• Phrasal verbs are verbs that have an extra word or two after them. This extra word or two is called a particle. The particle can be an adverb or a preposition.

• The particle changes the meaning of the original verb. For example, the verb "look" means to see something, but the phrasal verb "look up" means to find information in a book or on the internet.

• Phrasal verbs are common in everyday English and can make your writing and speaking more natural and idiomatic.

Here are some examples of phrasal verbs:

• Hand in - to submit schoolwork

• Sign up - to register for something

• Catch up - to become informed about something you have missed

• Read up on - to learn more about something

• Go through - to examine or review something

• Turn in - to return something

• Speak up - to express your opinion

Here are some tips for learning phrasal verbs:

• Learn the most common phrasal verbs first. There are thousands of phrasal verbs in English, but only a few dozen are used very frequently.

• Pay attention to how phrasal verbs are used in context. This will help you to understand their meaning and usage.

• Use phrasal verbs in your own writing and speaking. The more you use them, the more comfortable you will become with them.

The Number of Phrasal Verbs

The exact number of phrasal verbs in the English language is unknown, but it is estimated to be in the tens of thousands. This is because phrasal verbs are constantly being created and evolving. New phrasal verbs can be formed from existing verbs and particles, or they can be borrowed from other languages.

The Origins of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs have their origins in Middle English, which was spoken from about 1100 to 1500 CE. During this time, English was heavily influenced by Old Norse, the language of the Vikings who invaded England in the 9th century. Many of the particles that are used in phrasal verbs today come from Old Norse.

Phrasal verbs continued to develop in Early Modern English, which was spoken from about 1500 to 1700 CE. During this time, English was also influenced by French, the language of the ruling class. This is why some phrasal verbs have French particles, such as "à la" and "de."

Today, phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language. They are used in both informal and formal contexts, and they can help to make your writing and speaking more natural and idiomatic.

Here are some of the ways that phrasal verbs have evolved over time:

• New phrasal verbs are constantly being created from existing verbs and particles. For example, the phrasal verb "Google up" was created in the 1990s from the verb "Google" and the particle "up."

• The meaning of phrasal verbs can change over time. For example, the phrasal verb "turn up" once meant to arrive, but it now more commonly means to increase the volume of something.

• Phrasal verbs can become inseparable. This means that the particle cannot be separated from the verb. For example, the phrasal verb "give up" can no longer be separated into "give" and "up."