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Phrasal Verbs / PHRASA~1

19. Focus on: phrasal verbs and the adverb right

The adverb right is often used to intensify the meaning of a phrasal verb. Placed before the particle, right means directly, immediately, or quickly. It is not important whether the phrasal verb is intransitive, separable, or nonseparable. What does matter is whether the action of the verb is something that can logically be done directly, immediately, or quickly. For example, it would be illogical to use right with stand around, or wear down:

She aimed right at me. (She aimed directly at me.)

I'll bring it right over. (I'll bring it over immediately.)

The room warmed right up. (The room warmed up quickly.)

Right can be used when a separable phrasal verb is separated by its object; how­ever, right cannot be used when the object follows the particle:

He brought my radio right back. Ho brought right back my radio.

Infinitive

present tense

-ing form

past tense

past participle

aim at

aim at & aims at

aiming at

aimed at

aimed at

1. aim ... at p.v. When you point a weapon at people or things, you aim it at them.

The robber aimed the gun right at my head.

He was aiming the arrow at the apple, but he missed.

2. aim at p.v. When you aim at something you want, you do what is necessary to get it.

The manager said she was aiming at a 14 percent increase in sales next year.

The new taw is aimed at reducing crime in the streets.

3. aim ... at p.v. When you do something designed to affect one class or type of people, you aim it at those people.

Cigarette manufacturers were accused of aiming their advertising at young people.

The candidate's speech was aimed at female voters.

141

Infinitive

present tense

-ing form

past tense

past participle

bring back

bring back & brings back

bringing back

brought back

brought back

1. bring... back p.v. When you take something to another place and then bring it from that place to the place where you were before, you bring it back.

/ told Tom to bring my pen right back.

Sally borrowed my blue sweater and brought it back yesterday.

2. bring... back p.v. When something that was popular or current in the past is introduced again, it is brought back.

Many schools are bringing back uniforms for children.

Every few years designers try to bring miniskirts back.

3. bring... back p.v. When something causes you to recall memories and emotions from the past, it brings the memories and emotions back.

Looking at these old pictures brought back wonderful memories.

I had tried to forget that awful incident, but this magazine article has brought it all back.