Phrasal verbs

• What they are
• Common phrasal verbs with UP
• Common phrasal verbs with DOWN
• Common phrasal verbs with ON and OFF
• Common phrasal verbs with OUT
• Common phrasal verbs with BACK and FOR/AFTER
• Separable vs. inseparable

What they are

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (a preposition or adverb) that creates a new meaning. Phrasal verbs are extremely common in English, and they often have no direct equivalent in other languages, which makes them one of the biggest challenges for learners.

look => direct your eyes at something

look for => try to find (a completely different meaning)

look after => take care of (another different meaning)

Common phrasal verbs with UP

wake up [weɪk ʌp] - stop sleeping

get up [gɛt ʌp] - get out of bed

pick up [pɪk ʌp] - lift; collect someone or something

give up [gɪv ʌp] - stop trying; stop doing something

look up [lʊk ʌp] - search for information (in a dictionary, online)

make up [meɪk ʌp] - invent (a story); become friends again after an argument

show up [ʃoʊ ʌp] - appear; arrive

grow up [groʊ ʌp] - become an adult

break up [breɪk ʌp] - end a relationship

clean up [kli:n ʌp] - make a place clean and tidy

Common phrasal verbs with DOWN

sit down [sɪt daʊn] - take a seat

calm down [kɑm daʊn] - become calm

break down [breɪk daʊn] - stop working (a machine, a car)

turn down [tɜrn daʊn] - refuse (an offer); lower (the volume)

write down [raɪt daʊn] - note something on paper

slow down [sloʊ daʊn] - go more slowly

Common phrasal verbs with ON and OFF

turn on [tɜrn ɑn] - start (a light, a machine)

turn off [tɜrn ɔf] - stop (a light, a machine)

put on [pʊt ɑn] - start wearing (clothes)

take off [teɪk ɔf] - remove (clothes); leave the ground (a plane)

get on [gɛt ɑn] - enter (a bus, a train)

get off [gɛt ɔf] - leave (a bus, a train)

go on [goʊ ɑn] - continue

carry on ['kæri ɑn] - continue

hold on [hoʊld ɑn] - wait (a moment)

Common phrasal verbs with OUT

find out [faɪnd aʊt] - discover, learn (information)

work out [wɜrk aʊt] - do physical exercise; find a solution

go out [goʊ aʊt] - leave your home for a social activity

run out [rʌn aʊt] - have no more left (of something)

figure out ['fɪgjər aʊt] - understand; find a solution

check out [tʃɛk aʊt] - take a look at; leave a hotel

point out [pɔɪnt aʊt] - draw attention to

fill out [fɪl aʊt] - complete (a form)

Common phrasal verbs with BACK and FOR/AFTER

come back [kʌm bæk] - return (here)

go back [goʊ bæk] - return (there)

give back [gɪv bæk] - return something to its owner

call back [kɔl bæk] - return a phone call

pay back [peɪ bæk] - return money you owe

look for [lʊk fɔr] - try to find

look after [lʊk 'æftər] - take care of

ask for [æsk fɔr] - request

wait for [weɪt fɔr] - stay until someone or something arrives

Separable vs. inseparable

Some phrasal verbs are separable: the object can go between the verb and the particle.

Turn off the TV. = Turn the TV off.

Pick up your clothes. = Pick your clothes up.

When the object is a pronoun (it, them, him, her), it MUST go in the middle: Turn it off. Not: Turn off it.

Some phrasal verbs are inseparable: the verb and particle always stay together.

I'm looking for my keys. Not: *I'm looking my keys for.*

She looks after her grandmother. Not: *She looks her grandmother after.*

Most phrasal verbs with for and after are inseparable.