Synonym: carry out, follow out, follow through, follow up, go through, implement. Similar words: cut through, get through, through, go through, throughout, all through, run through, fall through. Meaning: v. 1. pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue 2. connect by telephone.
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1) At last we successfully put through the business deal.
2) He asked to be put through to Charley Lunn.
3) The new recruits were put through their paces.
4) Ask to be put through to me personally.
5) Trainee commandos are put through an exhausting assault course.
6) The trainees were put through an assault course.
7) These proposals have to be put through several committees.
Your call has been put through.
9) New employees are put through a course of training.
10) Youngsters will be put through their paces by qualified instructors.
11) The soldiers were put through eight weeks of basic training.
12) The recruits were put through a week of grueling endurance tests.
13) All the candidates were put through their paces during the television debate.
14) The recruits were put through a week of gruelling endurance tests.
15) Candidates are put through the mill by the Senate.
16) There was a note put through her letterbox.
17) The car is put through rigorous road performance tests.
18) Ernie put through a phone call to Rhonda.
19) Back in his office he put through a call to the colonel.
20) By mistake I had been put through not to the hospital but to a psychiatric ward.
21) Prospective buyers could see the horses put through their paces down a street that still bears the name Horsefair.
22) Calls from President Kennedy and President Johnson were put through to that room.
23) He was put through to Jane F.. Schleicher(sentencedict.com),[http://sentencedict.com/put through.html] an assistant librarian.
24) Much of the documentary evidence against her had been put through the shredder before she was arrested.
25) Production will start up again when these changes have been put through.
26) A second squadron, B, would be formed at Kabrit from fresh volunteers and put through a crash training programme.
27) Their retail branches are a fixed cost, so the more business they put through them the better.
28) The calves were to feed then, and the milk put through the separator to take the cream off.
29) Joshua found a seat and watched Hyacinth Scragg being put through her paces.
30) Andrew Culf Three ambulance crews from Fulham dealt with emergencies yesterday after the 999 calls were put through to them.
More similar words: cut through, get through, through, go through, throughout, all through, run through, fall through, come through, pass through, look through, pull through, break through, carry through, follow through, drought, roughly, thorough, at the thought of, thoroughly, put to, throat, dough, throw off, throw up, enough, though, bathroom, throw away, ought to.
Both “through” and “throughout” have the same base word connection to them. For some people, this makes knowing the difference a little more confusing than it has to be. In this article, we’ll look at what sets them apart and how to use them the correct way.
What Is The Difference Between “Through” And “Throughout”?
Through should be used when talking about starting on one end of something and either coming out or stopping at the other end. Throughout should be used when talking about something that is in every part of a place or object.
The definition of “through,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “from one end or side of something to the other.”
The definition of “throughout,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “in every part, or during the whole period of time.”
We find that these definitions help us to explain the immediate difference better. Of course, there is a certain amount of overlap between both of the words, and there are instances where they’re interchangeable.
Generally, though, “through” means “one end to the other,” while “throughout” means “in every corner.”
It doesn’t always have to be a directional or locational definition, either:
- Throughout time, man has struggled to understand the intricate way the world works.
As you can see, we can also use “throughout” when we’re talking about a period of time instead.
Is “Through” Or “Throughout” Used The Most?
While the two words aren’t identical, it’s good to know which one is more common to use in English. Many people have their preferences, and sometimes it helps to see what’s popular to make your own decisions.
If you look at this graph, you’ll see that “through” is by far the more popular choice of the two. We’ve compared the appearance of the two words in pieces of literature and determined that “through” is a good choice, whereas “throughout” is usually left aside.
So, what makes this difference between the two words so apparent? Well, most of it probably comes down to the context where the two words make the most sense.
Generally, when we use “through,” we’re talking about something going from one end to the other. It’s common to talk about paths that people or objects take using the word “through.”
- It went straight through me, and I needed to throw up!
- I wandered through the forest.
As you can see, common situations like this make it a lot easier to use “through” in a sentence.
However, with the likes of “throughout,” we’re usually talking more about being in every place and corner of something. More specifically, we might also be talking about time periods or something similar to talk about things that have always happened.
- They didn’t stop screaming throughout the night.
- Throughout history, discrimination has been everywhere.
Generally, these examples aren’t all that common to come across. You won’t see them nearly as often as chances with using the word “through.” That’s part of the reason why “through” is so much more popular if you refer to the graph.
7 Examples Of How To Use “Through” In A Sentence
It would help us even more if we could go through some helpful examples. We’ll start by putting “through” in a sentence so you can see what we mean about it.
“Through” means that something has gone in one end and either come out or stopped at the other. There’s always a distinct and noticeable path mentioned when we use “through.”
- I walked through the school corridors until I found my class.
- You need to go through the proper authorities before you can do something like that.
- We should go through our bags to find what we’re looking for!
- They went through my belongings without my permission.
- Are you saying that you’re through with me?
- I wandered through the forest alone.
- The bee carried the pollen through the fields.
As you can see, “through” is mostly used when we’re talking about a movement or direction of some kind. There’s always a distinct path mentioned, and it’s usually a physical thing that someone can take to get to the other side.
You may also hear the phrase “we’re through” when someone is talking about something being over (like a relationship or being caught committing a crime). In this case, the path is a more metaphorical one that talks about the journey two (or more) people have taken together.
“Throughout” is never interchangeable with “through” in this sense because it doesn’t talk about a pathway of any kind. However, you might have more luck using “through” instead of “throughout.”
7 Examples Of How To Use “Throughout” In A Sentence
We find that examples are some of the easiest ways to pick up on new language rules, so we’ll also walk you through some of the best sentences using “throughout.”
“Throughout” is used when we want to talk about an entire space filling up. It might also refer to time being filled up as well.
- It echoed throughout the entire audience.
- I’ve traveled throughout the lands to find what I’m looking for.
- Throughout time, we’ve never found the answer to whether we’re alone in the universe.
- It’s hard to know what else is out there throughout space.
- There have been some terrible people throughout history.
- Thousands of people throughout this city are unemployed.
- He was laughing throughout the entire comedy skit.
When we use “throughout,” we’re talking about something that fills every corner in. If it’s a physical space, it means that the whole space is filled. If it’s not a physical space, it talks about an entire time frame being filled up instead.
Through And Throughout – Synonyms
Let’s go over some synonyms to help you understand the words slightly better. With alternative words, you can also have more choices to make. This will expand your vocabulary and make it much easier for you to explore new ideas.
- All over
This is a great synonym for “throughout” because it’s talking about something being “all over” an object or place.
- All through
Instead of saying “throughout,” we can use the phrase “all through” to also indicate that something has happened for a long period of time.
- During
This is a great synonym for “through.” We can use it when we want to show that someone did something while an activity or event happened.
Is It “Throughout” Or “Through Out”?
When we want to use the word “throughout” correctly, it’s important to know how to spell it. If you can remember which is the correct way, then you’ll never run into a problem with using it.
“Throughout” is the correct spelling. You should not spell it “through out” at any time.
“Throughout” is a word that is indeed made up of two separate words, “through” and “out.” However, when we include them together and remove the space separating them, it gives the words a different meaning. That’s why it’s important to remember to make them one word at all times.
Is Through A Noun Or A Verb?
When you’re learning English, it’s useful to know what types of words you’re working with. We know that nouns are “named” objects and verbs are “doing” words, but neither of those applies when we use the word “through.”
“Through” is an adverb that we use to modify other verbs in a sentence. We use it with other verbs like “walk” in the sentence, “I walk through the building.” Without “through,” the verb “walk” isn’t modified correctly.
Of course, “through” can also be used as a preposition. Generally, we include it as a preposition to mean “as a result of.” It’s less common in this form, but it’s the other way that we can use “through” in a sentence.
Is It Ever Correct To Use “Thru”?
If you want to shorten the word “through,” you might be curious about “thru” as a choice. You might even have seen it written down a few times. Let’s see when it’s correct to use.
“Thru” is not the correct spelling for “through” in formal writing. You should always stick to spelling it “through.” However, in informal writing, like texting, you can replace the word and use “thru” whenever you want.
There is one example where we might be able to use “thru,” even in formal situations, and it’s the most famous case of it in the known world.
The phrase “drive-through” is something that we apply (mostly to restaurants) when we’re able to drive up to a service window and order what we want to. However, this phrase is spelled “thru” when it’s used in all situations.
- The coffee shop drive-thru is just around the corner.
- Do you want to order from the drive-thru?
Even in formal situations, “drive-thru” is an acceptable use of the misspelling.
Does “Threw” Have The Same Meaning As “Thru” And “Through”?
While “through” and “thru” sound a lot like “threw,” that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
“Threw” is a past-tense verb meaning you launched something through the air. It has no other similarities besides how it sounds to the word “through.”
Does “Go Through” Have The Same Meaning As “Through” Or “Throughout”?
“Go through” means the same as “through” because we’re using the verb “go” and the adverb “through” to show that someone is going through a path. However, “go through” is not the same as “throughout” because “go” implies a direction.
Does “Thoroughly” Have The Same Meaning As “Through” Or “Throughout”?
“Thoroughly” is a word that’s similar spelled but has no related meanings to either “through” or “throughout.” “Thoroughly” means you spent a lot of time doing something and has nothing to do with going through something or being throughout a place or time.
What Is The Difference Between “Throughout” And “Along”?
“Throughout” means that something is present at every point. “Along” means that something is moving in a constant direction. There are no similarities between them, as “along” talks more about one singular line.
Common Confusions About “Through” And “Throughout”
Let’s finish up by looking at some of the biggest confusions between “through” and “throughout” with the most common phrases.
Through The Years Or Throughout The Years?
“Through the years” is more appropriate when you’re talking about something you’ve done over the course of a few years in your life. “Throughout the years” only works if you’ve spent every year of your life dedicated to that thing (which is impossible).
- I’ve learned a lot about this through the years.
Through The Day Or Throughout The Day?
“Through the day” is used when you want to get through the course of a day; it implies a path you take to get from morning to night. “Throughout the day” is used when you talk about something that occurred during the entire course of the day.
- I need to get through the day.
- I had a headache throughout the day.
Through The Night Or Throughout The Night?
“Through the night” is used when you want to talk about the course of a night (from sunset to sunrise). “Throughout the night” is used when talking about the night as a whole and applying it to every possible time in it.
- I didn’t sleep through the night very well.
A dog was howling throughout the night!
Through Time Or Throughout Time?
“Throughout time” is the most appropriate choice when talking about things that have happened throughout time (generally historically). “Through time” only works if you’re capable of traveling through time (which is impossible).
- Throughout time, we’ve learned a lot about ourselves as a civilization.
Through History Or Throughout History?
“Throughout history” is synonymous with “throughout time” and is the most appropriate choice to talk about historical events that all lead to the present. “Through history” only applies to one singular path or track in history that you’re focusing on and is rarely used.
- There have been many mistakes made throughout history.
Walk Through Or Walk Thru?
“Walk through” is the correct spelling and should be the only one you use. It uses the verb “walk” and the adverb “through.” “Walk thru” is a misspelling, but you can use it informal cases like texting friends.
- We walk through the park together.
You may also like: “Throughout The Years” vs. “Over The Years”
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
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PUT ACROSS
a) Give opinion clearly, explain an idea well, describe articulately
‘I thought Emily put her views on politics across really well during the discussion.’
b) Speak and express yourself clearly, make a positive impression
‘When David spoke in front of the class, he put himself across really well.’
PUT ASIDE
a) Keep or save something for later
‘I always put aside my best suit for special occasions.’
‘You really should put some money aside for your retirement!’
‘Hardworking parents still need to put time aside for their children.’
b) Not allow yourself to be negatively affected by something, ignore temporarily
‘Mike and his girlfriend were able to put aside their differences because they loved each other.’
‘Jim has put his problems aside and is now getting on with his life.’
PUT AWAY
a) Return something to its usual place
‘Arthur put away his car keys and his wallet.’
‘Tell the kids to put their toys away before bedtime!’
b) Send to prison or a mental hospital
‘If you commit a serious crime and get caught, you could be put away for life!’
‘That woman’s crazy! They should put her away.’
c) Save (up) money
‘You should consider putting some money away for your grandchildren each month.’
d) Consume food or drink quickly or in large quantities (informal)
‘I went to the pub with Emily last night. That girl can really put her beer away!’
e) Score a goal (informal)
‘Ronaldo skinned the keeper and put it away in the 91st minute! What a goal!’
PUT BACK
a) Postpone, delay, schedule for a later date
‘Tell John that the meeting has been put back until next week.’
b) Return something to its original location
‘When I finished reading, I put the book back (in the drawer).’
c) Change a clock/watch to an earlier time
‘When do we put the clocks back? I know it’s sometime in October.’
d) Delay or hold up progress
‘The economic crisis in Europe has put back production in several key industries.’
PUT BY
Save (up) money
‘I try to put a fiver (£5) by each week to give to charity.’
In English, there are often several ways of saying the same thing. For example, ‘put by’, ‘put away’ and ‘put aside’ can all be used to describe the process of saving money to spend later. Another example of this is ‘put down’, which can mean the same as ‘take down’ and ‘write down’ (record in writing).
PUT DOWN
a) Insult, humiliate, criticise
‘As a child, Jennifer never liked her aunt because she always put her down.’
‘I wish you’d stop putting yourself down. You can do this job standing on your head!’
b) Kill an animal or pet because it is old or ill
‘The poor dog had to be put down because it couldn’t walk anymore.’
c) Suppress, stop with force
‘Armed police have put down another riot in the city of Cairo.’
d) Write down, make a note of
‘Can you speak a bit slower, please? I’m struggling to put all this down!’ (Also: take down)
‘Let’s put some ideas down on paper before we start the meeting.’
e) Leave a deposit, make a down payment
‘Rob and Lucy have put down £30,000 on a house near their son’s school.’
f) Put a baby to bed
‘Little Alfie has kept me awake all this week! Can you put him down tonight?’
NOTE: When we say ‘put down’ about a baby, it does not mean we are going to kill an annoying child! Meanings b) and f) above are very different! Phrasal verbs often have multiple meanings so you must pay attention to the context in order to understand them correctly.
PUT DOWN FOR
Book place as, sign up as, list as
‘Shall I put you down for swimming classes on a Monday, or would you prefer gymnastics?’
‘I’m happy to donate to your charity. Please, put me down for £10.’ (Record pledge)
PUT DOWN TO
Be due to, be the reason for, attribute to
‘John’s made a few mistakes, but I think we can put that down to inexperience.’
PUT FORWARD
a) Suggest an idea, opinion or candidate
‘At the open day, Hannah put forward her opinions on veganism.’
‘I’d like to put Marie Walker forward as the new chairwoman for our committee.’
b) Change the time on a clock to a later time
‘The school children put the clock forward so the lesson would finish earlier.’
c) Schedule to an earlier time
‘Our annual conference has been brought forward by a week.’
‘If you bring the deadline forward, then we are not going to complete the project on time!’
PUT IN
a) Invest time or effort
‘The amount of money you make depends on the work you put in.’
‘I had to put in an extra 3 hours today to cover for an absent colleague.’
b) Install
‘Jim and Henrietta are having their new kitchen put in next week.’
‘What’s going on with all the roadwork? Are they putting in a new bus lane?’
c) Formally submit (request, claim, proposal, etc.)
‘Our charity has put in a grant application for additional laptops and printers.’
d) Interrupt
‘“Why don’t we just postpone the project?” she loudly put in.’
Phrasal verbs are not always logical! For example, you can ‘put on’ a shirt, but you cannot ‘put off’ a shirt. Instead, we say ‘take off’. You cannot say ‘take on’ to mean ‘get dressed’ because this means ‘to hire’! It is always best to learn phrasal verbs with several examples in context.
e) Invest, contribute money
‘When the business started, each of the investors each put in £20,000.’
f) Give position or place to someone
‘They had to put in a new Head Teacher because the school was failing to meet its targets.’
‘Local voters put the Democrats in because they were angry with the ruling party.’ (Elected)
g) Stop at a port (about a ship)
‘The tall ships put in at Cape Town on their 1000 mile voyage.’
PUT IN FOR
Make formal request
‘After a failed office romance, Mary put in for a transfer to a different company branch.’
‘Have you put in for your provisional driving licence yet?’
PUT OFF
a) Delay, postpone
‘When are you going to learn to drive? You can’t keep putting it off forever!’
b) Make someone feel dislike for, discourage someone from doing something
‘Steve had dirty shoes on the date. That really put me off (him)!’
‘I would’ve gone into medicine, but was put off by the long hours.’
c) Distract
‘I am trying to concentrate, but you’re putting me off! Can you please keep the noise down?’
d) Avoid through postponement
‘I keep putting my mum off, but she really wants you to come round for dinner!’
PUT ON
a) Present, host, organise something
‘The Globe Theatre in London puts on a lot of fantastic plays.’
‘Our local pub is putting on a gig for charity next month.’ (Concert)
‘There are lots of parents joining the school trip so we’ll have to put on extra minibuses.’
b) Gain weight
‘David’s put on a few pounds over Christmas, hasn’t he?’
‘I’ve put a bit on since I quit the gym. I really need to do more exercise!’
c) Get dressed, start wearing
‘He put on his coat and left the house.’
d) Pretend, fake, recreate something
‘Olivia put on an American accent because she thought it made her sound cool.’
e) Apply, spread on surface
‘Hotdogs are really tasty if you put some mustard on (them).’
‘My girlfriend always puts makeup on before we go out.’
f) Turn on, cause device to start working, play
‘Do you mind if I put the TV on?
‘Put the kettle on and we’ll have a nice cup of tea!’
‘I’ve just bought this new CD. Can I put it on?’
‘If I’m home late, can you put the dinner on?’ (Start cooking with a cooker/oven)
g) Place a bet
‘Geoff put £10 on Arsenal to win the cup final.’
h) Call to the phone
‘Jessica’s just upstairs. Hang on a minute and I’ll put her on!’
i) Add, apply to
‘Farmers are asking supermarkets to put 10p on a litre of milk to help cover production costs.’
‘These days, parents put too much pressure on their kids to perform well at school.’
j) Give responsibility for
‘Junior doctors are often put on night shifts because older members of staff have families.’
k) Prescribe treatment, medicine
‘The doctor has put me on some stronger painkillers.’
PUT OUT
a) Defeat in a sporting competition
‘Everybody laughed when Iceland put England out of the Euro’s.’
b) Hurt or injure (usually about the back or joints)
‘John’s put his shoulder out playing tennis so he won’t be joining us for our match.’
c) Have sexual relations with someone (American slang)
‘I heard Jenny puts out on the first date!’
Bear in mind that phrasal verbs can have unexpected slang meanings! ‘Put out’ is one example of this, but there are many others used in everyday English. For instance, ‘make out’ (USA) and ‘get off’ (UK) both meaning ‘to kiss’.
d) Stop from burning, extinguish
‘The bouncer put his cigarette out and went back inside the night club.’
‘Put out that fire before anyone sees we’re camping here!’
‘I’m going to bed now. Please, put the lights out when you come up.’
e) Place outside, give away for collection
‘I put the bin out early every Thursday morning.’ (For rubbish collection)
‘In winter, we like to put some bread out for the birds in the garden.’
‘We have to put the cat out at night so it doesn’t scratch the furniture.’
‘Can you put the washing out when it stops raining?’ (Hang on the washing line to dry)
f) Inconvenience, create extra work for
‘I can easily stay at a hotel. Please don’t put yourself out just because I’m coming to visit!’
g) Broadcast, publish, produce and make public, introduce to market
‘When is your band putting out its first album?’
‘Hollywood puts out loads of films that never get shown at the cinema.’
‘Apple puts out a new iPhone once a year.’
‘The police have put out an official statement following the bank robbery.’
h) Move hand/arm/leg away from your body
‘If you want to stop a bus in the UK, you need to put your arm out.’ (Give arm signal)
PUT OVER
Express, convey information
‘During the presentation, I thought June put her main point over very clearly.’
PUT THROUGH
a) Connect someone by phone
‘Please hold while I put you through to our sales team.’
b) Make someone do something difficult
‘I’ve put myself through a tough week of training in preparation for the marathon.’
c) Test or trial something
‘The new drug was put through several trials before it was officially accepted.’
‘Our boss puts all new employees through a series of cognitive tests.’
d) Pay for someone’s education
‘Josh’s dad put him through’
e) Ensure something is submitted, approved or implemented
‘With this substantial majority, the ruling party can put through its new measures on housing.’
‘The local council has put through plans to redevelop the city centre.’
‘Has your application been put through yet, or are you still waiting to hear back from them?’
PUT TOGETHER
a) Create a group of people or things
‘Our company has put together a football team, but it’s not very good!’
‘The think tank has put a group of experts together to tackle the research project.’
b) Assemble, build from separate parts
‘The IKEA wardrobe took 4 hours to put together!’
‘My son has taken the computer apart and now I don’t know how to put it back together!’
c) Compile, organise, create from separate items
‘We’ve put together a set of simple rules to help staff keep the office tidy.’
‘I’ve put this CD together for you. It has all my favourite 80s tracks!’
‘The art students put the exhibition together at short notice.’
PUT TOWARDS
Use an amount of money to cover part of the cost of something
‘If you give Rob some money for his birthday, he’ll put it towards a new mountain bike.’
PUT UP
a) Build or erect
‘We’re planning to put up a new shed at the bottom of our garden.’
‘They’re putting up a primary school on the site of the old cinema.’
‘Let’s put the tent up now because it’ll be dark soon.’
b) Raise the price or value of something
‘Supermarkets have put their prices up’
‘The Bank of England has decided to put up interest rates.’
c) Allow someone to stay for a short time
‘I had nowhere to stay, so my friends agreed to put me up for a couple of nights.’
d) Fix or hang on a wall or vertical surface
‘Where do you think we should put this picture up?’
‘Do you mind if I put up some posters in the window of your cafe?’
‘Can you help me to put up some shelves in the garage?’
e) Provide a large sum of money for something
‘An anonymous businessman has put up £10,000 to help rebuild the church roof.’
f) Raise something so it is ready for use
‘It’s raining! Put your umbrella up!’
‘If it’s windy and you’re cold, why don’t you put your hood up?’
g) Suggest someone as a candidate
‘The Democrats have chosen not to put up a candidate in this constituency.’
h) Raise hand
‘If you know the answer, please put up your hand.’
i) Make an effort to achieve or prevent something
‘The rebels put up a spirited fight, but were eventually overcome by government forces.’
PUT UP TO
a) Encourage someone to do something bad
‘Mike stole some sweets because his girlfriend put him up to it.’
PUT UP WITH
a) Tolerate someone or something unpleasant or annoying
‘Nathan puts up with his little sister even though she can be annoying at times.’
‘I know you don’t like your new school, but you’ll just have to put up with it for now.’
QUIZ: Test your knowledge of phrasal verbs with ‘put’!
TASK A
Choose the appropriate phrasal verb to complete the sentences below:
- I don’t know how you put up/put up with/put up to your boss. He’s such a bully!
- Our sales are down 10% this year. What would you put this down/put this down to/put this down for?
- The financial crisis put the UK economy off/put the UK economy back/put the UK economy down 5 years.
- I really don’t want John to come to our wedding. Is there any way we can put him off coming/put him out coming/put him out coming?
- I want to put up to/put up/put down some shelves this weekend. Can you give me a hand?
TASK B
Match the phrasal verbs 1-5 with their correct meanings a-e:
- Put up
- Put aside
- Put down
- Put together
- Put forward
- Assemble, build from individual parts
- Suggest an idea, give your view
- Fix to a vertical surface
- Insult, criticise
- Ignore, not allow yourself to be affected by
Your answers: 1 = __, 2 = __, 3 = __, 4 = __, 5 = __.
Bonus task: To test your understanding of these phrasal verbs with ‘put’, try to write one sentence for each of them.
TASK C
Fill in the gaps with an appropriate ‘put’ phrasal verb:
- I don’t smoke. Would you mind putting _______ your cigarette?
- If you give me some money for Xmas, then I can put it _______ a new laptop.
- I’d be happy to donate! Put me _______ £15 and I’ll give you the cash next week.
- Laura would never steal anything! Perhaps a friend put her _______ it?
- Even though my parents were poor, they still put me _______
ANSWERS
TASK A: put up with, put down to, put back, put off, put up
TASK B: 1/c, 2/e, 3/d, 4/a, 5/b
TASK C: put out, put towards, put down for, put up to, put through
How did you score?
Remember to download your free copy of this guide to use anytime! Practice makes perfect.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
James F.
— Staff Writer.
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Unit 137- Part A
We often use verbs with the following words:
| in out |
on off |
up down |
away back |
round through |
about along |
over forward |
by |
So you can say look out / get on / take off / run away etc. These are phrasal verbs.
We often use on/off/out etc. with verbs of movement. For example:
| get on drive off come back turn round |
• The bus was full. We couldn’t get on. • A woman got into the car and drove off. • Sally is leaving tomorrow and coming back on Saturday. • When I touched him on the shoulder, he turned round. |
| But often the second word (on/off/out etc.) gives a special meaning to the verb. For example: | |
| break down look out take off get on get by |
• Sorry I’m late. The car broke down. (= the engine stopped working) • Look out! There’s a car coming. (= be careful) • It was my first flight. I was nervous as the plane took off. (= went into the air) • How was the exam? How did you get on? (= How did you do?) • My French isn’t very good, but it’s enough to get by. (= manage) |
For more phrasal verbs, see Units 138-145.
Unit 137- Part B
Sometimes a phrasal verb is followed by a preposition. For example:
| phrasal verb |
preposition |
|
| run away keep up look up look forward |
from with at to |
• Why did you run away from me? • You’re walking too fast. I can’t keep up with you. • We looked up at the plane as it flew above us. • Are you looking forward to your holiday? |
Unit 137- Part C
Exercises
{slide=1 Complete each sentence using a verb from A + a word from B.}
Complete each sentence using a verb from A (in the correct form) + a word from B. You can use a word more than once.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}2 sit down
3 flew away
4 get out
5 speak up
6 get by
7 gone up
8 looked round{end-tooltip}
| A{xtypo_rounded3}fly get go look sit speak{/xtypo_rounded3} | B{xtypo_rounded3}away by down on out round up {/xtypo_rounded3} |
1 The bus was full. We couldn’t get in .
2 I’ve been standing for the last two hours. I’m going to ________________ for a bit.
3 A cat tried to catch the bird, but it ________________ just in time.
4 We were trapped in the building. We couldn’t ________________.
5 I can’t hear you very well. Can you ________________ a little?
6 ‘Do you speak German?’ ‘Not very well, but I can ________________.’
7 House prices are very high. They’ve ________________ a lot in the last few years.
8 I thought there was somebody behind me, but when I ________________, there was nobody there.
{/slide} {slide=2 Complete the sentences using a word from A and a word from B.}Complete the sentences using a word from A and a word from B. You can use a word more than once.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}2 back at
3 up to
4 forward to
5 away with
6 up at
7 in through{end-tooltip}
| A{xtypo_rounded3}away back forward in up{/xtypo_rounded3} | B{xtypo_rounded3}at through to with{/xtypo_rounded3} |
1 You’re walking too fast. I can’t keep up with you.
2 My holidays are nearly over. Next week I’ll be ____________ work.
3 We went ____________ the top floor of the building to admire the view.
4 Are you looking ____________ the party next week?
5 There was a bank robbery last week. The robbers got ____________ £50,000.
6 I love to look ____________ the stars in the sky at night.
7 I was sitting in the kitchen when suddenly a bird flew ____________ the open window.
{/slide} {slide=3 Complete the sentences using the following verbs.}Complete the sentences using the following verbs + it/them/me:
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}2 wake me up
3 get it out
4 give them back
5 switch it on
6 take them off{end-tooltip}
1 They gave me a form and told me to fill it in .
2 I’m going to bed now. Can you ___________ at 6.30?
3 I’ve got something in my eye and I can’t ___________.
4 I don’t like it when people borrow things and don’t ___________.
5 I want to use the kettle. How do I ___________?
6 My shoes are dirty. I’d better ___________ before going into the house. {/slide} {slide=4 Use your own ideas to complete the sentences.}Use your own ideas to complete the sentences. Use a noun (this newspaper etc.) or a pronoun (it/them etc.) + the word in brackets (away/up etc.).
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}3 I have to take them back
4 We can turn the television off or We can turn off the television
5 I knocked it over
6 I don’t want to wake her up.
7 (example answer) You should put your coat on or You should put on your coat.
8 I was able to put it out
9 (example answer) they’ve put the price(s) up or they’ve put up the price(s)
10 Shall I turn the lightlsl on? or Shall I turn on the lighi(s)?{end-tooltip}
1 Don’t throw away this newspaper I want to keep it. (away)
2 ‘Do you want this postcard?’ ‘No, you can throw it away .’ (away)
3 I borrowed these books from the library. I have to take _______________ tomorrow. (back)
4 We can turn _______________. Nobody is watching it. (off)
5 A: How did the vase get broken?
B: I’m afraid I knocked _______________ while I was cleaning. (over)
6 Shh! My mother is asleep. I don’t want to wake _______________. (up)
7 It’s quite cold. You should put _______________ if you’re going out. (on)
8 It was only a small fire. I was able to put _______________ quite easily. (out)
9 A: Is this hotel more expensive than when we stayed here last year?
B: Yes, they’ve put _______________. (up)
10 It’s a bit dark in this room. Shall I turn _______________? (on)
{/slide}
Adverbs can take different positions in a sentence. It depends on the type of sentence and on what role the adverb plays and what words the adverb defines, characterizes, describes.
Most often, we put adverbs after the verb but before adjectives, other adverbs, or participles.
She walked quickly away.
He runs slowly along.
Adverb and three main positions
There are three main positions for an adverb in a sentence:
- before the verb
- at the beginning of a sentence
- at the end of a sentence
Let’s look at these positions separately.
At the end
We put an Adverb at the end of a sentence after the predicate and the object.
The water is rising fast.
At the beginning
We put an adverb at the beginning of a sentence before the subject.
Today I have a piano lesson.
In the middle
Most often, we put an adverb in the middle of a sentence. But “middle” is not an accurate concept. Where exactly this middle is located, it depends on the words next to which we use the adverb.
- In interrogative sentences, we put an adverb between the subject and the main verb.
Did he often go out like that?
- If the predicate in the sentence is only one verb, then we put the adverb before the verb.
You rarely agree with me.
- If the predicate contains more than one word, then we put the adverb after the modal verb or after the auxiliary verb (if there is a modal verb or auxiliary verb).
You must never do this again.
There are adverbs that we can put before a modal verb or an auxiliary verb.
He surely can prepare for this.
Adverb placement depending on the type of adverb
The place of an adverb depends on what type of adverbs it belongs to. Different adverbs can appear in different places.
Adverbs of manner
We usually use Adverbs of manner:
- before main verbs
- after auxiliary verbs
- at the end of the sentence
- If the verb is in the Passive Voice, then we use an adverb between the auxiliary verb and the verb in the third form.
- We usually use Adverbs of manner after the verb or after the Object.
- We can NOT use an Adverb of manner between the verb and direct object. If the sentence has a verb and a direct object, then we use an adverb of manner before the verb or after the object.
- Usually we put an adverb of manner that answers the question HOW after the verb or after the verb and the object.
She held the baby gently.
We are running slowly.
- We usually put the adverbs well, fast, quickly, immediately, slowly at the end of a sentence.
I wrote him an answer immediately.
The truck picked up speed slowly.
Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency are adverbs that indicate how often, with what frequency an action occurs.
Adverbs of frequency answer the question “How often?“
- Most often we put Adverbs of frequency before the main verb.
- We can use normally, occasionally, sometimes, usually at the beginning of a sentence or at the end of a sentence.
- We usually put Adverbs of frequency that accurately describe the time (weekly, every day, every Saturday) at the end of a sentence.
We have another board meeting on Monday.
I wish we could have fried chicken every week.
Maybe we could do this every month.
- We put Adverbs of frequency after the verb to be if the sentence contains the verb to be in the form of Present Simple or Past Simple.
My routine is always the same.
- We often use usually, never, always, often, sometimes, ever, rarely in the middle of a sentence.
I often wish I knew more about gardening.
- We can use usually at the beginning of a sentence.
Usually, I keep it to myself.
Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree express the degree to which something is happening. These are such adverbs as:
- almost
- absolutely
- completely
- very
- quite
- extremely
- rather
- just
- totally
- We put Adverbs of degree in the middle of a sentence.
- We put Adverbs of degree after Auxiliary Verbs.
- We put Adverbs of degree after modal verbs.
I feel really guilty about that.
- We put Adverbs of degree before adjectives.
When guns speak it is too late to argue.
- We put Adverbs of degree before other adverbs.
He loses his temper very easily.
- Sometimes we put Adverbs of degree before modal verbs and before auxiliary verbs. Usually, we use such adverbs as:
- certainly
- definitely
- really
- surely
You definitely could have handled things better.
I think I really could have won.
- The adverb enough is an exception to this rule. We put the Adverb enough after the word it characterizes.
I have lived long enough.
Adverbs of place and time
Let’s see where we use the adverbs of place and adverbs of time.
- Most often we put the adverb of place and time at the end of the sentence.
I thought you didn’t have family nearby.
They found her place in Miami yesterday.
- We put monosyllabic adverbs of time (for example, such as now, then, soon) before main verbs but after auxiliary verbs including the verb to be.
Now imagine you see another woman.
Yes, he is now a respectable man.
- We can use adverbs of place and time at the very beginning of a sentence when we want to make the sentence more emotional.
Today, we have to correct his mistakes.
- We put the adverbs here and there at the end of the sentence.
Independent thought is not valued there.
- Most often we put adverbs of place and time after the verb or verb + object.
I can’t change what happened yesterday.
You have to attend my wedding next month.
- Most often we put such adverbs as towards, outside, backward, everywhere, nearby, downstairs, southward, at the end of the sentence or in the middle of the sentence, but immediately after the verb.
I made iced tea and left it downstairs.
With this speaker, you can hear everything outside.
I can run backward!
- We put adverbs of time that accurately define the time (for example, yesterday, now, tomorrow) at the end of the sentence.
The ship is going to be back tomorrow.
He wants it to happen now.
If we want to emphasize time, we can put an adverb that accurately specifies the time at the beginning of the sentence.
Tomorrow I’m moving to Palais Royal.
Adverbs that show the speaker’s degree of confidence.
Let’s talk about the place in the sentence occupied by Adverbs that show the speaker’s degree of confidence in what the speaker is saying.
- We can put at the beginning of the sentence such adverbs as:
- definitely
- perhaps
- probably
- certainly
- clearly
- maybe
- obviously
Certainly, you have an opinion about that.
Definitely think twice before correcting one of your mistakes again.
Maybe someone else was in her apartment that night.
We can also put adverbs like this in the middle of a sentence:
They’ll probably name a street after me.
This assumption is clearly no longer valid.
Adverbs that emphasize the meaning of the word they describe
The next group of adverbs is adverbs that emphasize the meaning of the word they describe.
- Look at the following adverbs:
- very
- really
- terribly
- extremely
- almost
- quite
- pretty
We usually put such adverbs in the middle of the sentence before the word that these adverbs characterize.
He is very tired.
She found it extremely difficult to get a job.
I’m quite happy to wait for you here.
Adverbs defining a verb
- We put an adverb after the verb to be. If the adverb defines the verb to be in one of its forms.
He was never a good man.
- If an adverb defines another adverb or adjective, then we put such an adverb most often before the word that it defines.
I can see it quite clearly.
They walked rather slowly.
Adverbs connecting sentences
Adverbs can connect sentences in a logical sequence.
Such adverbs can appear at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle of the sentence. These are such adverbs as:
- next
- anyway
- however
- besides
- next
Adverbs that explain the speaker’s point of view
Let’s take a look at Adverbs that explain the speaker’s point of view in what he says.
- fortunately
- surprisingly
- personally
We most often put them at the beginning of the sentence.
Honestly, I wish I had time to do more reading.
Often their homes are their only major material possession.
We can put some of these adverbs at the end of a sentence.
I know what you’ve done for me, honestly.
Always, Never, and Only
Now let’s talk about some adverbs separately. These are very popular adverbs that we often use in English.
- Always and never.
We usually put always and never in the middle of the sentence before the verb they define.
The bread always falls buttered side down.
Love is never paid but with true love.
- Only.
Only is an incredibly popular adverb. Most often, we put only before the word that the adverb only characterizes.
Wisdom is only found in truth.
A man can only die once.
Additional tips
If we have two or more adverbs to define one verb, then the order of these adverbs should be as follows:
- Adverb of manner
- Adverb of place
- Adverb of time
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