Understanding particle meanings: up, down, out, off, on
Verb + particle (+ object)
Don't give up. / He didn't turn off the light.
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💡 Particles add meaning to verbs. Learning particle patterns helps predict phrasal verb meanings.
✓Please speak up—I can't hear you. (UP = louder/more)
✗Please speak down—I can't hear you.
UP often means increase; speak up = speak louder.
✓The car broke down on the highway. (DOWN = stop working)
✗The car broke up on the highway.
DOWN with machines = malfunction; UP = end relationship.
✓I need to figure out this problem. (OUT = completely/discover)
✗I need to figure in this problem.
OUT often means completely or to discover.