Phrasal Verbs in Context (A)
Phrasal Verbs Beginning with A: Account to Amount
The phrasal verb account for is used to explain the reason for something or to provide a record of financial expenditures. For example, a person might ask, "How can we account for the high electricity bill this month?" implying a need to know if air-conditioning was used more than usual. In a professional context, a job may require an individual to record and account for all company expenses. This verb follows the structure account for sth.
Act as describes the function or role that a person or object takes on, often as a synonym for "function as." For instance, a person with physical stature and boxing training might act as both a bodyguard and a driver. Biologically, the hairs in the nose act as filters to keep dust out of the lungs. The verb structure is act as sth.
Act on refers to taking action based on specific information or suggestions. One might act on a teacher's advice to learn phrasal verbs or act on a tax lawyer's advice to establish an offshore company. The structure is act on sth.
Act up is an informal term used when a machine malfunctions or a body part causes pain. Examples include a computer acting up and needing repair, or a knee acting up and becoming sore, causing someone to miss a game of golf. It is similar to the informal term "play up" and follows the structure act up.
Add to signifies increasing the quality, size, or intensity of something, similar to the verb "contribute to." A surprise appearance by movie stars can add to the excitement of a film's opening night, or a reputation for friendly staff can add significantly to a hotel's value. The structures include add to sth or add sth to sth.
Add up is frequently used in negative constructions to indicate that a situation or story does not make sense or seem plausible. For example, if a story has too many inconsistencies, one might say "the whole thing just doesn't add up." Similarly, if a boss claims ignorance of a situation but evidence suggests otherwise, that claim doesn't add up. The structure is add up.
Add up to refers to the total sum of numbers or the result of a combination of factors, similar to the phrase "come to." Mathematically, one might ask what , , and add up to, questioning if they total or . In a business context, travel receipts might add up to over . The structures are add up to or add up to sth.
Aim at indicates the target audience or the intended goal of an action. Levi jeans advertisements may be aimed at young people with the goal of increasing sales. Similarly, a textbook can be aimed at people who want to learn phrasal verbs. The structures include (be) aimed at sb/sth, (be) aimed at doing sth, or aim sth at sb/sth.
Allow for means to take particular factors or possibilities into account when making plans or calculations, similar to the term "factor in." When planning a trip to the airport, one should allow for traffic jams and the weather. In budgeting, it is important to allow for rising prices. The structures are allow for sth or allow sth for sth.
Amount to describes reaching a certain total or being equivalent to a certain state or achievement. In the music industry, selling only copies does not amount to success, as a hit typically requires selling copies or more. One might also question if having two books published amounts to a full career as a writer. The structure is amount to sth.
Phrasal Verbs Beginning with A: Answer to Ask After
Answer back is used when someone responds impolitely to a person in authority, such as a teacher or an official. A student might get into trouble for answering back to a teacher, or an athlete might be sent off the field for answering back to a referee. This is synonymous with "talk back." The structures are answer back to sb or answer sb back.
Appeal for involves making a formal or urgent request for help or information. Following a natural disaster like an earthquake, a government might appeal for emergency aid from neighbouring countries. If someone goes missing, the family may appeal to the public for help. The structures are appeal for sth, appeal for sth from sb, or appeal to sb for sth. It is related to the verb "ask for."
Appeal to describes the quality of being attractive or interesting to a specific group. For example, cool mobile phones are designed to appeal to the teenage market, and small apartments often appeal to single people more than to families. The structure is appeal to sb.
Apply to signifies that a rule, law, or condition is relevant to specific individuals or groups. A company regulation banning smoking applies to everyone from cleaners to the CEO. Some individuals from wealthy backgrounds might mistakenly believe the law does not apply to them. The structure is apply to sb.
Arrive at refers to reaching a decision, conclusion, or price after careful consideration or research. A researcher might arrive at the conclusion that a healthy diet includes seafood but excludes land animals. A company might arrive at a retail price after considering all production costs. The structure is arrive at sth.
Ask after is used when someone inquires about the health or well-being of another person. An email from a friend might ask after a colleague's health and new job. The structure is ask after sb.
Phrasal Verbs Beginning with A: Ask For to Average Out
Ask for is the standard way to request something, such as help or information. If one is lost, they should ask someone for directions. Managers may encourage staff to ask for advice or help if they need it. The structures are ask for sth or ask sb for sth.
Ask out is used specifically for inviting someone on a date or a social engagement. One might ask someone out for dinner and a movie. It is also discussed whether it is common for a girl to ask a guy out for a date. The structures are ask sb out or ask sb out for sth. This is related to the term "invite out."
Ask over and Ask around both mean to invite someone to one's home or a specific location for a social gathering. Friends might be asked over for dinner on a Saturday, or coworkers might be asked around to play cards on Sunday. The structures are ask sb over or ask sb around, which are synonymous with "invite over/around."
Attach to refers to ascribing importance, value, or significance to an idea or object. One is advised not to attach too much importance to what critics say about a book, focusing instead on reader feedback. A boss might be criticized for attaching too much significance to physical appearance. The structure is attach sth to sth.
Attend to means to deal with or take care of someone or something, similar to "deal with" or "see to." Stores must have enough staff to attend to all customers during busy shifts. In a professional setting, there may be specific issues that need to be attended to during a meeting. The structure is attend to sb/sth.
Average out describes the process where varying amounts result in a mean or average figure over a period of time. Daily sales may fluctuate, but they might average out at approximately per day. Similarly, commission-based income might average out at a month. The structures include average out, average sth out, or average out at sth.
Document Information
These study notes are based on the publication "1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context" by Matt Errey, copyright 2007. Further resources and information can be found at www.teflgames.com/phrasal_verbs.html.