How to Use Phrasal Verbs Correctly in a Business Environment
Are you looking to increase your business English skills?
Do you want to know the correct way to use phrasal verbs in a professional setting?
Phrasal verbs can often be difficult to understand and use correctly. In this blog post, we will provide an explanation of how to use phrasal verbs correctly in a business environment as well as examples of how to use them.
We will also explain the various types of phrasal verbs and provide examples of each.
With this knowledge, you’ll be able to impress your colleagues and clients with your new skills!
Explanation of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb and an adverb or a preposition, and can be used to express different meanings from the original verb. Phrasal verbs are common in English, especially in informal speech and writing, and can often provide color and variety to a sentence.
They are usually made up of two or three words, such as ‘pick up’, ‘look after’ and ‘take off’.
The meaning of the phrasal verb can be different from the original verb, for example ‘pick up’ means ‘to collect’ but can also mean ‘to improve’. Phrasal verbs can be transitive (requiring an object) or intransitive (not requiring an object), so it’s important to understand how they are used in context. In a business setting, understanding the nuances of phrasal verbs can help make communication clearer and more precise.
Examples of Phrasal Verbs
1. Look up — to search for information in a book, online, or other source
🗣️She looked up the address in the directory.
2. Give up — to stop trying, to surrender
🗣️I can’t solve this problem, so I give up.
3. Take off — to remove
🗣️She took off her coat before sitting down.
4. Put off — to delay something
🗣️ I’m putting off the project until next week.
5. Get away — to escape from somewhere or something
🗣️She got away from the busy city and went on vacation.
6. Take over — to gain control or power of something
🗣️The new CEO took over the company last week.
7. Break down — to stop working
🗣️My car broke down on the highway yesterday.
8. Run out — to use all of something and have none left
🗣️We ran out of coffee so we had to buy some more.
9. Hold on — to wait for a short period of time
🗣️Hold on while I make a quick call.
10. Carry on — to continue doing something
🗣️He carried on with his presentation despite the interruption.
Explanation of How to Use Phrasal Verbs
Using phrasal verbs correctly is an important part of effective communication in the business world. Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs and prepositions that create a new meaning when used together.
For example, the phrase “pick up” can mean either to lift something or to collect something. The context in which you use it will determine which definition is appropriate.
When using phrasal verbs, remember to place the object of the verb at the end of the phrase, for example, “pick up the package” rather than “pick the package up”.
This is especially important when using two-part phrasal verbs, such as “look after” or “put off”.
If the object of the verb is a pronoun (he, she, it, them), place it between the verb and preposition, for example, “look after it” or “put off them”.
It is also important to be aware of the connotation of phrasal verbs.
Some phrasal verbs may have a negative connotation when used in a business setting, while others can be more polite.
For example, instead of saying “give up”, you could say “stop trying” or “cease attempting”.
This can help you maintain a positive and professional attitude in your communications.
Finally, practice using phrasal verbs. Knowing when and how to use them effectively can take time and effort, but by practicing and being mindful of their usage in your conversations, you can become more confident and fluent in your use of them.
