Welcome to Whodunnit Phrasal Verbs Quiz: Padma Forste. Phrasal verbs are verbs which appear with a preposition [particle] that changes the meaning of the root verb. Sometimes the amount of change is small, just a nuance such as emphasis or direction is added. At other times the meaning is almost completely changed. Often phrasal verbs work as a metaphor. The following are fairly common prepositions [particles] that appear with usually simple verbs to create additional or expanded meaning.