THE COMPLEXITY OF PHRASAL VERBS AND THEIR CHALLENGES FOR ESL LEARNERS

Abstract

Phrasal verbs are a distinctive and pervasive feature of English that combine a verb with one or more particles, creating meanings that often differ from the individual words. Despite their frequency in everyday language, phrasal verbs pose significant challenges for ESL learners due to their idiomatic nature, multiple meanings, and syntactic variability. This paper explores the reasons behind the difficulty of phrasal verbs for ESL students, examining linguistic, cognitive, and pedagogical factors. It also discusses implications for teaching strategies aimed at improving learners’ comprehension and productive use of phrasal verbs.