What are the definitions of “pick up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Improve.
Sales PICKED UP a bit during the Christmas period.
- 2Learn quickly.
She PICKED UP Spanish in six months.
- 3Collect.
While you're in town, can you PICK UP my trousers from the Dry Cleaner?
- 4Receive ( a broadcast ).
When we rent a holiday cottage in Cornwall, we can't PICK UP Channel 5.
- 5Collect ( a person ). This differs from the' collect a thing' meaning - as that means' collect and bring back' whereas this means either ( i )' collect and drop off on your way' or ( ii )' collect and bring to the same destination'..
i ) Can you PICK me UP and take me to The George when you go to the party? ii ) Can you PICK UP some friends of mine on your way to the party? They're going too.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “pick up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb pick up is to collect something or someone from a place. For example, it can mean getting groceries from the store, collecting a friend from the airport, or receiving a package from the post office.
What are the different verb forms of “pick up”?
| Root Verb | pick up |
| Third Person Singular Present | picks up |
| Present Participle | picking up |
| Simple Past | picked up |
| Past Participle | picked up |
Example
I need to pick up my dry cleaning today.
Example
She picks up her kids from school every day.
Example
He is picking up some groceries on his way home.
Example
Yesterday, they picked up their new car from the dealership.
Example
The package has been picked up from the post office.
What kind of phrasal verb is “pick up”?
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
“pick up” 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
She picked up her friend from the airport.
Example
He picked up the package from the post office.
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
“pick up” 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
She picked up her friend from the airport.
Example
He picked up the package from the post office.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “pick up”?
Good things to know
Does “pick up” have an informal or formal tone?
Pick up is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can be used in both casual and more formal settings, depending on the context. For example, when discussing business matters, such as picking up new clients, it can have a more formal tone. However, in most cases, pick up is considered an informal phrasal verb used in everyday speech.
