Phrasal Verbs

A phrasal verb is a verb that is made up of two or three words -- a main verb plus a small word like "up", "on", "off", or "out". Together, these words create a new meaning that is different from the main verb alone.

What You'll Learn

In this lesson, you will learn what phrasal verbs are and how to recognise and use common ones.

• Understand that a phrasal verb is a verb + a small word (particle) that creates a new meaning
• Recognise common phrasal verbs used in everyday situations
• Match phrasal verbs to their correct meanings
• Use phrasal verbs correctly in sentences

When to Use

1. When the meaning changes with a particle: "Put" means to place something, but "put on" means to wear. "I put on my raincoat before going out."
2. When talking about daily routines: "She wakes up at six o'clock every morning."
3. When describing actions with objects: "Please pick up the books from the floor."
4. When talking about stopping or starting: "The bus broke down on the way to school."
5. When expressing emotions or reactions: "He was so happy that he jumped up and cheered."

How to Form

What Makes a Phrasal Verb

A phrasal verb = main verb + particle (a small word like up, down, on, off, out, in)

Common Particles and What They Often Suggest

Key Rules

1. The meaning changes: A phrasal verb often means something different from the main verb by itself. "Look" means to see, but "look after" means to take care of, and "look for" means to search.

2. The particle matters: Changing the particle changes the meaning completely. "Turn on" (start) is very different from "turn off" (stop) and "turn down" (reduce or refuse).

3. Learn them as a pair: You should learn the verb and its particle together as one unit, just like learning a new word. Do not try to guess the meaning from the separate words.

4. Some phrasal verbs have more than one meaning: "Take off" can mean to remove clothing ("Take off your shoes") or for a plane to leave the ground ("The plane took off at noon").

5. Position in a sentence: Phrasal verbs are used in the same position as normal verbs. "She picked up the pen" follows the same pattern as "She held the pen."

6. Phrasal verbs are common in everyday English: In formal writing, we might say "discover", but in everyday English, we often say "find out" instead. Both are correct.

Common Mistakes

Clue Words

Particles that signal phrasal verbs

up, down, on, off, out, in, away, back, over, through

Common verbs that form phrasal verbs

look, take, put, turn, get, pick, give, go, come, bring, carry, find, set, break, wake

Everyday actions often expressed as phrasal verbs

wake up, get up, put on, take off, pick up, turn on, turn off, give up, find out, look for, look after, carry on, sit down, stand up, come in, go out

Tip: When you see a short verb followed by a small word like "up", "on", "off", or "out", check if they work together as a phrasal verb. Ask yourself: "Does the meaning change when I remove the small word?" If yes, it is a phrasal verb!

Practice Tips

1. Meaning match test: Cover the meaning and try to recall what each phrasal verb means. Then check. This helps you remember them as pairs.
2. Sentence swap: Try replacing a phrasal verb with a single word. "Find out" = "discover". If you can swap them, you understand the phrasal verb correctly.
3. Daily life practice: Notice phrasal verbs around you -- in storybooks, on signs, and in conversations. Keep a list of new phrasal verbs you come across.
4. Particle pattern: Group phrasal verbs by their particle (all the "up" ones, all the "off" ones). This helps you see patterns in meaning.

Quick Reference