Phrasal verbs (los phrasal verbs)

• What they are (qué son)
• 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 (separables vs. inseparables)

What they are (qué son)

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 don't exist in Spanish, which makes them one of the biggest challenges for Spanish speakers.

🔹 Un phrasal verb es un verbo combinado con una partícula (preposición o adverbio) que crea un significado nuevo. Los phrasal verbs son extremadamente comunes en inglés y no existen en español, lo que los convierte en uno de los mayores retos para los hispanohablantes.

look => mirar

look for => buscar (significado completamente diferente)

look after => cuidar (otro significado diferente)

Common phrasal verbs with UP

wake up [weɪk ʌp] - despertarse

get up [gɛt ʌp] - levantarse

pick up [pɪk ʌp] - recoger / levantar

give up [gɪv ʌp] - rendirse / dejar de

look up [lʊk ʌp] - buscar (en un diccionario, en internet)

make up [meɪk ʌp] - inventar / reconciliarse

show up [ʃoʊ ʌp] - aparecer / presentarse

grow up [groʊ ʌp] - crecer / hacerse mayor

break up [breɪk ʌp] - romper (una relación)

clean up [kli:n ʌp] - limpiar / recoger

Common phrasal verbs with DOWN

sit down [sɪt daʊn] - sentarse

calm down [kɑm daʊn] - calmarse

break down [breɪk daʊn] - averiarse / derrumbarse

turn down [tɜrn daʊn] - rechazar / bajar (el volumen)

write down [raɪt daʊn] - apuntar / anotar

slow down [sloʊ daʊn] - reducir la velocidad

Common phrasal verbs with ON and OFF

turn on [tɜrn ɑn] - encender

turn off [tɜrn ɔf] - apagar

put on [pʊt ɑn] - ponerse (ropa)

take off [teɪk ɔf] - quitarse (ropa) / despegar (avión)

get on [gɛt ɑn] - subir (a un vehículo)

get off [gɛt ɔf] - bajar (de un vehículo)

go on [goʊ ɑn] - continuar

carry on ['kæri ɑn] - seguir / continuar

hold on [hoʊld ɑn] - esperar (un momento)

Common phrasal verbs with OUT

find out [faɪnd aʊt] - descubrir / enterarse

work out [wɜrk aʊt] - hacer ejercicio / resolver

go out [goʊ aʊt] - salir

run out [rʌn aʊt] - quedarse sin / agotarse

figure out ['fɪgjər aʊt] - entender / resolver

check out [tʃɛk aʊt] - echar un vistazo / irse del hotel

point out [pɔɪnt aʊt] - señalar

fill out [fɪl aʊt] - rellenar (un formulario)

Common phrasal verbs with BACK and FOR/AFTER

come back [kʌm bæk] - volver

go back [goʊ bæk] - volver / regresar

give back [gɪv bæk] - devolver

call back [kɔl bæk] - devolver la llamada

pay back [peɪ bæk] - devolver (dinero)

look for [lʊk fɔr] - buscar

look after [lʊk 'æftər] - cuidar

ask for [æsk fɔr] - pedir

wait for [weɪt fɔr] - esperar (a alguien/algo)

Separable vs. inseparable (separables vs. inseparables)

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

🔹 Algunos phrasal verbs son separables: el objeto puede ir entre el verbo y la partícula.

Turn off the TV. = Turn the TV off. (Apaga la televisión).

Pick up your clothes. = Pick your clothes up. (Recoge tu ropa).

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

🔹 Cuando el objeto es un pronombre (it, them, him, her), DEBE ir en el medio: Turn it off. No: Turn off it.

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

🔹 Algunos phrasal verbs son inseparables: el verbo y la partícula siempre van juntos.

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.

🔹 La mayoría de phrasal verbs con for y after son inseparables.