1. Introduction

This unit will show you how phrasal verbs, i.e. verbs consisting of a verb and a particle, are used to sound less formal. Although most phrasal verbs have a one-word more formal synonym, you are very likely to come across them because in everyday life, informal speech is much more common.

Surprisingly, the context used to demonstrate phrasal verbs is not typically technical. Usually, technological innovations and achievements are used in practical applications, for example, to make something more effective, more efficient and less laborious.  This is not the case of the machine discussed in this unit though. Considering its costs amounting to billions of dollars and the need for the cooperation of numerous countries, the absence of a practical application may be surprising. This largest and most powerful machine in the world is simply used to do just one thing: increase human knowledge. Scientists just use it to learn more about how the laws of nature work. This is sometimes called “pure research”. But, who knows? Maybe in the future, the machine will help the scientists to make significant discoveries which will find their applications later.

 

Contents:

  • Phrasal verbs:

carry out (= conduct, do); put off (= postpone), use up (= finish it all), clean up (= clean sth completely), let out (= allow to escape), rule out (= eliminate), bring down (= lower), bring about (= cause), shut down (= close), set off (= trigger), keep down (maintain at a low level), take up (= consume), slow down (= decelerate), speed up (= accelerate), let in (= allow to enter), let out (allow to escape)

 

  • Nouns derived from phrasal verbs:

to set up → setup, to melt down → meltdown, to build up → buildup, burst out → outburst