Phrasal Verbs and Lookalike Nouns

A young lady is trying to decide whether a phrasal verb or its lookalike noun form should be used-'which one?' is written in speech bubble.

 

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!

 

 

Wir benötigen Ihre Zustimmung zum Laden der Übersetzungen

Wir nutzen einen Drittanbieter-Service, um den Inhalt der Website zu übersetzen, der möglicherweise Daten über Ihre Aktivitäten sammelt. Bitte überprüfen Sie die Details in der Datenschutzerklärung und akzeptieren Sie den Dienst, um die Übersetzungen zu sehen.