🔤 Master Essential Phrasal Verbs
2nd Year BAC Sciences Physiques SPC
📌 Introduction
Phrasal verbs (verb + particle) are crucial for natural English communication. This lesson focuses on science-related phrasal verbs.
Structure
Verb + Preposition/Adverb
Example: “set up” an experiment
Types
- Transitive (needs object)
- Intransitive (no object)
- Separable/Inseparable
Science Tip: “80% of lab instructions use phrasal verbs like ‘carry out’, ‘write up’, and ‘point out’.”
🔍 Top 15 Science Phrasal Verbs
1. Carry out (perform)
“We carried out three trials”
2. Set up (prepare)
“Set up the equipment”
3. Write up (document)
“Write up your findings”
4. Point out (indicate)
“She pointed out an error”
5. Turn into (transform)
“Liquid turned into gas”
6. Break down (analyze/decay)
“Enzymes break down proteins”
7. Come up with (propose)
“Come up with a hypothesis”
8. Go over (review)
“Go over the results”
9. Run out of (exhaust)
“We ran out of reagents”
10. Figure out (solve)
“Figure out the problem”
🎯 Exercise: Matching Meanings
Match each phrasal verb to its definition:
1. Carry out
2. Set up
3. Break down
✂️ Separable Phrasal Verbs
Key Rule:
When the phrasal verb takes an object, noun objects can go between or after the verb and particle:
“Write up the report” OR “Write the report up“
BUT pronoun objects must go in the middle:
✓ “Write it up”
✗ “Write up it“
✏️ Exercise: Word Order
Rewrite these sentences with pronouns:
1. “Turn off the lights” (them) →
2. “Set up the experiment” (it) →
🧪 Lab Context Practice
Common Lab Scenarios
- “Before you carry out the test, set up the apparatus.”
- “Note down observations as substances break down.”
- “If you run out of materials, point it out immediately.”
🔍 Exercise: Gap Fill
Complete the lab instructions:
1. “Please the safety check first.”
2. “ the data before drawing conclusions.”
3. “We need to a better method.”
📝 Writing Practice
✍️ Exercise: Lab Report
Write 3 sentences about an experiment using these phrasal verbs:
