oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

28 PHRASAL VERBS AND PATTERNS WITH PREPOSITIONS PAGE 306
c
d
Some verbs can take a number of different adverbs.
The child took two steps and fell down.
Enthusiasm for the project has fallen off. (= become less)
Kevin and Diana have fallen out. (= quarrelled)
I'm afraid the deal fell through. (= didn't happen)
And the most common adverbs go with many different verbs.
The cat got up a tree and couldn't climb down.
I can't bend down in these trousers.
A pedestrian was knocked down by a car.
Interest rates may come down soon.
A phrasal verb can have more than one meaning, often a concrete and an abstract
meaning.
We've been to the supermarket. Gavin is bringing in the groceries.
The government are bringing in a new law. (= introducing)
2 Some common adverbs
Here are some adverbs used in phrasal verbs.
back = in return
ring/phone you back later, invite someone back, get your money back
down = to the ground
knocked down/pulled down the old hospital, burn down, cut down a tree, break
down a door
down = on paper
write down the number, copy down, note down, take down
down = becoming less
turn down the volume, slow down, afire dying down, let down the tyres
down = stopping completely
a car that broke down, a factory closing down
off = away, departing/removing
start off/set off on a journey, clear off, a plane taking off, see someone off, sell
goods off cheaply, strip off wallpaper
off = away from work
knocking off at five (informal), take a day off
off = disconnected
put off/turn off/switch off the heating, cut off our water, ring off
off = succeeding
the plan didn't come off, managed to pull it off
on = wearing
trying a coat on, had a sweater on, put my shoes on
on = connected
put/turned/switched the cooker on
on = continuing
go on/carry on a bit longer, work on late, hang on/hold on (= wait), keep on
doing something
out= away, disappearing
rub out these pencil marks, cross out, wipe out, put out afire, turn out the light,
blow out a candle, iron out the creases