What are the definitions of “set up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Prepare equipment, software, etc., for use.
The technician SET UP the computer network perfectly.
- 2Start a company.
They SET UP a dot com company, floated it a couple of years later on the Stock Exchange and made an absolute fortune.
- 3Provide someone with the money needed to live.
Winning the lottery SET them UP for life.
- 4Trick, deceive.
The police SET them UP.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “set up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb set up is to prepare or arrange something, such as equipment or a place, for use. For example, it can mean setting up a computer, arranging furniture in a room, or preparing a stage for a performance.
What are the different verb forms of “set up”?
| Root Verb | set up |
| Third Person Singular Present | sets up |
| Present Participle | setting up |
| Simple Past | set up |
| Past Participle | set up |
Example
Please set up the chairs before the guests arrive.
Example
She sets up her workspace every morning.
Example
He is setting up the projector for the presentation.
Example
They set up the tent before it started raining.
Example
The room was set up for the meeting.
What kind of phrasal verb is “set 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
“set 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 set up the computer.
Example
He set the stage up for the concert.
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
“set 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 set up the computer.
Example
He set the stage up for the concert.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “set up”?
Set up a business
To start or establish a company or organization.
Example
She set up a successful online store selling handmade crafts.
Good things to know
Does “set up” have an informal or formal tone?
Set up is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal settings, such as business meetings or presentations, depending on the specific context.
