Abstract:
This study aims at investigating the difficulties that encounter Libyan ESL students at college level in using phrasal verbs. At the type research methodology adopted in this study is the descriptive analytical methods. A test and questionnaire are designed to collect data. The test is distributed to 20 third semester English students of English department at college of education –Zliten and the questionnaire is given to only 10 students at the same level test distribution, the data are analyzed by using statically package of social sciences(SPSS). The findings of the study show that Libyan ESL students at college level encounter some difficulties in using phrasal verbs and most of them couldn't distinguished between the types of phrasal verbs. The findings revealed that the idiomatic phrasal verbs are difficult because the meaning of phrasal verbs cannot be inferred from the meaning of individual words. Some recommendation and suggestions were formulated to help in facilitating the difficulties of phrasal verbs such as using phrasal verbs in students’ communication and academic use of language as well as teachers should be well trained to teach phrasal verbs properly.
