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Grammar - Everyday Grammar - Words to Travel With, Part One |
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| Words to Travel With, Part One |
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 Words
to Travel With, Part One
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
grammar topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information. |
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this grammar
topic. Then read the following written information. |
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Words to Travel With, Part One |
Have you ever been to an airport or train station where
the official language was English? What was your
experience – easy, difficult or in between?
Today, we will explore some common phrasal verbs that
can be useful as you travel to or through
English-speaking places.
A phrasal verb is made of two or more words: a verb plus
a preposition or adverb, or both. Together, the words
get a new meaning. For example, the phrasal verb get in
means to arrive at a place.
Listen to two friends talk about a recent trip. There
are six travel-related phrasal verbs. Try to find them
and think about their meanings.
Hey, how was your trip?
Well it was…great! But getting there was a pain. The
airport was so crowded because of flight delays. We
tried to check in at a kiosk but the machines were down.
So, we stood in line for 45 minutes just to pick up the
tickets.
Oh no!
Then, our flight had a two-hour delay. The plane finally
took off at 9:00.
What time did you get in?
Around 4:00. Our driver picked us up on time and was
super sweet. He dropped us off at the hotel and we
checked in without any trouble. The rest of the trip was
wonderful!
That’s great. I’m looking forward to my next big trip!
Did you find all six of the verbs? Before we look at
each, here are some good things to know.
What is ‘transitive’?
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.
For example, the sentence “I brought my suitcase” is
transitive. The words “I brought” do not make a complete
thought without the direct object “my suitcase.”
An intransitive verb does not need a direct object to
express a complete thought. For example, I can say, “The
plane landed” and it makes perfect sense.
Are they separable?
Phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable. But what
does that mean?
If a phrasal verb is separable, the direct object may
appear in the middle of the verb. If it’s inseparable,
the direct object must come after. I’ll show you what
that means today.
Transitive or not, separable or not – it sounds complex
but it’s very simple, as you’ll see and hear shortly.
Check in
Check into (something)
Our first verb is check in. Like many phrasal verbs,
check in has more than one meaning. The one we are
exploring today is intransitive – it gets no direct
object. Listen again to how it was used:
We tried to check in at a kiosk but the machines were
down.
The speaker also used it about the hotel:
…and we checked in without any trouble.
To check in means “to report to someone when you arrive
at a place to let them know you are there.”
When we check in at a kiosk, the machine gives us a
plane ticket. When we check in at a hotel, someone gives
us a room key.
A verb with very close meaning and usage is check into.
We use it for hotels, hostels, AirBnBs and the like.
The difference is that check into must have a direct
object. But it’s inseparable. Have a listen:
We checked into the hotel without any trouble.
The direct object is “the hotel.”
pick up (someone)
pick (someone) up
Next, you heard the verb pick up. It is transitive and
separable.
We used two of its meanings today. Here’s the first:
So, we stood in line for 45 minutes just to pick up the
tickets!
It means “to go somewhere to get something.” Note that
the direct object “the tickets” comes after the verb.
But, because it’s separable, we can also put the object
in the middle, like this:
So, we stood in line for 45 minutes just to pick the
tickets up!
You also heard the speaker say:
Our driver picked us up on time and was super sweet!
This meaning of pick up is “to let or put people or
things into a car, bus, ship or something else.”
Note the wording “pick us up.” The pronoun direct object
“us” is in the middle of the verb pick up. When a
phrasal verb is separable, pronoun direct objects go in
the middle.
take off
Okay, onto our next verb – take off. It’s a verb with
many meanings but today’s meaning is easy: It is
intransitive and means “to begin to fly.” Here’s how the
speaker used it:
The plane finally took off at 9:00.
get in
Next is the verb get in, another intransitive verb.
Let’s hear how it was used:
What time did you get in?
Around 4:00.
You may remember that get in means “to arrive at a
place.”
look forward to (something)
And finally we have look forward to. This verb is made
of three words. It is transitive and inseparable. Here’s
how you heard it used:
That’s great! I’m looking forward to my next big trip!
To look forward to something means “to expect it with
pleasure.” The direct object is “my next big trip.”
Join us next week for Part II: useful travel words and
phrases.
We’re looking forward to it!
I’m Alice Bryant.
Alice Bryant wrote this story for Everyday Grammar. Caty
Weaver was the editor. |
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Words in This Story |
- phrase
– n. a group of two or
more words that express a single idea but do not
usually form a complete sentence
-
preposition – n.
a word or group of words that is used to show
direction, location or time
- adverb
– n. a word is often
used to show time, manner, place or degree
- kiosk
– n. a small structure
that provides information and services on a computer
screen
- down
– adj. not working
- hostel
– n. an inexpensive
place for usually young travelers to stay overnight
- pronoun
– n. a word (such as I,
he, she, us) that is used instead of a noun
- tense
– n. a form of a verb
that is used to show when an action happened
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Additional Information |
Practice
Now, you try it!
When was the last time you traveled? Did you have a good
time? We want to read about your trip! Write a paragraph
about it and use two or three of today’s phrasal verbs.
Remember that some of the verbs take direct objects and
some do not. And, placement of the direct object depends
on whether the verb is separable. |
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Source: Voice of America |
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Grammar Tips |
Can You Catch These Native Speaker Mistakes?
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of common mistakes. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
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