10 "STEP" Phrasal Verbs in English: step up, step down, step in...

Learn these 10 phrasal verbs that are used in school, at work, and in everyday life. You'll learn expressions using the word "step" to talk about taking responsibility, doing things faster, taking a break, becoming a leader, leaving a job, and more. Step up to the plate and learn phrasal verbs -- they will make your English conversations much more interesting. You'll also be able to understand more of what native speakers say in person and in movies. After the lesson, take a step back, review what you have learned, and test yourself on the quiz at https://www.engvid.com/10-step....-phrasal-verbs-in-en

TRANSCRIPT

Hi. Welcome back to www.engvid.com. I'm Adam. In today's lesson we're going to look at phrasal verbs using the verb "step". Now, first of all, what you need to understand, again, phrasal verbs are verbs plus prepositions that have different meanings. And the verb "step" is a bit tricky because we use "step" as a noun as well, and we often combine it with prepositions, and the preposition and noun combination can be completely different from the verb and preposition combination. So we're going to look... Have to look at both of these when we look at these combinations with prepositions. So we're going to look at: "step down", "step up", "step in", "step inside", "step around", "step out", "step on", "step back", "step aside", "step forward".

Let's start with "down". So, "step down". So, before I start with any of them, what is "step"? So a step is when you take your one foot forward. Right? You're taking one step. Or if you're climbing the stairs, you take one, two, three steps, four steps, five steps. It's one foot in front of the other. That's the basic meaning of "step".

"Step down". So, of course, I can step down off the table if I'm standing on a table or whatever. There's always the literal meaning, but "step down" can also mean resign. Okay? Resign means quit. So, for example, if I'm the president of the company and I think that the company is not doing very well and everybody's very angry because the company's not doing well, they want to get somebody new as the president in my position. Finally I say: "Okay, you know what? I will step down and let the new guy come in." Now, we're going to see that again in "step aside", but "step down" basically means resign, give up the position. Now, if we're looking at the verb: "a step down". If we're looking at this as a... Sorry. As a noun, not a verb, "a step down" means a lower position, or a lower value, or a lower rank. Okay? So right now I live in a five-bedroom house, it's a very big house, very, very expensive, but my financial situation is not so good, so I had to sell that house and buy a two-bedroom condominium. Now, for many people a two-bedroom condominium is very nice, but for somebody who has had a five-bedroom house, a condominium is a step down in position, in stature, etc. Right? So a step down means a lower level or a lower rank. "To step down", "to resign", okay.

Now, "step up" same idea. If we're looking at the noun, "a step up" is the opposite, it's an increase in position. So I went from my two-bedroom condominium to a three-bedroom house. That's a big step up in terms of social situations, social rank, depending on who you ask of course. But "to step up", okay? As a verb. "To step up" means to face the challenge. Of course, it literal means to step up. Okay? But to step up to the challenge means somebody has to come forward, show the courage, and do what is needed to overcome an obstacle or to overcome a challenge. So think about sports. Okay? You have your favourite team and they're in the playoffs and they're losing, so you... All the people say: "Well, the star players, the best players need to step up." They need to, like, show up, be courageous, face the challenge and do what is necessary to win. Okay? So, "to step up". Now, another expression we have... This is a very common expression: "Step up to the plate". Now, "the plate" comes from baseball. Okay? You... The batter comes in, there's the home plate and there's the pitcher, you step up to the plate and you're ready to hit the ball. Right? So if we say somebody needs to step up to the plate that means somebody needs to face the challenge, face the difficult situation and take care of it basically. Okay, "step up". Okay.

"Step in", now, again, I can step in a room. Just one step. I'm not moving all the way in. I'm just taking one step, that's the literal meaning. To... The other meaning is to get involved. Okay? So I see my brother and sister, they're both fighting and they're not stopping, and I say: "Stop, stop", and nobody's stopping so finally I have to step in, I have to get involved, I have to separate them. So, if somebody needs to step in they need to get involved, or they need to interfere, or they need to stop something from happening. They need to be part of the situation.