Phrasal Verbs and Lookalike Nouns

Break down or breakdown?
Phrasal verb or a lookalike noun?
English phrasal verbs are verbs combined with a preposition or adverb that together have a unique meaning often different from the individual words.
They are written as separate words.
(to break down)
Their lookalike nouns are written as one word (compound nouns).
(a breakdown)
Here are some examples:
take off vs. takeoff
take off (verb)
To leave the ground and begin to fly:
- "The plane will take off in 10 minutes."
To become successful or popular:
- "Her career really took off after that big project."
takeoff (noun)
The act of leaving the ground:
- "The takeoff was smooth despite the stormy weather."
break down vs. breakdown
break down (verb)
To stop functioning (for machinery):
- "My car always seems to break down at the worst times."
breakdown (noun)
A failure to function properly:
- "The breakdown of the system caused major delays."
To lose emotional control:
- "I had a mental breakdown after working 80-hour weeks."
work out vs. workout
work out (verb)
To exercise:
- "I try to work out at least three times a week."
To resolve or find a solution to a problem:
- "We need to work out a plan before the meeting."
workout (noun)
A session of physical exercise:
- "That was an intense workout! I'm exhausted."
set up vs. setup
set up (verb)
To arrange or organize something:
- "Can you help me set up my new computer?"
To trick someone:
- "Someone cleverly set them up. They were tricked into attending the event."
setup (noun)
The arrangement or organization of something:
- "The setup for the concert took hours."
break through vs. breakthrough
break through (verb)
To make an important discovery or achievement:
- "Scientists hope to break through in cancer research soon."
To force a way through a barrier:
- "The firefighters managed to break through the flames to rescue the trapped residents."
breakthrough (noun)
An important discovery or achievement:
- "This discovery could be a major breakthrough in medicine."
Remember, context is key!
Have a look at some more examples of phrasal verbs and lookalike nouns!
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