Phrasal verbs · Free lesson
Deal with a problem: say who will handle it
The projector stops working before a class. Someone needs to contact support and arrange another screen. You can volunteer to deal with the problem.
Professor Scott MendozaMeaning in this lesson
deal with
to take action to handle a situation or problem
Example
“I will deal with the projector problem.”
I will take action to handle the problem with the projector.
The short answer
Deal with means take action to handle something. Keep the object after with: deal with the problem or deal with it. Do not put it between deal and with. The past form is dealt with.
Keep the problem after with.
Say I will deal with the projector problem. If the problem is already clear, replace its name with it: I will deal with it. The expression stays together. For a past report, change deal to dealt and keep with.
Name the problem, then refer back to it
I will deal with the projector problem.
I will deal with it.
Mina dealt with the problem yesterday.
Deal with it keeps it after with. It does not follow the split pattern you use in put it off.
Offer to take action
Identify the problem
the projector problem
Add your offer
I will deal with the projector problem.
Use a pronoun if it is clear
I will deal with it.
Try it now
Offer to handle the problem.
Read all answers and explanations
Complete the offer: “I will deal ___ the projector problem.”
withWith belongs to this expression for handling a problem. Keep it before the problem name.
The problem is already clear. Replace its name with it.
I will deal with it.Deal with stays together, and it follows with. This is not a separable pattern.
Choose the correct past report.
Mina dealt with the problem yesterday.The irregular past of deal is dealt. With and the problem name stay in place.
Put it into practice
Fix the offer to help.
Keep the promise to handle the problem. Move it to the correct position.
I will deal it with.
See a model answer
I will deal with it.
The pronoun replaces the problem name in the same position after with.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Does dealing with it mean it is fixed already?
No. It can describe work in progress. State the result separately if you want the listener to know the problem is solved.
I am dealing with it. Support is checking the connection.
Why can a book deal with a subject?
That is another meaning: be about a topic. A book dealing with a topic is not necessarily taking action to solve a problem.
This book deals with the history of music.
Take it into your day
Deal with the problem becomes deal with it. For the past, use dealt with. Explain the result separately when it matters.
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