Phrasal Verb: Turn down

Turn down is a phrasal verb. This means it has two parts. The first part is the verb turn. The second part is the small word down. Together, they create a new meaning. This phrase is "separable." This is a fancy way to say you can put words in the middle. You can say turn down the music. You can also say turn the music down. Both are correct! It is like a LEGO set. You can move the pieces around. However, there is one special rule for pronouns. Words like it, him, or them must go in the middle. You must say turn it down. You cannot say turn down it. Think of the pronoun as the filling in a sandwich. It stays in the middle!

1. 1Using this phrase is easy if you follow these steps:
2. 2Start with the verb turn. Change it for the time (past, present, or future).
3. 3Choose the thing you are talking about (the object).
4. 4Place the word down after the verb or after the object.
5. 5If you use it, always put it before down.
6. 6Here is a quick look at the pattern:
7. 7Verb + down + Object: turn down the volume.
8. 8Verb + Object + down: turn the volume down.
9. 9Verb + Pronoun + down: turn it down.

Use turn down when things are too much. Is the music too loud? Turn it down. Is the heater too hot? Turn it down. It is perfect for electronics. You can use it for lights, radios, and ovens.

You also use it for social situations. Imagine a friend invites you to a party. You are very tired. You can turn down the invitation. This means you say "no" politely. Maybe a company offers you a job. The pay is too low. You turn down the job. It is a very common way to refuse something. It sounds softer than just saying "no."

Do not use turn down for everything. If you are driving a car and want to go left, just use turn. Do not say turn down the street unless you mean the street goes downhill!

Also, do not use it to mean "stop completely." If you want the TV to stop, use turn off. Turn down only makes it lower. If you turn down the TV until you hear nothing, it is still on! It is like a dimmer switch, not a power button. Don't use it for people's height either. You cannot turn down a tall person to make them short. That would be a very weird superpower!

Many people make the same small mistakes. One big mistake is the "Pronoun Trap." People say turn down it. Remember, it loves being in the middle! Always say turn it down.

Another mistake is using down when you mean off. If you want to sleep, you turn off the light. If you turn down the light, it stays on but gets dim.

Lastly, don't forget the s for he, she, or it in the present tense. Say He turns down the music. Don't forget that little s! It is a small letter but it does a big job. It is like the salt in a recipe. You notice when it is missing.

Let's compare turn down with turn up. They are opposites! Turn up makes things louder or stronger. Turn down makes things quieter or weaker.

Now, look at turn down versus reject. Reject is a very strong, formal word. You might reject a bad idea in a big meeting. Turn down is more common in daily life. It feels more relaxed.

What about refuse? Refuse is also a bit stronger. If you refuse to go, you are being firm. If you turn down an offer, you are just making a choice. Think of turn down as the polite cousin of reject.