Phrasal verbs are an essential component of the English language, adding color and nuance to everyday communication. They can be tricky for English language learners because their meanings often differ from the individual words that comprise them.
Understanding and using phrasal verbs correctly can significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of 50 common phrasal verbs, offering definitions, examples, usage rules, and practice exercises to help you master this challenging aspect of English grammar.
This article is suitable for intermediate to advanced English learners aiming to improve their language skills and communicate more effectively.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What are Phrasal Verbs?
- Structural Breakdown of Phrasal Verbs
- Types and Categories of Phrasal Verbs
- Examples of 50 Common Phrasal Verbs
- Usage Rules for Phrasal Verbs
- Common Mistakes with Phrasal Verbs
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics in Phrasal Verbs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or two particles (prepositions or adverbs) that create a new meaning. This meaning is often different from the original verb’s meaning.
Phrasal verbs are very common in spoken and informal English, making them an essential part of understanding and communicating effectively. Understanding phrasal verbs is crucial for improving your English comprehension and fluency.
Ignoring them can lead to misunderstanding and difficulty in both spoken and written communication.
The function of phrasal verbs in a sentence is to act as a single verb unit. They can express actions, states, or processes. The context in which a phrasal verb is used dramatically changes its meaning. For example, the phrasal verb “look up” can mean to search for information (look up a word in the dictionary) or to improve (things are looking up). This variability makes mastering phrasal verbs a rewarding challenge for English learners.
Structural Breakdown of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and a particle. The particle is usually a preposition or an adverb. Sometimes, a phrasal verb can have two particles. The verb provides the core action, while the particle modifies or changes the meaning of the verb. Understanding these structural elements is essential for using phrasal verbs correctly.
Here’s a breakdown of the structural elements:
- Verb: The main verb in the phrasal verb (e.g., get, look, take).
- Particle: A preposition (e.g., up, down, in, out, on, off) or an adverb (e.g., away, back, around).
For example, in the phrasal verb “look after,” “look” is the verb, and “after” is the particle (preposition). In the phrasal verb “get away with,” “get” is the verb, and “away” and “with” are the particles (adverb and preposition respectively).
Types and Categories of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs can be categorized based on their transitivity (whether they take an object) and separability (whether the verb and particle can be separated by the object). Understanding these categories is crucial for using phrasal verbs correctly in sentences.
Transitive Phrasal Verbs
Transitive phrasal verbs require a direct object. This means the action of the phrasal verb is performed on something or someone. The object can come between the verb and the particle if the phrasal verb is separable.
Examples of transitive phrasal verbs include:
- Pick up (e.g., Pick up the phone)
- Take off (e.g., Take off your shoes)
- Look after (e.g., Look after the children)
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
Intransitive phrasal verbs do not require a direct object. The action of the phrasal verb is not performed on anything or anyone. These phrasal verbs are often related to states or processes.
Examples of intransitive phrasal verbs include:
- Give up (e.g., Don’t give up)
- Show up (e.g., He didn’t show up)
- Break down (e.g., The car broke down)
Separable Phrasal Verbs
Separable phrasal verbs allow the object to be placed either between the verb and the particle or after the particle. However, if the object is a pronoun (it, him, her, them), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Examples of separable phrasal verbs include:
- Turn on (e.g., Turn on the light or Turn the light on; Turn it on – correct, Turn on it – incorrect)
- Pick up (e.g., Pick up the book or Pick the book up; Pick it up – correct, Pick up it – incorrect)
- Take off (e.g., Take off your coat or Take your coat off; Take it off – correct, Take off it – incorrect)
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Inseparable phrasal verbs do not allow the object to be placed between the verb and the particle. The object must always follow the particle.
Examples of inseparable phrasal verbs include:
- Look after (e.g., Look after the children – correct, Look the children after – incorrect)
- Run into (e.g., I ran into an old friend – correct, I ran an old friend into – incorrect)
- Get along with (e.g., I get along with my colleagues – correct, I get my colleagues along with – incorrect)
Examples of 50 Common Phrasal Verbs
Here are 50 common phrasal verbs, categorized for easier learning. Each category includes examples to illustrate the meaning and usage of each phrasal verb.
Understanding these examples will help you use phrasal verbs correctly in your own speech and writing.
Phrasal Verbs of Action
These phrasal verbs describe various actions or processes. They are commonly used in everyday conversations to describe activities and events.
The table below provides examples of action phrasal verbs with their meanings and example sentences.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Bring up | Raise a child | They brought up their children in the countryside. |
| Carry on | Continue | Please carry on with your work while I’m away. |
| Look up | Search for information | I need to look up the meaning of this word. |
| Set up | Establish, arrange | They set up a new business last year. |
| Take off | Leave the ground (airplane), remove (clothing) | The plane will take off in five minutes. I need to take off my shoes. |
| Turn on | Activate | Please turn on the lights. |
| Turn off | Deactivate | Don’t forget to turn off the stove. |
| Put on | Wear | She put on her coat and left. |
| Take out | Remove | Please take out the trash. |
| Fill out | Complete a form | You need to fill out this application form. |
| Find out | Discover | I need to find out more about this project. |
| Give back | Return something | Please give back the book when you’re finished. |
| Hand in | Submit | You must hand in your assignments by Friday. |
| Look after | Take care of | Can you look after my dog while I’m away? |
| Pick up | Collect | I’ll pick up the kids from school. |
| Put away | Store | Please put away your toys. |
| Sort out | Organize, resolve | We need to sort out these documents. |
| Try on | Test the fit of clothing | She tried on the dress before buying it. |
| Work out | Exercise, solve | I work out at the gym three times a week. We need to work out a solution. |
| Call off | Cancel | They had to call off the meeting due to the storm. |
| Cut off | Disconnect, interrupt | The phone line was cut off because we didn’t pay the bill. |
| Drop off | Deliver, leave someone/something | I’ll drop off the package at your house. |
| Get over | Recover from | It took me a while to get over the flu. |
| Go through | Experience, examine | We went through a difficult time last year. |
Phrasal Verbs of Relationships
These phrasal verbs describe interactions and relationships between people. They are useful for discussing social dynamics and personal connections.
The table below provides examples of relationship phrasal verbs with their meanings and example sentences, further illustrating their usage.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Get along with | Have a good relationship | I get along with my colleagues very well. |
| Fall out with | Have an argument and stop being friends | They fell out with each other last year. |
| Look up to | Admire | I look up to my grandfather. |
| Look down on | Despise | He looks down on people who are less educated. |
| Run into | Meet unexpectedly | I ran into an old friend at the store. |
| Grow apart | Become distant | They grew apart after she moved to another city. |
| Make up | Reconcile after a fight | They made up after their argument. |
| Take after | Resemble in appearance or character | She takes after her mother. |
| Stand by | Support | I will always stand by you. |
| Stick up for | Defend | He always sticks up for his friends. |
| Go out with | Date | She is going out with him. |
| Ask out | Invite on a date | He asked her out to dinner. |
| Break up with | End a relationship | They broke up with each other last week. |
| Cheat on | Be unfaithful | He cheated on her. |
| Get back together | Resume a relationship | They got back together after a few months apart. |
Phrasal Verbs of Daily Life
These phrasal verbs are commonly used in the context of daily routines and activities. They help describe everyday actions and situations.
The table below offers more examples of phrasal verbs used in daily life, complete with their meanings and example sentences to enhance comprehension.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Wake up | Stop sleeping | I wake up at 7 AM every day. |
| Get up | Get out of bed | I usually get up around 7:30 AM. |
| Get dressed | Put on clothes | I get dressed after breakfast. |
| Eat out | Dine at a restaurant | We eat out once a week. |
| Stay in | Remain at home | I prefer to stay in on weekends. |
| Go out | Leave home for social activities | We go out on Friday nights. |
| Wind down | Relax | I like to wind down with a book before bed. |
| Pass away | Die | My grandfather passed away last year. |
| Grow up | Mature | She grew up in a small town. |
| Settle down | Establish a stable life | They decided to settle down in the suburbs. |
| Turn up | Increase volume | Can you turn up the music? |
| Turn down | Decrease volume, refuse an offer | Please turn down the TV. I had to turn down the job offer. |
| Show off | Brag | He always shows off his new car. |
Phrasal Verbs in Business Contexts
These phrasal verbs are frequently used in professional and business settings. They are important for understanding workplace communication and participating in business discussions.
Below is a table featuring business-related phrasal verbs along with their meanings and example sentences, offering practical insights for professional settings.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Call on | Visit for business | We need to call on our clients next week. |
| Lay off | Terminate employment | The company had to lay off several employees. |
| Take over | Assume control | He will take over as CEO next month. |
| Bring about | Cause | The new policy brought about significant changes. |
| Carry out | Implement | We need to carry out the plan. |
| Draw up | Prepare a document | The lawyers will draw up the contract. |
| Look into | Investigate | We will look into the matter. |
| Put off | Postpone | We had to put off the meeting. |
| Set out | Start a journey or task | We set out to achieve our goals. |
| Write off | Cancel a debt | The bank decided to write off the bad debt. |
Usage Rules for Phrasal Verbs
Using phrasal verbs correctly involves understanding their transitivity and separability. Transitive phrasal verbs require an object, while intransitive phrasal verbs do not. Separable phrasal verbs allow the object to be placed between the verb and the particle, but pronouns must always be placed between the verb and the particle. Inseparable phrasal verbs require the object to follow the particle.
Here are some key rules to remember:
- Transitivity: Ensure transitive phrasal verbs have a direct object.
- Separability: Be aware of whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.
- Pronouns: When using a pronoun as the object of a separable phrasal verb, place it between the verb and the particle.
- Word Order: Pay attention to the correct word order, especially with separable phrasal verbs.
Understanding these rules will help you avoid common errors and use phrasal verbs with confidence.
Common Mistakes with Phrasal Verbs
One of the most common mistakes with phrasal verbs is incorrect word order, particularly with separable phrasal verbs. Another common error is using the wrong particle, which can change the meaning of the phrasal verb entirely.
For example, confusing “look after” (take care of) with “look for” (search for) can lead to misunderstandings.
Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Turn on it. | Turn it on. | Pronouns must go between the verb and particle in separable phrasal verbs. |
| Look the baby after. | Look after the baby. | “Look after” is an inseparable phrasal verb. |
| I ran into him the problem. | I ran into the problem. | Incorrect use of preposition. |
| She put on it the coat. | She put the coat on. / She put it on. | Incorrect word order with a separable phrasal verb. |
Avoiding these common mistakes requires practice and attention to the rules of transitivity and separability.
Practice Exercises
These practice exercises will help you reinforce your understanding of phrasal verbs. Each exercise focuses on different aspects of phrasal verb usage.
Be sure to check your answers to identify areas where you need more practice.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences with the correct phrasal verb from the list below. Use each phrasal verb only once.
Phrasal Verb List: look after, give up, turn on, take off, find out, put off, get along with, run into, bring up, carry on
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Can you ________ my dog while I’m away? | look after |
| 2. Don’t ________! You’re almost there. | give up |
| 3. Please ________ the lights; it’s getting dark. | turn on |
| 4. I need to ________ my shoes before entering the house. | take off |
| 5. I want to ________ more about this project. | find out |
| 6. We had to ________ the meeting until next week. | put off |
| 7. I ________ my colleagues very well. | get along with |
| 8. I ________ an old friend at the store yesterday. | run into |
| 9. They ________ their children in the countryside. | bring up |
| 10. Please ________ with your work while I’m gone. | carry on |
Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation
Rewrite the following sentences using a phrasal verb with a similar meaning.
| Original Sentence | Rewritten Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1. She resembles her mother. | She takes after her mother. |
| 2. They cancelled the meeting. | They called off the meeting. |
| 3. I need to discover more about this topic. | I need to find out more about this topic. |
| 4. He is investigating the matter. | He is looking into the matter. |
| 5. Please submit your assignments by Friday. | Please hand in your assignments by Friday. |
| 6. Can you take care of my cat? | Can you look after my cat? |
| 7. I met an old friend unexpectedly. | I ran into an old friend. |
| 8. They are going to postpone the event. | They are going to put off the event. |
| 9. She is recovering from the illness. | She is getting over the illness. |
| 10. You should not quit. | You should not give up. |
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence.
| Question | Options | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I need to ______ the meaning of this word. | (a) look at (b) look up (c) look for | (b) look up |
| 2. The plane will ______ in five minutes. | (a) take off (b) take on (c) take in | (a) take off |
| 3. Don’t forget to ______ the stove. | (a) turn on (b) turn off (c) turn around | (b) turn off |
| 4. She ______ her coat and left. | (a) put off (b) put on (c) put out | (b) put on |
| 5. Please ______ the trash. | (a) take in (b) take out (c) take on | (b) take out |
| 6. You need to ______ this application form. | (a) fill in (b) fill out (c) fill up | (b) fill out |
| 7. Please ______ the book when you’re finished. | (a) give in (b) give up (c) give back | (c) give back |
| 8. You must ______ your assignments by Friday. | (a) hand out (b) hand in (c) hand over | (b) hand in |
| 9. I’ll ______ the kids from school. | (a) pick at (b) pick up (c) pick on | (b) pick up |
| 10. We need to ______ these documents. | (a) sort out (b) sort of (c) sort by | (a) sort out |
Advanced Topics in Phrasal Verbs
For advanced learners, it’s important to understand the nuances of phrasal verb usage, including idiomatic expressions and regional variations. Some phrasal verbs have multiple meanings depending on the context, and understanding these subtleties can greatly enhance your comprehension.
Furthermore, exploring less common phrasal verbs and their specific contexts can add depth to your vocabulary. Regional variations in phrasal verb usage also exist, so exposure to different dialects can broaden your understanding.
For example, some phrasal verbs might be more common in British English than in American English, or vice versa. Studying these advanced topics will help you master the intricacies of phrasal verbs and use them with greater precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about phrasal verbs.
- What is the difference between a phrasal verb and a prepositional verb?
A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a particle (adverb or preposition) that together create a new meaning different from the original verb. A prepositional verb, on the other hand, is a verb followed by a preposition that governs a noun or pronoun, and the meaning is typically literal. For example, “look at” is a prepositional verb because “at” governs the object, while “look up” (search for information) is a phrasal verb.
- How can I tell if a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable?
There is no easy rule to determine separability. The best way is to learn them individually. A good dictionary will usually indicate whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable. As a general guideline, phrasal verbs with two particles are usually inseparable.
- Why are phrasal verbs so difficult for English learners?
Phrasal verbs are challenging because their meanings are often non-literal and unpredictable. Also, the same phrasal verb can have multiple meanings depending on the context. Additionally, the separability factor adds another layer of complexity.
- Are phrasal verbs formal or informal?
Phrasal verbs are generally considered informal and are more common in spoken English than in formal writing. In formal writing, it’s often better to use a single-word verb with a similar meaning.
- Can I use phrasal verbs in academic writing?
In most cases, it’s best to avoid phrasal verbs in formal academic writing. Opt for more formal single-word verbs. For example, instead of “carry out,” use “conduct” or “implement.”
- How can I improve my understanding of phrasal verbs?
The best way to improve your understanding is through exposure and practice. Read widely, listen to native speakers, and make a conscious effort to use phrasal verbs in your own speech and writing. Flashcards and online quizzes can also be helpful.
- Is there a limit to how many particles a phrasal verb can have?
While most phrasal verbs have one particle, some can have two. It’s rare to find phrasal verbs with more than two particles.
- What happens if I use the wrong particle with a verb?
Using the wrong particle can completely change the meaning of the verb and can lead to confusion or misunderstanding. For example, “look after” (take care of) is very different from “look for” (search for).
- Are phrasal verbs the same in all English-speaking countries?
No, there can be regional variations in phrasal verb usage. Some phrasal verbs are more common in British English, while others are more common in American English. Exposure to different dialects can help you become aware of these variations.
Conclusion
Mastering phrasal verbs is a crucial step in achieving fluency in English. While they can be challenging due to their non-literal meanings and varying structures, understanding and using them correctly will significantly enhance your communication skills.
Remember to focus on the context, practice regularly, and pay attention to the rules of transitivity and separability. By incorporating these strategies, you can confidently navigate the complexities of phrasal verbs and communicate more effectively in both spoken and written English.
Keep practicing, and you’ll find that using phrasal verbs becomes more natural and intuitive over time.