PHRASAL VERBS, LOVE THEM OR LIST THEM (ALPHABETICALLY)

Some things do not depend on technology, but just on common sense. And when people panic, common sense goes out of the window.

Phrasal Verbs are one of the most ingenious and technologically advanced building blocks ever invented by English speakers. They are an acquired taste for me, and unlike many non-native speakers, I have come past the hate stage to actually loving them.

To love something you have to understand it, be it consciously or unconsciously. In every language, there are those expressions that almost define a whole culture. Using them gives you an edge, it makes you cross an uncharted frontier.

When I explain my students stuff about phrasal verbs I tell them what they are first.

Phrasal verbs are useful, convenient and often colourful shortcuts. They the brush strokes of masters who have often concentrated paragraph long explanations into a verb and one or two prepositions or particles. Speak about genius. If you use them fluently you should put "advanced summarizing skills" in your CV and linkedin profile?

I have my favourites, which I repeatedly use as examples. Above all, "pig out" stands out as an instant reminder of its biggest fan, Homer Simpson. But the most important thing is to let learners know what the key is to understanding them:

"Go for the particle! Go for the preposition." It is no use learning them by heart and worst of all, to learn them by base verb. It is the particle that changes the meaning of a boring verb into something exciting and complex. And often, the base is not even a verb. See pig out above. Do you "pig" me?

One of the problems is that most books and dictionaries that I have come across which deal with phrasal verbs do it by alphabetical order of the verbs and not by particle. The only one I have found which does not follow that system is the wonderful "Collins Cobuild Phrasal Verbs Workbook" which ironically is out of print since 2002! (Note: if anybody wants to give me a present, I would love a copy).

So to wrap it up, phrasal verbs should be taught using common sense and not stubborness. Rubbing the dictionary against our heads will not help them get through our skulls by osmosis. Understanding them and using a sensible approach is the key to learning any vocabulary. Phrasal verbs are no exception.

WHY ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE CHANGED MY LIFE.

So many years later... I am still linked to this book. I first came in contact with it on its first edition, when my evening class English teacher told my father to buy it for me, in addition to ny school book. Back then, I had just started taking classes with her and I was a bit lost - actually completely lost - concerning English. Since my father regreted that my grandmother had not transmitted English to him, he wanted to restart the chain of English speakers in the family.

And indeed he did. I ended up with a degree in English and working both as a teacher and translating into English.

Part of the blame falls on this book. And on the teacher who made me do it, back to back. Twice. When I first finished it, I was given an eraser (a rubber it was called then) and I knew then why I had been suggested not to be to hard on my pencil.

At college I sometimes went back to it. For reference, when more technical books became too dense. By then I had bought a second edition and my first was getting yellow. After college, as the years went by and I started teaching more and more, I noticed that English grammar in use had reproduced. Eventually there were three levels, and then other "cousins" about vocabulary, phrasal verbs, idioms, and even pronunciation.

For a while I became Director of Studies in a couple of consultancies that offered courses at companies and public agencies, I included those books as part of the background material. More than once we received suggestions from students asking to have english grammar in use as class material and not only as support in their office libraries.

The salesman from CUP sometimes just asked me: how many are you going to order this time?

By now you may have concluded that I am a big fan of anything to do with English Grammar in Use. Goes without saying that I continue to recomend it. It is a great, easy to use book. It is wonderful for reference and to reinforce some grammar point that your students need to hammer down. Unless your students are really serious and can do without so much fun in class, they are not classroom material to be followed every day.

However, if you are preparing for any of the Cambridge exams, these books should be your gym, where you lift weights. I always tell my students that grammar and vocabulary have to be like the skeleton. Used all the time with precision, but seldom seen. You must reach a point where you do not think about grammar - or vocabulary - but they will come to you naturally. Instinctively.

And in order to achieve that, in order to be the Rafael Nadal or the Harry Potter of Grammar (or rather Hermione!), the best option is to drill yourself until you achieve mastery.

If you want to achieve that, English Grammar in Use and its offspring are for you!