Phrasal Verb – Figure out.
Meaning 1 – To understand something or to solve a problem.
- This phrasal verb is separable.
- “I can’t figure out what is happening!”
- “Can you help me figure this one out?”
We can figure out how, what, why, when, etc…
Meaning 2 – To understand why a person acts or behaves as they do. If you figure somebody out you understand their personality.
- This phrasal verb is separable.
- “I can’t figure Terry out. Sometimes he’s clever, but at other times he’s totally gormless.”
If you need help trying to figure out how to solve a problem, then you might need to pick somebody’s brain (idiom). This expression can be used when you need to ask someone for help.
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What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with 1 or 2 small words. These small words are particles. A particle can be a preposition or adverb. The phrasal verb has a different meaning from the verb alone because the particle changes the meaning of the verb.
Some phrasal verbs can be separated. When we change the tense of the phrasal verb we only modify the verb part. The particle remains the same.
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