Showing posts with label spoken english. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spoken english. Show all posts

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Spoken English

The particles of many phrasal verbs, especially phrasal verbs that relate to physical movement, are frequently used alone with a form of be. This is very common in conversation when the verb already been stated at least once and does not need to be repeated:

Customer: Have you run out of coffee?
Store clerk: We're out of regular coffee, but we're not out of instant.

Marsha: When do you have to move out of your apartment?
Nancy: I have to be out by next Wednesday.

Jim: Did you turn the air conditioner on?
Bob: No, it was on when I came in.

Mother: Has your sister woken up yet?
Susie: No, she's still not up.

Using the particle without a verb is also common when a phrasal verb can be understood from the context. Sometimes, only one verb is obvious:

Raul: Are you through?
Todd: No, I won't be through until after 4:00.

If this conversation occurred at a place of employment, the phrasal verb could only be get through. But ofter, in a particular situation, more then one verb might be understood, but to the speakers it is not important or necessary to be specific about which one:

Carlos: Is Karen in?
Paul: No, she isn't.

If this conversation occured in an office building, several verbs might be understood: come in, go in, get in, (be) let in.