What are the definitions of “drone on”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Talk boringly for a long time.
The minister DRONED ON for an hour and the audience looked increasingly bored.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “drone on”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb drone on is to talk in a boring and monotonous way for a long time. When someone drones on, they usually talk about a subject that is not interesting to the listener, making it difficult for them to stay engaged.
What are the different verb forms of “drone on”?
| Root Verb | drone on |
| Third Person Singular Present | drones on |
| Present Participle | droning on |
| Simple Past | droned on |
| Past Participle | droned on |
Example
He always drones on about his stamp collection.
Example
She drones on about her cats every time we meet.
Example
He is droning on about his vacation, and everyone is losing interest.
Example
The professor droned on about the history of the subject, and the students struggled to stay awake.
Example
The speaker had droned on for hours, and the audience was visibly tired.
What kind of phrasal verb is “drone on”?
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.)
Intransitive verb
“drone on” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.
Example
The lecturer droned on for hours.
Example
He droned on about his favorite topic.
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
“drone on” 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 lecturer droned on for hours.
Example
He droned on about his favorite topic.
Good things to know
Does “drone on” have an informal or formal tone?
Drone on is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can be used in more formal settings depending on the context. However, it is important to note that using drone on to describe someone's speech may be considered impolite or disrespectful.
