Four Common Phrasal Verbs with ‘Off’

 

Today, we are going to talk about phrasal verbs.

You may remember that a phrasal verb is a verb plus one or two more words called "particles²." Particles can be prepositions³ or adverbs. There are several common particles in phrasal verbs, such as the word "off." One example of a phrasal verb is "go off."

Phrasal verbs usually have idiomatic⁴ meanings. In other words, the verb and particle¹ together mean something different from what each individual word suggests.

The phrasal verb "go off," for instance⁵, is made of the verb "go" and the particle "off." But "go off" can mean to make a sudden loud noise.

The English language contains a lot of phrasal verbs. Luckily, you do not need to know all of them. Some are more common than others.

A listening exercise

On today's Everyday Grammar program, we will talk about four common phrasal verbs with the word "off." They are "go off," "put off" "drop off" and "pay off." As you will learn today, some of these verbs can be separated by other words. Others cannot.

Let's do a short listening exercise.

Listen to this speaker talk about starting his day. Pay attention to the four phrasal verbs with "off" and make a mental note that some are separated by other words:

This morning, as my alarm went off, I remembered that I have a few important things to do today. It has been a busy week, but I can't put these tasks off any longer. First, I have to drop some donations⁶ off at local food banks. Then, I am going to pay off my car loan⁷. I am so excited to make the final payment⁸!

Did you catch all four verbs? And did notice that some were separated by other words while others were not? Good.

Now, let's examine meanings for each verb and talk about how to use them. Note that each of today's verbs has more than one meaning; we will focus on the meanings used in the listening exercise.

Go off (intransitive verb)

The verb "go off" means to make a sudden loud noise. We use this meaning in relation to alarms on machines or electronics⁹, such as an alarm clock or a phone alarm or fire alarm.

Listen again to how our speaker used it:

This morning, as my alarm went off, I remembered that I have a few important things to do today.

Notice that the speaker used the simple past tense form of the verb "go," which is "went."

"Go off" is what we call an intransitive verb.

Transitive or intransitive

Phrasal verbs in English are either transitive or intransitive.

A transitive verb needs a direct object to express a complete thought. A direct object is a person or thing that receives the action of the verb.

Intransitive verbs, such as "go off," do not have a direct object. And they are not separable. That means, in sentences, we cannot separate them with other words.

But, transitive phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable. That means you can put the direct object in the middle of the verb or after it.

Put off (something)

Put (something) off

A good example of a transitive and separable phrasal verb is "put off." It means to delay something or decide it will happen at a later time.

Here is how our speaker used it:

It has been a busy week but I can't put these tasks off any longer.

Can you find the direct object in the sentence? It is "these tasks." Notice that this object appears in the middle of the verb.

Again, with separable phrasal verbs, direct objects can appear after the verb. So how would the sentence read then? Think about it as we move to our next verb.

Drop off (something)

Drop (something) off

Next up is the verb "drop off." It means to take something or someone to a place and then leave. This verb is also transitive and separable.

Here is how our speaker used it a moment ago:

First, I have to drop some donations off at local food banks.

Notice that the speaker separated the verb "drop off" by the direct object "some donations."

Since it is possible to put the direct object after this verb, let's hear how that would sound:

First, I have to drop off some donations at local food banks.

Both ways of using separable phrasal verbs are common and grammatically¹⁰ correct. And there is no change in meaning.

Pay off (something)

Pay (something) off

Finally, we have the verb "pay off." It means to complete payment on something that you owe, such as a bill or a loan. This verb, too, is transitive and separable.

Do you remember how it was used? The speaker talked about his car loan. Here is what he said:

Then, I am going to pay off my car loan. I am so excited to make the final payment!

The speaker did not separate the verb with the direct object. However, if he had put the object in the middle, how would the sentence read then? Think about it for a moment.

Closing thoughts

Well, that brings us to the end of today's program.

Phrasal verbs can be difficult, but often their particles provide clues to their meanings. For example, many phrasal verbs with the particle "off" relate to separating, completing or ending something.

Words in This Story

task –n. a piece of work that is given to someone to do

focus –v. to cause attention to be brought to something or someone

alarm –n. a device¹¹ that makes a loud sound as a warning or signal

tense –n. a form of a verb in English that shows when an action happened

bill –n. a document that shows how much you owe for a certain good or service

clue –n. a piece of information or sign that helps a person find something or someone

1 particle   

n.微粒，颗粒，粒子；小品词，语助词

参考例句：

• There is not a particle of truth in what you said.你所说的没有一句是实话。
• This particle has a very small mass.这种粒子的质量很小。

2 particles   

微粒( particle的名词复数 )； 颗粒； 极少量； 小品词

参考例句：

• These small particles agglomerate together to form larger clusters. 这些颗粒聚结形成较大的团。
• The nucleus of an atom consists of neutrons, protons and other particles. 原子核由中子、质子和其他粒子构成。

3 prepositions   

n.介词( preposition的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She lays a lot of emphasis on the usage of prepositions. 她把重点放在介词的使用上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Prepositions and conjunctions are particles. 介词和连词是小品词。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 instance   

n.例，例证，实例

参考例句：

• Can you quote me a recent instance?你能给我举一个最近的例子吗？
• He's a greedy boy,yesterday,for instance,he ate all our biscuits!他是个贪吃的孩子――比如，他昨天把我们的饼干都吃了！

6 donations   

n.捐赠( donation的名词复数 )；赠送；捐款；捐赠物

参考例句：

• The hospital receives a good deal of money in donations. 这家医院收到捐赠来的大笔款项。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The charity is completely reliant on public donations. 这一慈善团体完全依靠公众捐款。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 payment   

n.付款，支付，偿还，偿还，报应

参考例句：

• I gave ten pounds in payment for the goods I bought.我买那些东西付了10英镑。
• This last payment will wipe out your debt to me.这最后一笔付款将了结你欠我的债务。

9 electronics   

n.电子器件，电子学，电子技术

参考例句：

• About 45000 people worked in electronics in Scotland.苏格兰约有4.5万人在电子行业工作。
• He wants to brush up his knowledge of electronics.他想温习他的电子学知识。

10 grammatically   

adv.符合语法规则地

参考例句：

• This essay is grammatically smooth and readable. 这篇作文写得还顺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Grammatically, the Sanskrit paradigm exemplifies the concept of radical. 从语法的观点看，梵语的变格范例明确了词根的概念。 来自辞典例句

11 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。