TAILORING YOUR LANGUAGE

Multi-Syllable Verbs v Phrasal Verbs and One-Syllable Verbs

By Bibi Baxter

THE CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE

• Introduction (Scroll to next box)

• Multi-syllable Verbs v Phrasal Verbs

• Multi-syllable Verbs v Single-syllable Verbs

RELATED PAGES 

• Phrasal Verbs (Construction Rules)

• Talk v Speak v Say v Tell

• Irregular Verbs

• Verb Practice (Course Book Cross-Reference List)

• Tailoring Your Language-1 (Multi-syllable Verbs v Phrasal Verbs + One-syllable Verbs)

• Tailoring Your Language-3 (Talking About Bodily Functions)

Introduction

Multi-Syllable Verbs v Phrasal Verbs and One-Syllable Verbs

English is a huge language.  Therefore, it is important to tailor your language according to whom you are speaking, otherwise you may not be understood, or you may give the wrong impression about yourself.  Below, I have given my recommendations:-

As a general rule, multi-syllable nouns and verbs are quality English compared with single-syllable ones.   If your knowledge of English is limited, concentrate on using the best English because it will be acceptable anywhere;  slang and phrasal verbs can make the speaker sound insolent or uneducated if used on the wrong occasions.  

Other useful points are:-

• Use phrasal verbs when speaking to children, because they are more familiar with one-syllable words.

• Use multi-syllable words when communicating with native speakers of Latin-based languages (i.e. French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.), because they will probably have similar words in their own language

• Use single-syllable words when communicating with native speakers of German, Dutch, Scandinavian languages.

• Use slang and phrasal verbs when speaking to teenagers.

• Avoid using phrasal verbs in business correspondence, formal speeches, or quality written English, etc.

• Avoid using phrasal verbs, idioms and slang when speaking to non-native speakers of English

Examples are given below

ABBREVIATIONS:  s.t. = something     s.o. = someone

Multiple-Syllable Verbs

-to accommodate s.o.

-to put s.o. up

Multi-Syllable Verbs

Single-Syllable Verbs

-to applaud

-to explain s.t. 

-to terminate s.t.

-to go

-to clap

-to say s.t

-to stop / to halt (intrans.)

Note from Bibi: This page will be extended at a later date, but there are no immediate plans to do so.

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