What are the definitions of “sleep over”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Spend the night at someone else's house.
The au pair made tea for the friends who were SLEEPING OVER.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “sleep over”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb sleep over is to spend the night at someone else's house, usually as a guest or for a social event like a slumber party.
What are the different verb forms of “sleep over”?
| Root Verb | sleep over |
| Third Person Singular Present | sleeps over |
| Present Participle | sleeping over |
| Simple Past | slept over |
| Past Participle | slept over |
Example
My friend invited me to sleep over at her house this weekend.
Example
He often sleeps over at his cousin's house.
Example
The kids are sleeping over at their grandparents' house tonight.
Example
We slept over at our friend's house after the party.
Example
They had slept over at the hotel during the conference.
What kind of phrasal verb is “sleep over”?
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
“sleep over” 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
She slept over at her friend's house.
Example
The kids slept over after the birthday 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
“sleep over” 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 slept over at her friend's house.
Example
The kids slept over after the birthday party.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “sleep over”?
Sleepover (noun)
A social event where people, usually children or teenagers, spend the night at someone's house.
Example
My daughter is hosting a sleepover for her friends this weekend.
Good things to know
Does “sleep over” have an informal or formal tone?
Sleep over is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and is appropriate for both casual and more formal settings, depending on the context.
