Phrasal Verbs Guide
Learn how to use common phrasal verbs in English with clear explanations and examples
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English vocabulary. They consist of a verb combined with a preposition or adverb (or both), creating a meaning different from the original verb.
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs are combinations of words that function as a single verb unit. They typically consist of a verb followed by a particle (a preposition or adverb) that changes the meaning of the verb. For example, "look up" means to search for information, which is different from the basic meaning of "look."
Phrasal verbs are very common in everyday English, especially in informal speech and writing. Native speakers use them naturally, but they can be challenging for English learners because:
- The meaning is often not obvious from the individual words
- Many phrasal verbs have multiple meanings
- Some phrasal verbs are separable (the object can go between the verb and particle)
- Some phrasal verbs are inseparable (the object must go after the particle)
Types of Phrasal Verbs
1. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
These don't take an object:
- The plane has taken off.
- Please sit down.
2. Transitive Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
These take an object that must come after the particle:
- She looks after her younger brother.
- They ran into an old friend at the mall.
3. Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs
These take an object that can come between the verb and particle or after the particle:
- I turned on the light. / I turned the light on.
- She picked up the book. / She picked the book up.
Note: If the object is a pronoun, it must come between the verb and particle: "I turned it on." (Not "I turned on it.")
Common Phrasal Verbs
Here are some of the most common phrasal verbs grouped by themes:
Daily Routines
- Wake up - to stop sleeping
"I wake up at 7 AM every morning." - Get up - to rise from bed
"Even though I wake up at 7, I don't get up until 7:30." - Put on - to dress oneself in something
"She put on her coat before going outside." - Take off - to remove clothing
"Take off your shoes before entering the house." - Turn on/off - to start/stop the function of something
"Please turn off the lights when you leave the room."
Communication
- Bring up - to mention a topic
"I didn't want to bring up the issue during dinner." - Point out - to draw attention to something
"The teacher pointed out my mistakes in the essay." - Hang up - to end a phone call
"She hung up without saying goodbye." - Call back - to return a phone call
"I'll call you back in five minutes." - Figure out - to understand or solve
"I can't figure out what this instruction means."
Relationships
- Get along with - to have a good relationship
"I get along well with my colleagues." - Break up - to end a relationship
"They broke up after dating for two years." - Look up to - to admire or respect
"Children often look up to their older siblings." - Fall out with - to have an argument and stop being
friendly
"She fell out with her best friend over a misunderstanding." - Make up - to reconcile after an argument
"They had a fight but made up the next day."
Tips for Learning Phrasal Verbs
- Learn in context: Instead of memorizing lists, learn phrasal verbs in sentences and situations.
- Group by themes: Organize phrasal verbs by topics (travel, business, relationships).
- Group by verb: Learn different phrasal verbs that use the same base verb (get up, get on, get over).
- Practice regularly: Use phrasal verbs in your speaking and writing to reinforce your learning.
- Watch and listen: Pay attention to phrasal verbs in movies, TV shows, and conversations.
Exercises
Practice using phrasal verbs with these exercises:
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb:
Choose from: look after, turn down, give up, put off, figure out
- I can't __________ this math problem. It's too difficult.
- She had to __________ her sister while their parents were away.
- He __________ the job offer because the salary was too low.
- Don't __________ doing your homework until the last minute.
- After many attempts, she decided to __________ smoking.
2. Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings:
1. run into
2. take after
3. come across
4. look forward to
5. get over
a. to resemble a family member
b. to meet by chance
c. to find something by chance
d. to recover from something
e. to be excited about a future event
3. Create sentences using these phrasal verbs:
- break down
- carry on
- drop by
- set up
- work out
4. Identify the phrasal verbs in these sentences:
- She turned down the music because it was too loud.
- We need to put off the meeting until next week.
- Can you pick up some milk on your way home?
- I don't know how she puts up with all that noise.
- The plane took off an hour late due to bad weather.