定義
英語中一些常用動詞常可以與某些介詞、副詞或其他詞構成意義不同的習語（idioms）。例如：
look at （看，考慮），look after （照料），look for （尋找），look into （調查）， look over （檢查，忽略），look out （當心） 、watch out （當心） put on （穿上）、take off( 脫掉、起飛、成名）、 hand in （上交） 、 look up （查看），look down （輕視），look forward to （期望）、put aside （把什麼放置在....；存儲、儲蓄） 、set up （建立）等。這些組合一般只作為一個整體使用，因此被稱為短語動詞。
本章分四小節：
1. Verb + Preposition；
2. Verb + Adverb；
3. Verb + Noun/Pronoun + Preposition ；
4. Verb + Adverb + Preposition。
種類
動詞+介詞
1 動詞+介詞（Verb + preposition）
這類短語動詞的賓語不論是名詞還是人稱代詞，都要放在短語動詞的後面。例如：
He wants to check with his secretary before he signs the paper.
在簽署該項檔案之前，他想跟他的秘書商議一下。
He has been asked to account for his absence.
已要求他說明缺席的原因。
The murderer did not reckon on the policeman's finding the gun.
殺人犯沒料到警察會發現那把槍的。
The marquis will succeed to the dukedom at his father's death.
在其死後，侯爵就將繼承公爵的爵位。
"不及物動詞+介詞"具有原來的字面含義 a），或一種或者多種引申的意義 b）。例如：
a)：
to go into the laboratory （進入實驗室）；
to arrive at the station（到達車站）；
to live （或者exist) on food （靠食物維持生命）。
b) ：
to go into the figures carefully （仔細檢查數字）；
to go into the question （調查這個問題）；
to go into that scheme (參與那項計畫）；
to go into operation （開始運轉）；
to go into a subject （研究某個題目）；
to come to a close （結束）；
to come to a decision （作出決定）；
to come to four million （達到四百萬）；
to come to life （活躍起來）；
to come to a full stop （驟然停止）；
to come into use （被使用）；
to come into effect （生效，實行）；
to come into being （形成，產生）。
a）系列中動詞作其伴生詞面意義，與介詞有固定關係，屬於介詞動詞，而 b）系列中，動詞和介詞在一起構成一個習慣性的，常常是比喻性的語義單位，屬於短語動詞， b）系列中的動詞一般都允許有相應的被動態。例如：
The important conclusion was arrived at yesterday.
重要的結論在昨天被確定。
This body is acted on by three forces.
這個物體受三個力的作用。
He is a man to be depended on.
他是個靠得住的人。
而值得注意的是，有的短語動詞卻不能用被動語態。例如：consist of,serve as等。
動詞+副詞
2 動詞+副詞（Verb + adverb）
這類短語動詞，有的相當於一個及物動詞。例如：
to turn up the radio （把收音機開大）；
to turn up the soil （把地翻起）；
to take up water （吸水）；
to take up a new tool （拿起新工具）；
to take up this question （談到這個問題）；
to take up space （占據空間）。
She was extremely lucky: when her great-uncle died,she came into[繼承（遺產）] a fortune.
I hope I shall be able to clean off（把…清除掉） these black marks.
They were so far away that I couldn't make out their faces clearly.
他們離得那么遠，我沒法把他們的臉辨認清楚。
Trains stop here in order to pick up passengers only.
必須注意，本組短語動詞一般都可以構成被動語態。例如：
Trains stop here in order that passengers are picked up only.
另外，這類短語動詞相當於及物動詞時，若賓語為名詞，一般既可放在短語動詞之後，也可放在動詞和副詞之間。若短語動詞的直接賓語為代詞，則位於動詞與副詞之間。例如：
to give it （指 heat) out 放出它（熱量）；
to keep them （指 the molecules) apart 使它們（分子）保持分離
但是某些表示及物的短語動詞卻具有自己的固定模式：不允許隨便將副詞放在賓語之後（除非是賓語為代詞）；有時有的不容許隨便將副詞放在賓語之前。例如：
They had given up hope. 此句不能變為：They had given hope up.
Get that parcel off right away! （寄出） 此句因為歧義的緣故不能把副詞off放在賓語之前。及物短語動詞get…off與動詞get後面跟介詞off意思不同。例如：
Get off that stool.
it's just been painted!
Get off that parcel right away!
I switched the light on and off.
I switched on and off the light.
Crying my eyes out. 這個句子不能變為：crying out my eyes.
I was laughing my head off. 這個句子不能變為：I was laughing off my head.
Sobbing my head out. 這個句子不能變為：sobbing out my heart.
這種短語動詞的固定現象往往出現在短語動詞與賓語之間，具有牢固的習語關係，此時意思同時從字面意義轉向比喻意義。短語動詞在這些誇張語中成了固定的習慣用法。此上這幾種情況必須要加以注意。從例句可以看出短語動詞與動詞和副詞結構具有不同的意義，因此我們必須加以區分。一般可用以下的三個標準。
1）短語動詞無法孤立地根據動詞和副詞的意義預測結合後的意義。例如：
catch on （理解），
give in （投降），
blow up （爆炸）
但在動詞和副詞的自由組合中，動詞作正常的不及物動詞，而副詞則有自己的意義。例如：
He walked past. (= past the object/place)
I waded across. (= across the river/water/etc.)
past,across 是副詞，它們的作用等於一個方向介詞短語。動詞和副詞在意義上可以分開，因為可以換詞：例句中的waded across 中的wade，我們可以用walk，run，swim，jump，fly等來替換；而across，我們則可用in，through，over，up，down等來替換。
2）在動詞和副詞的自由組合中，經常可以在副詞和動詞之間加上一個修飾性副詞right（有時可用straight，例如：
Go right / straight on.
Walk straight in.
Drink right in.
而插入語在不同程度上，對短語動詞來說，卻是不可接受的。例如不能說：
The prisoner broke right down.
She turned right up at last.
3）可以將副詞放在動詞的前面，同時將主語-動詞倒裝（主語為代詞則不能倒裝）：
Out came the sun.
Up you come.
On we drove into the night.
但短語動詞卻不能這樣，不能說：
Up blew the sun.
Up it blew.
這類動詞有的相當於一個不及物動詞。例如：
to flow off 流走；流下；
to come round 甦醒；
to look up 抬頭看；興旺；
to ring off 掛斷電話
The picnic came off （舉行）
at last after being twice postponed.
Do you know the reason why the automobile breaks down （出故障）?
It was no surprise when we were told that our grandfather had passed away. （去世）.
Their plans for a big party fell through （完全失敗）.
動詞+名詞/代詞+介詞
3 動詞+名詞/代詞+介詞（Verb + noun/pronoun + preposition）
在這類結構中間的名詞前有時可加冠詞或形容詞，例如：
take (an active) part in;
put an end to;
to lay the foundation for industry （給工業奠定基礎）；
to take an interest in this problem （對該問題感興趣）；
to play a role in machine-building industry （在機械製造工業中起作用）；
to make (occasional) mention of these theories [（時常）提到這些理論工作者];
to take care of production （負責管理生產）；
to keep somebody from smoking （阻止某人抽菸）；
to protect somebody from danger （保護某人免受危險）；
但是有的卻不能隨便加形容詞或限定詞。例如：
to cross words with; give rise to（引起）；
keep pace with（與…並進）；
keep tabs on（注意，記錄）等。
In some countries,people are making use of the heat in the center of the earth.
They have made a (terrible) mess of the house.
Did you make (any) allowance for inflation?
Mary took (good) care of the children.
The gang robbed her of her necklace.
I accused him of the crime.
這類短語動詞常可用於被動語態，並且可以有兩種形式。
The heat in the center of the earth is being made use of in some countries.
Use is being made of the heat in the center of the earth in some countries.
A (terrible) mess has been made of the house.
The house has been made a (terrible) mess of.
Has (any) allowance been made for inflation?
Has inflation been made allowance for?
(Good) care was taken of the children.
The children were taken (good) care of.
直接賓語可變為被動式動詞短語的主語，例如:
She was robbed of her necklace (by the gang).
He was accused of the crime (by me).
但是有的只有一種被動式，例如：
The lifeboat was suddenly caught sight of.
還有的不能用於被動式，例如：
to take part in,
to find application in等有的沒有任何被動式的。例如：
He prides himself on his craftsmanship. 直接賓語為反身代詞，沒有任何被動式。
動詞+副詞+介詞
4 動詞+副詞+介詞（Verb + adverb + preposition）
to lead up to this subject（漸漸引到這個題目）；
to do away with the old method（廢棄舊方法） ；
Young adults must break away from their parents' control in order to achieve independence and
maturity.
為了達到自立和思想成熟，年輕人必須擺脫父母親對他們的支配。
Have the lawyers checked up on the court proceedings very carefully?
律師們是否打算把法庭的記錄仔細審查一遍呢？
There are some things that teachers will not put up with.
有些事情教師是不會容忍的。
You'll have to work very hard to make up for the time you lost.
你要努力工作，以彌補失去的時間。
這類短語動詞常可以用於被動語態。
Their parents' control must be broken away from by young adults in order to achieve independence and maturity.
Have the court proceedings been checked up by the lawyers?
There are some things that will not be put up with by teachers.
The time you lost will have to be made up for by you.
有的動詞+副詞+介詞要求跟有直接賓語。例如：
to fix N up with（安排約會）；
to put N down to（歸因於）；
to take N out on（拿…出氣）；
to let N in on（透露秘密）；
to fob N off with（欺騙）；
例如：
Can you possibly fix me up with your manager this week?
這星期你能安排我和你們經理見面嗎？
They were taking it out on one another because of their hopeless dissatisfaction.
他們因為沒有希望獲得滿足而彼此惡聲惡氣地拿對方泄怒。
He put a good part of his shyness down to the dominating influence of his mother.
他的大部分害羞可歸於他母親對他的控制影響。
I'll let you in on a secret.
我要把一個秘密泄露於你。
此類短語動詞的被動形式要求其直接賓語變為被動式動詞短語的主語。被動形式如下：
Can I be possibly fixed up with your manager this week (by you)?
It was being taken out on one another because of their hopeless dissatisfaction (by them)?
A good part of his shyness was put down to his dominating influence of his mother (by him).
You'll be let in on a secret (by me).
區別
及物動詞的區別
有些動詞，既可作及物動詞，也可作不及物動詞，但用作“及物動詞”是一種意思，而用作“不及物動詞+介詞”是另一種意思。例如：
She answered me.她回答了我。
She will answer for his safety.她要為她的安全負責。
