Phrasal Verbs, Problem Solving and Grammar

 

This report represents¹ the 300th Everyday Grammar program. In celebration² of the event, we will explore common phrasal verbs⁴ that have to do with the development of Everyday Grammar reports.

What you learn will be useful for discussing any kind of planning or problem solving.

Let's begin with a few important terms and ideas.

What are phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs are groups of words that have a verb³ and another short word or words. Together, these word groups take on a meaning that is different from what the individual words suggest.

For example, consider the phrasal verb go on. The verb go is followed by the short word on. Together these words can mean to happen or take place.*

Some common phrasal verbs describe how VOA Learning⁵ English develops each week's Everyday Grammar report. These phrases⁶ are useful for describing planning and problem solving in general.

Let's explore each of these phrasal verbs.

Step 1 – Figure out

The first step in every week's report involves the phrasal verb figure out. The writer figures out – or develops an understanding of – a subject. Reader questions, news reports, grammar books and friendly suggestions all play a part in the development of Everyday Grammar reports.

The phrasal verb figure out even appears at our meetings, as in:

"Have you figured out an Everyday Grammar topic for next week?"

Step 2 – Work out

The second step in every program involves the writer working out the idea for the story. In this case, the phrasal verb work out means⁷ to plan or think carefully about the story in detail.

For example, the writer might need to work out a way to include some fun audio⁸ examples from movies, songs or news reports. Or, the writer might need to work out a way to explain a complex⁹ grammar subject in a clear way.

Step 3 – Go ahead

After working out a plan for the report, the third step is to go ahead with the report. Go ahead means to carry out an action.

For example, after discussing ideas and plans for a story, a VOA worker at a meeting might say, "You should go ahead with that story!"

Step 4 - Look back

After the report is published, the writer looks back at the report and reader comments. The phrasal verb look back means to think of something again or to reconsider something after a period of time.

This is an important step for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the report. This step also helps the writers develop new ideas for future reports.

Closing thoughts

While today's report explored the steps taken for Everyday Grammar programs, the phrasal verbs you learned¹⁰ about are useful to describe all kinds of problem-solving activities.

A person might, for example, figure out the size of a problem, work out a plan to deal with it, go ahead with a plan to solve the problem and finally look back at what he or she has done.

Words in This Story

grammar -- n. the whole system or structure¹¹ of a language

topic -- n. someone or something that people talk or write about

1 Represents   

v.表现( represent的第三人称单数 )；代表；体现；作为…的代表

参考例句：

• This represents a volte-face in government thinking. 这代表着政府观点的彻底转变。
• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history. 俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 celebration   

n.庆祝，庆祝会；典礼

参考例句：

• The celebration passed off successfully.庆祝活动圆满结束。
• The celebration of Christmas is a custom.庆祝圣诞节是一种习俗。

3 verb   

n.[语]动词

参考例句：

• The sentence is formed from a verb and two nouns.这句子由一个动词和两个名词构成。
• These are the finite forms of a verb.这些是一个动词的限定形式。

4 verbs   

动词

参考例句：

• I have to swot up on phrasal verbs for a test tomorrow. 我不得不为明天的测验努力温习短语动词。
• Verbs that do not take object are called intransitive verbs. 不带宾语的动词称为不及物动词。

5 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

6 phrases   

n.短语( phrase的名词复数 )；成语；说法；乐句

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

8 audio   

n./adj.音频(响)(的)；声音(的)，听觉(的)

参考例句：

• Often,the meeting is recorded on audio or video media for later reference.通常这种会议会以视频或者音频形式记录下来，供以后查阅。
• You don't even have to pay for audio programs.你大可不必为自己听这些节目付费。

9 complex   

adj.复杂的，合成的，综合的；n.联合体

参考例句：

• What he said was too complex for me to understand.他说的太复杂了，我无法了解。
• Justice is part of the complex machinery of the law.正义是复杂的法律机器的一部分。

10 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

11 structure   

n.结构，构造，建筑物；v.构成；

参考例句：

• Doctors study the structure of the human body.医生研究人体构造。
• A flower has quite a complicated structure.一朵花的结构相当复杂。