🔹 What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that change the meaning of the original verb.
➡️ Example:
- Look up → to search for information
- Give up → to stop doing something
- Turn off → to switch something off
These small changes can completely change a verb’s meaning, making phrasal verbs one of the most interesting — and confusing — parts of English grammar.
🔹 Why Phrasal Verbs Are Important
- They are common in spoken English.
- Used by native speakers daily.
- Help you sound natural and fluent.
- Appear in exams, essays, and conversations.
If you want to sound fluent, understanding phrasal verbs is essential.
🟧 Types of Phrasal Verbs
1. Transitive Phrasal Verbs
These take an object.
✅ Example:
- Turn off the lights.
- Put on your shoes.
Sometimes, you can place the object in the middle:
Turn the lights off.
2. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
These do not take an object.
✅ Example:
- The plane took off.
- Please sit down.
3. Separable Phrasal Verbs
The object can be placed between the verb and the particle.
✅ Example:
- Pick up the book.
- Pick the book up.
4. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
The object cannot be separated from the verb and particle.
✅ Example:
- Look after your brother. (❌ You can’t say “Look your brother after.”)
- Run into an old friend.
🟦 50 Common Phrasal Verbs with Meanings and Examples
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Break down | Stop working | My car broke down on the highway. |
| Bring up | Mention a topic | She brought up the issue during the meeting. |
| Call off | Cancel | The teacher called off the class. |
| Carry on | Continue | Carry on with your work. |
| Come across | Find by chance | I came across your website yesterday. |
| Find out | Discover | I found out the truth. |
| Get along | Be friendly | They get along very well. |
| Give up | Stop trying | Don’t give up on your dreams. |
| Go over | Review | Let’s go over the notes. |
| Hold on | Wait | Hold on a minute, please. |
| Look after | Take care of | Look after your little sister. |
| Look forward to | Expect with pleasure | I’m looking forward to the holidays. |
| Make up | Invent / Reconcile | He made up an excuse. / They made up after the fight. |
| Pick up | Collect | Pick up your bag from the floor. |
| Put off | Postpone | We had to put off the meeting. |
| Run into | Meet unexpectedly | I ran into my teacher at the mall. |
| Set up | Arrange / Start | She set up a new business. |
| Take off | Remove / Leave the ground | The plane took off at 9. |
| Turn down | Reject | He turned down the job offer. |
| Work out | Exercise / Solve | Everything will work out fine. |
🟨 How to Master Phrasal Verbs
- Group them by topic — e.g., travel verbs, work verbs, daily life verbs.
- Use them in sentences every day.
- Watch English shows or YouTube channels to hear them in use.
- Keep a notebook or create flashcards.
- Test yourself regularly.
🟪 Common Phrasal Verbs by Situation
📚 At School:
- Hand in → Submit homework
- Drop out → Leave school early
🏠 At Home:
- Clean up → Tidy the place
- Turn on → Start a machine
💼 At Work:
- Take over → Assume control
- Lay off → Dismiss from job
💬 In Daily Life:
- Catch up → Get up to date
- Calm down → Relax
✅ Final Tip
Phrasal verbs are tricky, but practice makes them easier. The more you listen and use them, the more natural you’ll sound. Bookmark this list and revisit it often.