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I think, Phrasal verb is the most difficult in English learning.

NotDefinedFunction
How to dominate that? Sometimes, I am too confused and foolish when facing unfamiliar phrasal verbs. In moments like that, I try to wirte, utilize and memorize unfamiliar expressions, but there are some expressions I cannot understand easily. I think i will borther to memorize those until passed away 💀💀💀💀 Just should i read more and more?

11 comments

Jaives•
one thing you should realize is that phrasal verbs aren't a grammar issue but a vocab issue.
redceramicfrypan•
Unfortunately, many phrasal verbs are idiomatic. The best way to learn them is just to put yourself in a position to hear them used and understand them contextually. Of course, you can always practice the most common ones, like "turn on," "break down," and "look forward." As others have said, it's really a vocabulary exercise. By the way, your title would be more correctly phrased as follows: "I think phrasal verbs are the most difficult part of learning English." It would also be unusual to use "dominate" the way you did in your first sentence. It would be more understandable to say "How do I approach that?" Best of luck.
flowderp3•
Reading more and watching videos/TV/movies/etc. is definitely a good way to learn them, especially because there are many common ones that won't be taught in English classes. As others have said, over time reading and hearing them and trying to work them into your own speech/writing, you can sometimes pick up on patterns or things that feel more natural. It can also be more difficult and more fun that American English in particular invents new ones all the time. And if it helps, know that plenty of native speakers get them wrong, too. Both in the phrasal verbs themselves, and in how they're used. I believe Collins also has a dictionary of phrasal verb that includes some explanations of patterns and structure, but I'm not familiar with it myself.
Francis_Bengali•
Don't freak out or beat yourself up—phrasal verbs are difficult to get your head around. Put in the effort to jot them down, try them out, and lock them into your memory. You can't take them all in so break them down into smaller groups based on topics. Focus on travel-related ones like set off, check in, and get on, or emotions like cheer up, calm down, and chill out. Tune in to English TV shows or podcasts so you pick up phrasal verbs naturally. Notice how they pop up in everyday speech, and don’t stress out too much. Stick with it and they'll sink in eventually.
Joylime•
Make multiple flashcards for every single one, but always IN SENTENCES with clozes (spaces) And think of them as SINGLE WORDS that happen to have a space between them and the ability to split in half.
Various-Bit2113•
I love phrasal verbs and I didn't even realize they were a thing in English until recently. They are definitely something we "feel" more than we "know". To English learners they might seem like annoying substitutions for easier words that already exist, but to native speakers (or me at least) they can be packed with meaning and context that makes the words feel more "alive". For example, the phrase "come up with" means to think of or create, but it also has a sense of last-minute ingenuity, urgency, and resourcefulness. "Pick up" can mean to learn a skill, but also implies doing so passively, intuitively, and over time. "Get through to" means to communicate an important message to someone and be understood, but it makes me picture breaking through barriers between you and another and finally connecting with them on an emotional level. Unfortunately I don't think there's an easy way to master them that's not constant exposure to native speakers talking casually, but you can definitely get by with memorizing the most common/basic ones. After that, my advice would be to not just memorize the definitions, but to also pay close attention to when we use them. If you are constantly being exposed to native speakers and you're actively listening out for phrasal verbs, trust that you'll start to pick them up over time and your ability to express yourself in English will go up by a ton.
dj4653•
Wow
PunkCPA•
You may be right. There must be a little grid with verbs and prepostions. If it's in HTML, there could be definitions when the mouse goes over the cell. Is there one?
LifeHasLeft•
You’ll notice eventually that there are patterns to certain phrasal verb constructions. I’m not sure there are hard rules, but English natives can and do frequently create their own, like the recently coined “glow up” (but that one is kinda cheating because it’s based on grow up). I think the real hiccup for learners is going to be that many are context dependent. If I say “take off” it could mean to leave a place, or it could refer to something becoming popular. Unfortunately as a native I can’t say I have good advice. Try to recognize the patterns of phrasal verbs so you at least know not to take the meaning at face value, so that you can try to search for context clues instead…and maybe memorize some common ones at least.
Free-Outcome2922•
Well, they are the ones that made my grade at COU “remarkable” and not “outstanding.” About two hundred (200) had to be learned and my life motto is “useless efforts lead to melancholy.”
Xava67•
By September this year I will have been learning English for 20 years and I still sometimes cannot seem to use the right phrasal verb in a given context. I guess the best way to make sure you're using the right phrasal verb is an English-English dictionary, where any verb is explained to you.