to known if there is a hyphen or not is to look in the dictionary.

However, there are some general rules including:

  • Use a hyphen if the prefix comes before a capital letter such as anti-European.
  • With single letter prefixes such as e-mail. However, this rule is also slowly changing.
  • With a prefix that end in a vowel and come before a word starting in a vowel such as co-operate.

Some Common Prefixes

There are a lot of prefixes in English.

Below are some of the most common. If you memorize these prefixes, it can help you identify and understand words that you might have never seen before.

Prefix Meaning Example
anti- against, opposite antimatter
de- opposite, remove deactivate
il- not illegal
im- not impossible
ir- not irresponsible
non- not nonliving
un- not unable
fore- before foreman
pre- before preplan
em- to make happen empower
en- to make happen encircle
over- to much, above overreact
super- above, beyond superman
sub- under subpar
under- under, not enough underwater
inter- between interstate
mid- middle midway
mis- wrong misbehave
semi- half, part semicircle
trans- across, change transformational

References[+]

Common Intensifying Adverbs

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There are certain adverbs called intensifying adverbs that commonly are used with other words in order to strengthen their meaning.[1]https://biblioberlitz.com/mapfre/course/esther-grammar-c1-c2-advanced/lessons/esther-intensifying-adverbs

Below are some common adverb collocations that you should know.

Intensifying Adverbs

Bitterly

This intensifying adverb is often used to express a strong negative emotion.

For example:

  • Cold: It was a bitterly cold winter.
  • Disappointed: We were bitterly disappointed in losing the match.
  • Regret: I bitterly regretted not studying for the exam.
  • Resent: She bitterly resented us for abandoning her.

Deeply

This intensifying adverb is often used with strong emotions.

For example:

  • Ashamed: I am deeply ashamed of my actions.
  • Hurt: We were deeply hurt that you did not come to the funeral.
  • Move: The movie was deeply moving.
  • Offended: They were deeply offended for not being invited to the party.

Highly

This intensifying adverb is often used to express probability.

For example:

  • Controversial: That is a highly controversial topic.
  • Effective: This is a highly effective form of therapy.
  • Probable: It is highly probable that you will get in a crash.
  • Unlikely: It is highly unlikely that anything bad will happen.

Ridiculously

This intensifying adverb is often used when something is extreme or difficult to believe.

For example:

  • Cheap: The sale is great. All the stuff in the store are ridiculously cheap!
  • Easy: The exam was ridiculously easy.
  • Long: That was a ridiculously long journey.
  • Small: We have a ridiculously small car for the number of people we need to take.

Strongly

This intensifying adverb is often used to express opinions.

For example:

  • Believe: I strongly believe that exercise and a healthy diet are good for you.
  • Deny: The defendant strongly denied their involvement in the crime.
  • Dislike: She strongly dislikes vegetables.
  • Support: We strongly support your decision.

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Similes and Metaphors

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Similes and metaphors are two of the most popular ways that writers can create a mental image for their reader. They help make a text more interesting.

similes

Similes

You can use similes to compare two seemingly unlike things by using the words “like” or “as”.

For example:

  • He is as tall as a giant!
  • It is like the North Pole in this room.
  • Your skin is white as snow.
  • I slept like a baby.
  • You have eyes as black as midnight.
  • You are walking as slow as a snail! Hurry up!
  • She has reflexes like a cat.
  • Your smile brightens the room like the sun.
  • Run like the wind!

Metaphors

You can use metaphors to compare two seemingly unlike things. However, unlike a simile you don’t use “like” or “as”. Rather, you say that something ‘is’ something else.[1]https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/marvellous-metaphors

This helps make the image much stronger than a simile.

For example:

  • You are a giant!
  • It is the North Pole in this room.
  • Thanks for helping! You’re an angel.
  • That computer is an old dinosaur.

Practice Exercise

Read each of the following sentences. Identify the two subjects being compared and state whether the sentence is a simile or a metaphor.

 10%

Question 1 of 10

1. She has the heart of a lion.

Question 1 of 10

Question 2 of 10

2. My hands are as cold as ice.

Question 2 of 10

Question 3 of 10

3. She is as smart as a fox.

Question 3 of 10

Question 4 of 10

4. You are as sharp as a tack.

Question 4 of 10

Question 5 of 10

5. Our neighbors are angels. They help us all the time.

Question 5 of 10

Question 6 of 10

6. That man is a pig.

Question 6 of 10

Question 7 of 10

7. She has hair as white as snow.

Question 7 of 10

Question 8 of 10

8. The situation is a volcano ready to explode.

Question 8 of 10

Question 9 of 10

9. Their voice is as tiny as a mouse.

Question 9 of 10

Question 10 of 10

10. He has abs as hard as a rock.

Question 10 of 10


 

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Reflexive Pronouns

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Reflexive pronouns are pronouns ending in –self or –selves that are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same.[1]https://www.grammarly.com/blog/reflexive-pronouns/

reflexive pronouns

Direct Objects

Reflexive pronouns can be a direct object in the sentence.

For example:

  • I hurt myself playing hockey.
  • The girl kicked herself.
  • I am teaching myself to speak English.

Indirect Objects

They can be an indirect object in the sentence.

For example:

  • We made ourselves some coffee.
  • She made herself a sandwich for lunch.
  • They can teach themselves the lesson.

Intensive Pronouns

Intensive pronouns are a type of reflexive pronoun that is used to emphasize the subject.[2]https://slideplayer.com/slide/9013049/

For example:

  • She herself did all the work.
  • He himself paid for the meal.
  • I myself did all of the work.

Common Reflexive Pronoun Errors

Reflexive pronouns are commonly misused in the following grammatical areas:

Compound Subjects

For example:

Incorrect: Susie and myself will study.

The easiest way to understand that this is incorrect is by splitting up the subjects.

You can’t say

Myself will study.

Rather you would say

I will study.

Therefore, the correct sentence becomes

Correct: Susie and I will study.

Compound Objects

For example:

Incorrect: You can hand in the project to Frank and myself.

The easiest way to understand that this is incorrect is by splitting up the objects.

You can’t say

You can hand in the project to myself.

Rather you would say

You can hand in the project to me.

Therefore, the correct sentence becomes

Correct: You can hand in the project to Frank and me.

References[+]

Inversion

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In English, an inversion is the reversal of the normal word order, putting the verb before the subject.[1]https://www.thoughtco.com/inversion-grammar-term-1691193

So when do we use inversions?

Questions

The most well-known case to use an inversion is in a question.

For example:

Phrase: You are hungry.

Question: Are you hungry?

In this case, the verb goes before the subject. However, there are cases where an auxiliary verb is used. In those cases, only the auxiliary verb goes before the subject.

For example:

Phrase: She is going to go to the store.

Question: Is she going to go to the store.

Negative Adverbs

You can use a inversions when a negative adverb or adverb phrase is at the beginning of a sentence.

For example:

  • Never had I seen such a beautiful sunset in my whole life.
  • Seldom do we eat so well.
  • Nowhere have I had such bad service.

Conditionals

You can replace the “if” in a conditional with a inversions when using words such as had, were, and should.

This is a more formal way of speaking.

For example:

Normal conditional: If I had studied, I would have done well on the test.

Inversion: Had I studied, I would have done well on the test.

Adverbial Expression of Place

You can use an inversion to replace an adverbial expression of place. Similar to the previous example this is quite formal.

For example:

Adverbial Expression of Place: All the candy that we had received for trick-or-treating on Halloween was on the table.

Inversion: On the table was all the candy we had received for trick-or-treating on Halloween.

So + Adjective…that

You can use an inversion after the phrase “so + adjective…that”.

For example:

Original sentence: The turkey was so big that we couldn’t fit it in the oven.

Inversion: So big was the turkey that we couldn’t fit it in the oven.

Practice Exercises

Restructure the following phrases to form an inversion.

Please go to Inversion to view this quiz

References[+]

Prepositions in Relative Clauses

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In English, we often use prepositions in relative clauses. These include words such as at, on, in, before, and after.[1]https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-grammar/preposition-placement-relative-clauses/

Formal Speech

In formal speech, we place the preposition before the relative pronoun.

For example:

  • Is that the person with whom she talked?
  • The lawyer with whom we are arguing against is known as the best.
  • She liked the roommates with whom she lived.
  • The chapel in which they had their wedding was very beautiful.
  • That is the car in which he prefers to drive.
  • The neighborhood in which we lived was full of mansions.
  • The classroom in which we studied was freezing!

As you can see, this sounds rather formal. As such, in informal speech we tend to follow a different pattern.

Informal Speech

In informal speech, prepositions in relative clauses go after the relative clause.

For example:

  • Is that the person (who) she talked with?
  • The lawyer (who) we are arguing with is known as the best.
  • She liked the roommates (that) she lived with.
  • The chapel (that) that they had their wedding in was very beautiful.
  • That is the car (that) he prefers to drive in.
  • The neighborhood (that) we lived in was full of mansions.
  • The classroom (that) we studied in was freezing!

References[+]