Phrasal Verbs

What Are Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb + particle (a preposition or adverb) that create a new meaning - often completely different from the original verb.

Examples:

• look (verb) + after (particle) = look after (take care of)
• give (verb) + up (particle) = give up (quit, stop trying)
• turn (verb) + on (particle) = turn on (start a machine)

Phrasal verbs are extremely common in spoken English and informal writing. Native speakers use them constantly!

Why Are Phrasal Verbs Difficult?

1. The meaning often isn't obvious: "give up" doesn't mean "give" + "up"
2. One verb can have many particles: look up, look after, look for, look forward to
3. One phrasal verb can have multiple meanings: "take off" = remove clothes OR a plane leaving the ground
4. Grammar rules differ: some are separable, some aren't

Types of Phrasal Verbs

Type 1: Intransitive (No Object)

These don't take an object - the action is complete by itself.

Examples:

• The plane took off. (departed)
• I woke up at 7 AM. (stopped sleeping)
• The car broke down. (stopped working)
• Please sit down. (take a seat)
• Hurry up! Come on! (move faster)
• The meeting went on for hours. (continued)

Pattern: Verb + Particle (no object possible)

Type 2: Transitive Separable (Can Be Separated)

These take an object, and you can put the object between the verb and particle OR after the whole phrasal verb.

Examples:

• Turn on the TV. = Turn the TV on. ✅ (both correct)
• Fill out the form. = Fill the form out. ✅
• Take off your shoes. = Take your shoes off. ✅
• Put on your coat. = Put your coat on. ✅

IMPORTANT: If the object is a pronoun (it, them, him, her), it MUST go between the verb and particle:

• ✅ Turn it on. (correct)
• ❌ Turn on it. (wrong!)
• ✅ Take them off. (correct)
• ❌ Take off them. (wrong!)

Common separable phrasal verbs:

• turn on/off, switch on/off
• put on, take off
• fill out/in (forms)
• write down (notes)
• look up (in dictionary)
• pick up (lift/collect)
• throw away
• give up (quit)
• work out (solve/exercise)

Type 3: Transitive Inseparable (Cannot Be Separated)

These take an object, but the object MUST come after the complete phrasal verb.

Examples:

• ✅ Look after the children. (correct)
• ❌ Look the children after. (wrong!)
• ✅ I ran into an old friend. (correct)
• ❌ I ran an old friend into. (wrong!)

Even with pronouns, they stay together:

• ✅ Look after them. (correct)
• ❌ Look them after. (wrong!)

Common inseparable phrasal verbs:

• look after (take care of)
• look for (search for)
• run into (meet by chance)
• get over (recover from)
• come across (find by chance)
• deal with (handle)
• count on (rely on)

Type 4: Three-Part Phrasal Verbs

These have TWO particles and are always inseparable.

Examples:

• I'm looking forward to the weekend. (anticipating with pleasure)
• We ran out of milk. (have no more)
• I get on with my colleagues. (have a good relationship)
• I can't put up with the noise anymore. (tolerate)
• We need to catch up with the schedule. (reach the same level)

Pattern: Verb + Particle 1 + Particle 2 + Object (never separate)

Common Phrasal Verbs by Category

Daily Routine

WAKE UP = stop sleeping

• I wake up at 7 AM every day.

GET UP = rise from bed

• What time do you get up?

GET DRESSED = put on clothes

• I get dressed quickly in the morning.

PUT ON = place clothing on your body (separable)

• Put on your jacket. / Put your jacket on.

TAKE OFF = remove clothing (separable)

• Take off your shoes. / Take your shoes off.

SIT DOWN = take a seat

• Please sit down.

STAND UP = rise to your feet

• Everyone stood up when the teacher entered.

LIE DOWN = recline, rest horizontally

• I need to lie down for a while.

TURN ON = start a machine/light (separable)

• Turn on the TV. / Turn it on.

TURN OFF = stop a machine/light (separable)

• Turn off the lights. / Turn them off.

GO OUT = leave home for entertainment

• We go out every Friday night.

COME BACK / GET BACK = return

• What time did you come back home?

Work and Study

WORK OUT = solve a problem / exercise (separable)

• I couldn't work out the answer.
• I work out at the gym every day.

WRITE DOWN = make notes (separable)

• Let me write down your number. / Write it down.

FILL OUT / FILL IN = complete a form (separable)

• Please fill out this form.

HAND IN = submit work (separable)

• Hand in your homework by Friday.

LOOK UP = search in dictionary/internet (separable)

• Look up the word in the dictionary. / Look it up.

FIND OUT = discover information (separable)

• I need to find out what time it starts.

CARRY OUT = perform, conduct (separable)

• We're carrying out research.

GIVE UP = quit, stop trying (separable)

• Don't give up! You can do it!

TAKE UP = start a new hobby (separable)

• I want to take up yoga.

Relationships

GET ON (WITH) = have a good relationship

• I get on well with my colleagues.

FALL OUT (WITH) = argue and stop being friends

• They fell out over money.

MAKE UP = reconcile after an argument

• They had a fight but they made up.

BREAK UP (WITH) = end a romantic relationship

• She broke up with her boyfriend.

ASK OUT = invite on a date (separable)

• He wants to ask her out.

GO OUT (WITH) = date someone

• Are you going out with anyone?

LOOK AFTER = take care of (inseparable)

• Can you look after my cat while I'm away?

BRING UP = raise children / mention a topic (separable)

• She brought up three children.
• Don't bring up politics at dinner.

Communication

SPEAK UP = talk louder

• Could you speak up? I can't hear you.

SHUT UP = stop talking (rude/informal)

• Shut up! I'm trying to concentrate.

CALL BACK = return a phone call (separable)

• I'll call you back later.

HANG UP = end a phone call

• Don't hang up! I'm not finished.

PICK UP = answer the phone (separable)

• Pick up the phone! / Pick it up!

PUT THROUGH = connect by phone (separable)

• Please put me through to the manager.

GET THROUGH = make contact by phone

• I can't get through to him. The line's busy.

Movement and Travel

SET OFF / SET OUT = begin a journey

• We set off early in the morning.

GET IN / GET INTO = enter a car

• Get in the car!

GET OUT (OF) = exit a car

• Get out of the car.

GET ON = board a bus/train/plane

• Let's get on the bus.

GET OFF = exit a bus/train/plane

• We get off at the next stop.

DROP OFF = leave someone at a place (separable)

• I'll drop you off at the station.

PICK UP = collect someone (separable)

• I'll pick you up at 8.

CHECK IN = register at hotel/airport

• We need to check in two hours before the flight.

CHECK OUT = leave a hotel

• We're checking out tomorrow morning.

Problems and Solutions

BREAK DOWN = stop functioning

• My car broke down on the highway.

GIVE UP = quit (separable)

• I gave up smoking last year.

SORT OUT = resolve, organize (separable)

• We need to sort out this problem.

WORK OUT = find a solution (separable)

• We'll work it out.

DEAL WITH = handle (inseparable)

• I'll deal with the complaints.

GET OVER = recover from illness/problem (inseparable)

• It took me weeks to get over the flu.

RUN OUT (OF) = have no more left

• We've run out of coffee.

GIVE IN = surrender, stop resisting

• After hours of arguing, I gave in.

FIGURE OUT = understand (separable)

• I can't figure out how this works.

Actions with Objects

THROW AWAY = discard, put in trash (separable)

• Throw away the old newspapers. / Throw them away.

PUT AWAY = return to proper place (separable)

• Put away your toys. / Put them away.

TIDY UP / CLEAN UP = make neat and clean (separable)

• Please tidy up your room.

CLEAR UP = make orderly (separable)

• Let's clear up this mess.

TRY ON = test clothing (separable)

• Try on these shoes. / Try them on.

TAKE BACK = return to store (separable)

• I need to take back this shirt - it doesn't fit.

LOOK FOR = search for (inseparable)

• I'm looking for my keys.

COME ACROSS = find by chance (inseparable)

• I came across an old photo yesterday.

Multiple Meanings - Same Phrasal Verb

Many phrasal verbs have different meanings depending on context:

TAKE OFF

1. Remove clothing: Take off your coat.
2. Plane departing: The plane took off at 9 AM.
3. Become successful: His career took off after that movie.
4. Leave work: I'm taking off early today.

GO OFF

1. Alarm sounding: The alarm went off at 6 AM.
2. Explode: The bomb went off.
3. Food spoiling: The milk has gone off.
4. Stop liking: I've gone off chocolate.

BREAK DOWN

1. Vehicle stopping: My car broke down.
2. Cry emotionally: She broke down in tears.
3. Collapse: Negotiations broke down.
4. Analyze: Let's break down the costs.

PICK UP

1. Lift: Pick up that box.
2. Collect: I'll pick you up at 8.
3. Learn informally: I picked up some Spanish in Mexico.
4. Improve: Business is picking up.
5. Answer phone: Pick up the phone!

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Separating inseparable phrasal verbs

• ❌ Look the children after.
• ✅ Look after the children.
• ❌ I ran my friend into yesterday.
• ✅ I ran into my friend yesterday.

Mistake 2: Not separating with pronouns

• ❌ Turn on it.
• ✅ Turn it on.
• ❌ Write down it.
• ✅ Write it down.

Mistake 3: Confusing similar phrasal verbs

• look for (search) ≠ look after (take care of)
• get on (board) ≠ get on with (have good relationship)
• give up (quit) ≠ give in (surrender)

Mistake 4: Using wrong preposition

• ❌ I'm looking forward for the weekend.
• ✅ I'm looking forward to the weekend.
• ❌ We ran out from milk.
• ✅ We ran out of milk.

How to Learn Phrasal Verbs

1. Learn them in context, not in isolation
2. Group them by verb: all "get" phrasal verbs, all "take" phrasal verbs
3. Note whether they're separable or inseparable
4. Use them actively - practice in speaking and writing
5. Don't try to translate directly from your language

Practice Examples

Choose the correct particle (answers at bottom):

1. I need to look _______ my little sister tonight. (after/for)
2. We ran _______ an old friend at the mall. (into/in)
3. Please turn _______ the TV. (on/up)
4. What time did you get _______ this morning? (off/up)
5. I'm looking forward _______ the weekend. (to/for)

Rewrite with the pronoun in the correct position:

6. Turn on the lights. → Turn _______ _______.
7. Take off your shoes. → Take _______ _______.
8. Fill out the form. → Fill _______ _______.

Separable or Inseparable?:

9. Look after the baby. (Can you say: Look the baby after?) → _______
10. Turn on the radio. (Can you say: Turn the radio on?) → _______

Match the phrasal verb to its meaning:

11. give up → a) start a hobby / b) quit
12. work out → a) exercise/solve / b) look for
13. run out of → a) have no more / b) enter quickly
14. break down → a) stop working / b) separate

Choose the correct phrasal verb:

15. I need to _______ information about the course. (find out / look after)
16. Can you _______ me _______ at the airport? (pick up / get on)
17. The plane _______ on time. (took off / took on)
18. I _______ my ex-girlfriend at the party. (ran into / ran out of)

Correct the mistakes:

19. Turn on it!
20. Look the children after.
21. I'm looking forward for the holidays.
22. We ran out from coffee.

Complete with a suitable phrasal verb:

23. I need to _______ my English skills.
24. Please _______ your phone - it's ringing!
25. What time do you usually _______ in the morning?

Answers: 1. after (take care of), 2. into (met by chance), 3. on (start), 4. up (rise from bed), 5. to (this is the correct preposition), 6. them on (pronoun goes between), 7. them off, 8. it out, 9. inseparable, 10. separable, 11. b (quit), 12. a (exercise/solve), 13. a (have no more), 14. a (stop working), 15. find out, 16. pick...up, 17. took off, 18. ran into, 19. Turn it on!, 20. Look after the children., 21. I'm looking forward to the holidays., 22. We ran out of coffee., 23. work out / improve (many possible), 24. pick up / answer, 25. get up / wake up

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Quick Reference - Most Common Phrasal Verbs

Separable (Object can go between)

• turn on/off (start/stop machine)
• put on/take off (wear/remove clothes)
• pick up (lift/collect)
• write down (make notes)
• fill out/in (complete forms)
• give up (quit)
• work out (solve/exercise)
• throw away (discard)
• try on (test clothes)
• call back (return phone call)

Inseparable (Object must follow)

• look after (take care of)
• look for (search for)
• run into (meet by chance)
• get over (recover from)
• deal with (handle)
• come across (find by chance)
• go through (experience/examine)
• count on (rely on)

Three-Part (Always inseparable)

• look forward to (anticipate)
• run out of (have no more)
• get on with (have good relationship)
• put up with (tolerate)
• catch up with (reach same level)
• look up to (admire)
• look down on (despise)

Remember

• Pronoun objects: ALWAYS go between separable phrasal verbs
  • Turn it on ✅ (NOT: Turn on it ❌)
• Three-part phrasal verbs: NEVER separate
  • I'm looking forward to it ✅

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