VOA慢速英语2020--TED演讲教你短语动词

TED¹ Talks Teach You About Phrasal Verbs

TED Talk videos are popular in the United States and other countries. These videos explore issues in science, technology, education and other subjects. They can also be a useful tool for learning² English.

Today on Everyday Grammar, we will tell how TED Talks can teach you about some common phrasal verbs, including three with the word hang. They are hang up, hang on and hang out.

We will also explain how you can predict the general meaning of a phrasal verb, even if you do not know its exact definition⁴.

But first, let's look a little more closely⁵ at phrasal verbs and how they are used.

What are phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs are groups of words that have a verb and one or more short words. When combined, the words have an idiomatic⁶ meaning. In other words, phrasal verbs have a meaning that is different from what you might expect.

Consider the phrasal verb take out. It has the verb take and the word out. Together, they mean to remove someone or something from something else. For example, you can take out some money from your pocket.

A phrasal verb can have several meanings. For example, take out can also mean that you get financial help, as in the statement "I want to start a business, but I don't have enough money. So, I'm taking out a loan⁷."

There are thousands of phrasal verbs. The good news is that you do not need to learn all of them.

Your time is better spent learning the most common phrasal verbs.

Mélodie Garnier and Norbert Schmitt are language experts. They made a list of the most common phrasal verbs and their most common meanings.

Of the 150 most common phrasal verbs, three involve the verb hang. Hang means to connect or place something so that it is held up without support from below. But as you know now, phrasal verbs have different meanings than what the verb by itself suggests.

The three most common phrasal verbs with hang are hang up, hang on and hang out.

Even if you do not know what each of these phrasal verbs means, you will learn how to predict what they could mean.

Let us explore each phrasal verb by listening to TED Talks. You will hear part of a TED Talk and have time to think about what the phrasal verb means. Then you will hear the answer.

#1 Hang up

In our first example, futurist and businessman Juan Enriquez talks about gene³ editing⁸ tools such as CRISPR. While talking about the past, when a long-distance telephone call cost a lot of money, Enriquez uses our first phrasal verb: hang up.

Because, of course, you used to get interrupted by operators⁹ who'd tell you, "Long distance calling. Do you want to hang up?" And now we think nothing of calling all over the world.

Can you tell what Enriquez meant when he said hang up?

Enriquez gives you an example of the most common meaning of hang up: to end or finish a phone call. You can tell that long distance calls must have cost a lot years ago because he said, "And now we think nothing of calling all over the world."

#2 Hang on

In our second TED Talk, researcher Max Tegmark talks about the threats and opportunities of artificial¹⁰ intelligence, or AI. Listen to how he uses our second phrasal verb, hang on.

We could end up in a fantastic future where everybody's better off: the poor are richer, the rich are richer, everybody is healthy and free to live out their dreams. Now, hang on. Do you folks want the future that's politically right or left?

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Could you tell what Tegmark meant when he used the phrasal verb hang on?

In this case, hang on means wait for a short time. Tegmark is asking the crowd to think about what he just said. He makes several statements, then says "hang on," then asks a question. You can tell from the sound of his voice that he wants everyone to wait and think.

#3 Hang out

In our third and final TED Talk, we hear from Luis H. Zayas, head of the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. Here he explores how difficult experiences can affect a child's brain. Listen to how he uses hang out.

Afterwards, after school, they [children] go home and they ride bikes, hang out with friends, do homework and explore the world – all the essentials for child development.

Can you tell what Zayas meant when he said hang out?

In this case, hang out means having fun. Terms like "ride bikes" and "with friends" and "explore the world" suggest that hanging out means having fun.

Closing thoughts

The point of this report was to teach you two things. We talked about the meaning of three common phrasal verbs. But we also talked about how to start thinking about new phrasal verbs.

You can use these ideas when you listen to radio broadcasts, watch films or talk to English speakers. Although phrasal verbs can be difficult, the learning process will be much easier if you spend your time wisely.

I'm John Russell.

And I'm Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

pocket – n. an area in clothing used for carrying small objects

interrupt — v. to ask questions or say things while another person is speaking; to do or say something that causes someone to stop speaking

opportunity – n. a chance to do something

artificial intelligence – n. a computer systems able to perform work that normally¹¹ requires human intelligence

fantastic – adj. extremely good

bike – n. short for bicycle a vehicle powered by two wheels

essential – n. something that is important or necessary

1 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

2 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

3 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

4 definition   

n.定义；限定，确定；清晰度

参考例句：

• The book attempts a definition of his role in world politics.该书要阐明的是他在世界政局中的作用。
• I made a definition for this word.我给这个字下了定义。

5 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

6 idiomatic   

adj.成语的，符合语言习惯的

参考例句：

• In our reading we should always be alert for idiomatic expressions.我们在阅读过程中应经常注意惯用法。
• In his lecture,he bore down on the importance of idiomatic usage in a language.他在演讲中着重强调了语言中习惯用法的重要性。

7 loan   

n.贷款；借出的东西；借；vt.借出；贷予

参考例句：

• I asked the bank to help me with a loan.我请银行给我一笔贷款。
• Has the bank okayed your request for a loan?银行批准你的贷款要求了吗？

8 editing   

adj.编辑的

参考例句：

• The processing of data in random order,not subject to preliminary editing or sorting.未经预先编辑或分类，以任意次序对数据进行的处理的做法。

9 operators   

n.（某企业的）经营者( operator的名词复数 )；（机器、设备等的）操作员；电话接线员；投机取巧者

参考例句：

• A plethora of new operators will be allowed to enter the market. 大批新的运营商将获准进入该市场。 来自辞典例句
• Green house operators have considerable opportunity for precise manipulation of nutrients. 温室管理员有很多机会来准确控制养分。 来自辞典例句

10 artificial   

adj.人工的，人造的，人为的；做作的，假装的

参考例句：

• The new dam will form a large artificial lake behind it.新筑的水坝将会在后面形成一个人工湖。
• We don't use any artificial flavourings in our products.我们的产品不使用任何人工调味剂。

11 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。