What are the definitions of “drive away”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Force an animal or someone to leave a place.
Their unfriendliness DRIVES customers AWAY.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “drive away”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb drive away is to force someone or something, like an animal, to leave a place. It can be used to describe making someone or something go away because of an action or behavior.
What are the different verb forms of “drive away”?
| Root Verb | drive away |
| Third Person Singular Present | drives away |
| Present Participle | driving away |
| Simple Past | drove away |
| Past Participle | driven away |
Example
The loud noise drives away the birds.
Example
He drives away the stray cats from his garden.
Example
She is driving away the unwanted guests from the party.
Example
They drove away the intruders last night.
Example
The bad smell has driven away all the customers.
What kind of phrasal verb is “drive away”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“drive away” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The dog drove away the squirrels from the yard.
Example
Their rude behavior drove the guests away from the party.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“drive away” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The dog drove away the squirrels from the yard.
Example
Their rude behavior drove the guests away from the party.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “drive away”?
Good things to know
Does “drive away” have an informal or formal tone?
Drive away is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal settings, depending on the specific context.
