PHRASAL VERBS

Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with a preposition or adverb (or both) that create a meaning different from the original verb.

Why we use them
Phrasal verbs are used to convey more specific meanings and are common in informal English. They add more detail to whatever you are speaking about.
When to use them
Use phrasal verbs in everyday conversations, informal writing, and to add variety to your language to expressing how you feel about something, what you did with something or how something happened.

PHRASAL VERB PATTERNS

Verb + Adverb
Verb + Preposition
Verb + Adverb + Preposition

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

Bring up – to mention something in conversation.
Example: "She brought up an interesting topic during the meeting."
Look after – to take care of someone or something.
Example: "Can you look after my cat while I'm on vacation?"
Call off – to cancel something.
Example: "They called off the concert due to the storm."
Run into – to meet someone unexpectedly.
Example: "I ran into an old friend at the grocery store."
Get along with – to have a friendly relationship with someone.
Example: "He gets along with everyone at work."
Take off – to remove something (usually clothing) or to leave quickly.
Example: "She took off her jacket when she came inside."
Give up – to stop trying or to quit.
Example: "He gave up smoking last year."
Pick up – to lift something or to learn something.
Example: "Can you pick up the kids after school?"
Set up – to arrange or prepare something.
Example: "They set up the meeting for 10 a.m."
Turn down – to refuse or reject something.
Example: "He turned down the job offer because it was too far away."

PHRASAL VERBS WITH MORE THAN ONE MEANING

Take off
"The plane took off at noon." (to leave the ground)
"He took off his jacket." (to remove clothing)
"She took off after the meeting." (to leave quickly)
Pick up
"Can you pick up some groceries on your way home?" (to collect something)
"She picked up a new hobby during summer." (to learn something new)
"He picked up the phone and called her." (to lift or answer)
Turn up
"He turned up late for the party." (to arrive)
"Can you turn up the volume?" (to increase)
Run out
"We ran out of milk this morning." (to have none left)
"Her patience ran out quickly." (to reach an end)
Break down
"My car broke down on the highway." (to stop working)
"She broke down in tears." (to become very emotional)
Set up
"He set up the equipment before the show." (to prepare)
"She set up a meeting with the client." (to arrange)
"They set him up for the promotion." (to position someone for success or failure)
Look up
"Look up the meaning of the word." (to search for information)
"Things are looking up now that he’s back." (to improve)
Make up
"She made up an excuse to avoid the party." (to invent)
"They made up after their argument." (to reconcile)
Get over
"It took him weeks to get over the flu." (to recover)
"She finally got over her fear of heights." (to overcome)
Bring up
"He brought up an interesting point in class." (to mention)
"She was brought up in a small town." (to raise a child)
Go off
"The alarm went off at 6 a.m." (to make a loud noise)
"She went off to college last year." (to leave)
"The milk went off because it wasn’t refrigerated." (to spoil or become bad)
Come across
"I came across an old photo of us." (to find by chance)
"She comes across as very confident." (to give a certain impression)
Turn down
"He turned down the job offer." (to reject)
"Can you turn down the music?" (to lower the volume)
Put off
"They put off the meeting until next week." (to delay)
"The smell of fish put her off." (to discourage)
Give in
"He gave in to her request after much persuasion." (to surrender or yield)
"Don’t give in to pressure." (to stop resisting)
Hold on
"Hold on, I’ll be right back." (to wait)
"She held on to the railing tightly." (to grip or grasp)
Carry on
"He carried on with his work despite the noise." (to continue)
"She told him to carry on with the plan." (to persist)
Cut off
"The power was cut off during the storm." (to stop supply)
"She cut him off mid-sentence." (to interrupt)
"They were cut off from the group during the hike." (to be separated)
Back up
"Could you back up a little?" (to move backward)
"She backed up her files on an external drive." (to make a copy)
"His friends backed him up during the argument." (to support)
Take up
"He took up guitar lessons recently." (to start a new activity)
"This project is taking up too much time." (to occupy space or time)

LESS WORDS WITH A

PHRASAL VERBS

She finally decided to stop smoking forever.
She gave up smoking.
While doing something else, he saw an old friend and started talking to them.
He ran into an old friend.
They stayed with the baby and took care of it while the parents were gone.
They looked after the baby.
She tried not to cry, but she couldn’t control her emotions and started crying uncontrollably.
She broke down in tears.
He decided not to hold the meeting and postponed it to a later date.
He put off the meeting.
They completed all the necessary legal steps to start a new business.
They set up a new business.
She chose not to accept the offer.
She turned down the offer.
He was excited for his upcoming vacation and eagerly anticipated the date.
He looked forward to the vacation.
They learned the truth about what really happened.
They found out the truth.
She was browsing through the bookstore and discovered a rare book.
She came across a rare book.

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PHRASAL VERBS

Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with a preposition or adverb (or both) that create a meaning different from the original verb.

Why we use them

Phrasal verbs are used to convey more specific meanings and are common in informal English. They add more detail to whatever you are speaking about.

When to use them

Use phrasal verbs in everyday conversations, informal writing, and to add variety to your language to expressing how you feel about something, what you did with something or how something happened.

PHRASAL VERB PATTERNS

Verb + Adverb

Verb + Preposition

Verb + Adverb + Preposition

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

Bring up – to mention something in conversation.

Example: "She brought up an interesting topic during the meeting."

Look after – to take care of someone or something.

Example: "Can you look after my cat while I'm on vacation?"

Call off – to cancel something.

Example: "They called off the concert due to the storm."

Run into – to meet someone unexpectedly.

Example: "I ran into an old friend at the grocery store."

Get along with – to have a friendly relationship with someone.

Example: "He gets along with everyone at work."

Take off – to remove something (usually clothing) or to leave quickly.

Example: "She took off her jacket when she came inside."

Give up – to stop trying or to quit.

Example: "He gave up smoking last year."

Pick up – to lift something or to learn something.

Example: "Can you pick up the kids after school?"

Set up – to arrange or prepare something.

Example: "They set up the meeting for 10 a.m."

Turn down – to refuse or reject something.

Example: "He turned down the job offer because it was too far away."

PHRASAL VERBS WITH MORE THAN ONE MEANING

Take off

"The plane took off at noon." (to leave the ground)

"He took off his jacket." (to remove clothing)

"She took off after the meeting." (to leave quickly)

Pick up

"Can you pick up some groceries on your way home?" (to collect something)

"She picked up a new hobby during summer." (to learn something new)

"He picked up the phone and called her." (to lift or answer)

Turn up

"He turned up late for the party." (to arrive)

"Can you turn up the volume?" (to increase)

Run out

"We ran out of milk this morning." (to have none left)

"Her patience ran out quickly." (to reach an end)

Break down

"My car broke down on the highway." (to stop working)

"She broke down in tears." (to become very emotional)

Set up

"He set up the equipment before the show." (to prepare)

"She set up a meeting with the client." (to arrange)

"They set him up for the promotion." (to position someone for success or failure)

Look up

"Look up the meaning of the word." (to search for information)

"Things are looking up now that he’s back." (to improve)

Make up

"She made up an excuse to avoid the party." (to invent)

"They made up after their argument." (to reconcile)

Get over

"It took him weeks to get over the flu." (to recover)

"She finally got over her fear of heights." (to overcome)

Bring up

"He brought up an interesting point in class." (to mention)

"She was brought up in a small town." (to raise a child)

Go off

"The alarm went off at 6 a.m." (to make a loud noise)

"She went off to college last year." (to leave)

"The milk went off because it wasn’t refrigerated." (to spoil or become bad)

Come across

"I came across an old photo of us." (to find by chance)

"She comes across as very confident." (to give a certain impression)

Turn down

"He turned down the job offer." (to reject)

"Can you turn down the music?" (to lower the volume)

Put off

"They put off the meeting until next week." (to delay)

"The smell of fish put her off." (to discourage)

Give in

"He gave in to her request after much persuasion." (to surrender or yield)

She finally decided to stop smoking forever.
She gave up smoking.

While doing something else, he saw an old friend and started talking to them.
He ran into an old friend.

They stayed with the baby and took care of it while the parents were gone.
They looked after the baby.

She tried not to cry, but she couldn’t control her emotions and started crying uncontrollably.
She broke down in tears.

He decided not to hold the meeting and postponed it to a later date.
He put off the meeting.

They completed all the necessary legal steps to start a new business.
They set up a new business.

She chose not to accept the offer.
She turned down the offer.

He was excited for his upcoming vacation and eagerly anticipated the date.
He looked forward to the vacation.

They learned the truth about what really happened.
They found out the truth.

She was browsing through the bookstore and discovered a rare book.
She came across a rare book.