Here's a breakdown:
* Verb: The core action of the phrase.
* Preposition/Adverb: Words like *on, off, up, down, out, in, about, around, away* etc. These words modify the verb's meaning.
Example:
* "Look" (verb) means to use your eyes to see something.
* "Look up" (phrasal verb) means to search for information, often in a book or online.
Key characteristics of phrasal verbs:
* They can be transitive (taking an object) or intransitive (not taking an object).
* Their meaning is often idiomatic, meaning the meaning of the phrase cannot be deduced from the individual words.
* They can be separable or inseparable depending on whether the object can be placed between the verb and the preposition/adverb.
In short, a phrasal verb is a verb that takes on a new meaning when combined with another word.