Phrasal verbs (Germanic) and intellectual words (French – Latin)
English vocabulary is a mixture of simple verb-preposition phrases and more intellectual Latin words. French speakers can easily recognise Latin words, and use them in their conversations. But the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ way of saying things is more difficult. Remember that generally, short word combinations are more informal and friendly, and that if you use only words of latin origin, you may give the impression of being a little ‘pompous’ or ‘pretentious’!
Try to find the Latin word that has a similar meaning to each of the phrasal verbs given.
1
set up conduct/perform
carry out reverse
get better improve/ameliorate
back up establish
2
drop in (on) visit
get it decelerate
slow down abandon
give up comprehend
3
carry on exclude
carry out continue
make fun of ridicule/mock
leave out perform/conduct
4
look up calculate
turn down interrupt
work out refuse
butt in consult
5
speed up penetrate
break into tolerate
put up with accelerate
throw up vomit
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Categories: vocabulaire | 
Tags: latin, phrasal, phrasal verbs | 
5 Comments »
Merçi pour tous les eforts que vous faites pour nous aider
Emmanuelle,
Thanks for your comment. I use a great website called ‘etymonline.com’. It’s by an American writer, and has all the info I need. There are lots of book on word origins, but I can’t recommend any one particular one as I only use online resources. I must buy a decent dictionary one of these days…
hi Jonathan,i’ll have a look at your latest exercise it looks very helpful
could you give me the references of a dictionary you might know on the origin of words with large explanations …not only (latin origin or…basic info we don ‘t really care about )
Thank you for your help once again!
I almost forgot !
All the best to u & yours for 2010
Emmanuelle
hello jonathan thank you for your new exercice i like it it’s very interesting
Can we have some more ?
It’s very interesting and useful !