What is the difference between idiom and phrasal verb?
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Idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal definition of the word used. For example “kick the bucket” means to die but the literal meaning of the individual words does not convey this idea. Phrasal verb is a verb that is composed of a main verb plus one or more particles for example phrasal verb “give up” to stop trying, but the individual words “give” and “up” do not convey the meaning on their own.
Phrasal verbs show actions and they are formed through the combination of a verb with a preposition or an adverb. Idioms are expressions formed through combination of words. Both can denote figurative meaning, however, the meaning of an idiom can be deeper than the meaning of a phrasal verb.
- JennyCertified ESL Teacher who helps her student in Conversational English.
Idiom has no literal definition. Phrasal verb changes its meaning if the prnouns will change.
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- DaniloTeaching English linguistics
It is like asking "What is the difference between a cow and an animal?". There isn't a logical answer to that question. The so-called "phrasal verbs" (most linguists abandoned this term) are a subclass of verbal idioms. Idioms are set expressions that come in all sorts of grammatical forms, verbal idioms being the most important for the student to master.
"Phrasal verbs" are phrases including a verb and a preposition which indicate an action while "Idiom" is a group of words that convey a meaning different from the meaning of individual words.
Phrasal verbs denote actions and are made up of a verb with a preposition or an adverb. An idiom is an expression with a combination of words having a figurative meaning
Phrasal verbs are a combination of verbs and preposition or adverbs whereas idioms are group of words that convey a meaning different from the meaning of individual words
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