What is a phrasal verb? A phrasal phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb; the combination combination creates a meaning different from the original verb alone. Phrasal verb = verb + adverb verb + preposition
Example : To get = to obtain To get together = to meet
I need to get a new battery for my camera. Why don’t we all get all get together for for lunch one day?
Transitive Tr ansitive and intransitive phrasal verbs :
Some phrasal verbs are transitive. transitive. (A transitive transitive verb always has an object.) object.) !ample " # made up an e!c$se. (%!c$se% is the object of the verb.) Some phrasal verbs are intransitive . (An intransitive verb does not have an object.) !ample " &y car broke down.
Separable or inseparable phrasal verbs :
Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. ('he object is between the verb and the preposition.) !ample " # looked the the word up in the dictionary. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. ('he object is placed after the preposition.) !ample " # will look into the matter as soon as possible. Some transitive phrasal verbs can tae an object in i n both places. !ample " # picked up the boo. # picked the the boo up. owever* if the object is a prono$n* it m$st m $st be placed between the verb and the preposition. !ample " # picked it it up.
Phrasal erbs ,ist Verb
Meaning
Example
ask someone out
invite on a date
-rian asked $dy out to dinner and a movie.
ask around
as many people the same /$estion
# asked around b$t nobody has seen my wallet.
add up to something
e/$al
0o$r p$rchases add up to1234.52.
back something up
reverse
0o$%ll have to back up yo$r car so that # can get o$t.
back someone up
s$pport
&y wife backed me up over my decision to /$it my job.
blow up
e!plode
'he racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
blow something up
add air
6e have to blow 43 balloons up for the party.
break down
stop f$nctioning (vehicle* machine)
7$r car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.
break down
get $pset
'he woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.
break something down
divide into smaller parts
7$r teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.
break in
force entry to a b$ilding
Somebody broke in last night and stole o$r stereo.
break into something
enter forcibly
'he firemen had to break into the room to resc$e the children.
break something in
wear something a few times so that it doesn%t loo8feel new
# need to break these shoes in before we r$n ne!t wee.
break in
interr$pt
'he ' station broke in to report the news of the president%s death.
break up
end a relationship
&y boyfriend and # broke up before # moved to America.
break up
start la$ghing (informal)
'he ids j$st broke up as soon as the clown started taling.
break out
escape
'he prisoners broke out of jail when the g$ards weren%t looing.
break out in something
develop a sin condition
# broke out in a rash after o$r camping trip.
bring someone down
mae $nhappy
'his sad m$sic is bringing me down.
bring someone up
raise a child
&y grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
bring something up
start taling abo$t a s$bject
&y mother wals o$t of the room when my father brings up sports.
bring something up
vomit
e dran so m$ch that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.
call around
phone many different places8people
6e called around b$t we weren%t able to find the car part we needed.
call someone back
ret$rn a phone call
# called the company back b$t the offices were closed for the weeend.
call something off
cancel
ason called the wedding off beca$se he wasn%t in love with his fianc9.
call on someone
as for an answer or opinion
'he professor called on me for /$estion :.
call on someone
visit someone
6e called on yo$ last night b$t yo$ weren%t home.
call someone up
phone
ive me yo$r phone n$mber and # will call yo$ up when we are in town.
calm down
rela! after being angry
0o$ are still mad. 0o$ need to calm down before yo$ drive the car.
not care for
not lie (formal)
# don%t care for his behavio$r.
catch up
get to the same point as someone else
0o$%ll have to r$n faster than that if yo$ want to catch up with &arty.
check in
arrive and register at a hotel or airport
6e will get the hotel eys when we check in.
check out
leave a hotel
0o$ have to check out of the hotel before ::"33 A&.
heck someone/something out
loo at caref$lly* investigate
'he company checks out all new employees.
check out someone /something
loo at (informal)
heck out the cra
cheer up
become happier
She cheered up when she heard the good news.
someone/something
cheer someone up
mae happier
# bro$ght yo$ some flowers to cheer yo$ up.
chip in
help
#f everyone chips in we can get the itchen painted by noon.
clean something up
tidy* clean
Please clean up yo$r bedroom before yo$ go o$tside.
come across something
find $ne!pectedly
# came across these old photos when # was tidying the closet.
come apart
separate
'he top and bottom come apart if yo$ p$ll hard eno$gh.
come down with something
become sic
&y nephew came down with chicen po! this weeend.
come forward
vol$nteer for a tas or to give evidence
'he woman came forward with her h$sband%s finger prints.
come from somewhere
originate in
'he art of origami comes from Asia.
count on someone/something
rely on
# am counting on yo$ to mae dinner while # am o$t.
cross something out
draw a line thro$gh
Please cross out yo$r old address and write yo$r new one.
cut back on something
cons$me less
&y doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.
cut something down
mae something fall to the gro$nd
6e had to cut the old tree in o$r yard down after the storm.
cut in
interr$pt
0o$r father cut in while # was dancing with yo$r $ncle.
cut in
p$ll in too closely in front of another vehicle
'he b$s driver got angry when that car cut in.
cut in
start operating (of an engine or electrical device)
'he air conditioner cuts inwhen the temperat$re gets to 22>?.
cut something off
remove with something sharp
'he doctors cut off his leg beca$se it was severely inj$red.
cut something off
stop providing
'he phone company cut off o$r phone beca$se we didn%t pay the bill.
cut someone off
tae o$t of a will
&y grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.
cut something out
remove part of something ($s$ally with scissors and paper)
# cut this ad out of the newspaper.
!o someone/something over
beat $p* ransac (-r..* informal)
e%s l$cy to be alive. is shop was done over by a street gang.
do something over
do again (@.Amer.)
&y teacher wants me to do my essay over beca$se she doesn%t lie my topic.
do awa" with something
discard
#t%s time to do awa" with all of these old ta! records.
do something up
fasten* close
!o yo$r coat up before yo$ go
o$tside. #t%s snowing dress up
wear nice clothing
#t%s a fancy resta$rant so we have to dress up.
drop back
move bac in a position8gro$p
Andrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bie.
drop in#b"#over
come witho$t an appointment
# might drop in#b"#over for tea sometime this wee.
!rop someone/something off
tae someone8something somewhere and leave them8it there
# have to drop my sister off at wor before # come over.
drop out
/$it a class* school etc
# dropped out of Science beca$se it was too diffic$lt.
eat out
eat at a resta$rant
# don%t feel lie cooing tonight. ,et%s eat out.
end up
event$ally reach8do8decide
6e ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre.
fall apart
brea into pieces
&y new dress fell apart in the washing machine.
fall down
fall to the gro$nd
'he pict$re that yo$ h$ng $p last night fell down this morning.
fall out
separate from an interior
'he money m$st have fallen out of my pocet.
fall out
(of hair* teeth) become loose and $nattached
is hair started to fall out when he was only 54.
figure something out
$nderstand* find the answer
# need to figure out how to fit the piano and the booshelf in this room.
fill something in
to write information in blans (-r..)
Please fill in the form with yo$r name* address* and phone n$mber.
fill something out
to write information in blans (@.Amer.)
'he form m$st be filled out in capital letters.
fill something up
fill to the top
# always fill the water j$g up when it is empty.
find out
discover
6e don%t now where he lives. ow can we find out
find something out
discover
6e tried to eep the time of the party a secret* b$t Samantha found it out.
get something across#over
comm$nicate* mae $nderstandable
# tried to get my poin across#over to the j$dge b$t she wo$ldn%t listen.
get along#on
lie each other
# was s$rprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along#on.
get around
have mobility
&y grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.
get awa"
go on a vacation
6e wored so hard this year that we had to get awa" for a wee.
get awa" with something
do witho$t being noticed or p$nished
ason always gets awa" with cheating in his maths tests.
get back
ret$rn
6e got back from o$r vacation last wee.
get something back
receive something yo$ had before
,i< finally got her Science notes back from my roomBmate.
get back at someone
retaliate* tae revenge
&y sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favo$rite hat.
get back into something
become interested in something again
# finally got back into my novel and finished it.
get on something
step onto a vehicle
6e%re going to free
get over something
recover from an illness* loss* diffic$lty
# j$st got over the fl$ and now my sister has it.
get over something
overcome a problem
'he company will have to close if it can%t get over the new reg$lations.
get round to something
finally find time to do (@.Amer." get around to something )
# don%t now when # am going to get round to writing the than yo$ cards.
get together
meet ($s$ally for social reasons)
,et%s get together for a --C this weeend.
get up
get o$t of bed
# got up early today to st$dy for my e!am.
get up
stand
0o$ sho$ld get up and give the elderly
man yo$r seat. give someone awa"
reveal hidden information abo$t someone
is wife gave him awa" to the police.
give someone awa"
tae the bride to the altar
&y father gave me awa" at my wedding.
give something awa"
r$in a secret
&y little sister gave the s$rprise party awa" by accident.
give something awa"
give something to someone for free
'he library was giving awa" old boos on Driday.
give something back
ret$rn a borrowed item
# have to give these sates back to Dran< before his hocey game.
give in
rel$ctantly stop fighting or arg$ing
&y boyfriend didn%t want to go to the ballet* b$t he finally gave in.
give something out
give to many people ($s$ally at no cost)
'hey were giving out free perf$me samples at the department store.
give something up
/$it a habit
# am giving up smoing as of an$ary :st.
give up
stop trying
&y maths homewor was too diffic$lt so # gave up.
go after someone
follow someone
&y brother tried to go after the thief in his car.
go after something
try to achieve something
# went after my dream and now # am a p$blished writer.
go against someone
compete* oppose
6e are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight.
go ahead
start* proceed
Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.
go back
ret$rn to a place
# have to go back home and get my l$nch.
go out
leave home to go on a social event
6e%re going out for dinner tonight.
go out with someone
date
esse has been going out with ,$e since they met last winter.
go over something
review
Please go over yo$r answers before yo$ s$bmit yo$r test.
go over
visit someone nearby
# haven%t seen 'ina for a long time. # thin #%ll go over for an ho$r or two.
go without something
s$ffer lac or deprivation
6hen # was yo$ng* we went without winter boots.
grow apart
stop being friends over time
&y best friend and # grew apart after she changed schools.
grow back
regrow
&y roses grew back this s$mmer.
grow up
become an ad$lt
6hen ac grows up he wants to be a fireman.
grow out of something
get too big for
li
grow into something
grow big eno$gh to fit
'his bie is too big for him now* b$t he sho$ld grow into it by ne!t year.
hand something down
give something $sed to someone else
# handed my old comic boos down to my little co$sin.
hand something in
s$bmit
# have to hand in my essay by Driday.
hand something out
to distrib$te to a gro$p of people
6e will hand out the invitations at the door.
hand something over
give ($s$ally $nwillingly)
'he police ased the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.
hang in
stay positive (@.Amer.* informal)
$ang in there. #%m s$re yo$%ll find a job
wait a short time (informal)
$ang on while # grab my coat and
hang on
very soon.
shoes hang out
spend time rela!ing (informal)
#nstead of going to the party we are j$st going to hang out at my place.
hang up
end a phone call
e didn%t say goodbye before he hung up.
$old someone/something back
prevent from doing8going
# had to hold my dog back beca$se there was a cat in the par.
hold something back
hide an emotion
amie held back his tears at his grandfather%s f$neral.
hold on
wait a short time
Please hold on while # transfer yo$ to the Sales Eepartment.
hold onto someone/something
hold firmly $sing yo$r hands or arms
$old onto yo$r hat beca$se it%s very
$old someone/something up
rob
A man in a blac mas held the ban up this morning.
windy o$tside.
keep on doing something
contin$e doing
%eep on stirring $ntil the li/$id comes
keep something from someone
not tell
6e kept o$r relationship from o$r parents for two years.
%eep someone/something out
stop from entering
'ry to keep the wet dog out of the living room.
keep something up
contin$e at the same rate
#f yo$ keep those res$lts up yo$ will get into a great college.
let someone down
fail to s$pport or help* disappoint
# need yo$ to be on time. Eon%t let me down this time.
let someone in
allow to enter
?an yo$ let the cat in before yo$ go to school
log in (or on)
sign in (to a website* database etc)
# can%t log in to Daceboo beca$se #%ve forgotten my password.
log out (or off )
sign o$t (of a website* database etc)
#f yo$ don%t log off somebody co$ld get into yo$r acco$nt.
look after someone/something
tae care of
# have to look after my sic grandmother.
look down on someone
thin less of* consider inferior
ver since we stole that chocolate bar yo$r dad has looked down on me.
look for someone/something
try to find
#%m looking for a red dress for the wedding.
look forward to something
be e!cited abo$t the f$t$re
#%m looking forward to the ?hristmas brea.
look into something
investigate
6e are going to look into the price of snowboards today.
look out
be caref$l* vigilant* and tae notice
,oo o$t 'hat car%s going to hit yo$
look out for someone/something
be especially vigilant for
Eon%t forget to look out for snaes on the hiing trail.
look something over
chec* e!amine
?an yo$ look over my essay for spelling mistaes
look something up
search and find information in a reference boo or database
6e can look her phone n$mber up on the #nternet.
look up to someone
have a lot of respect for
&y little sister has always looked up to me.
make something up
invent* lie abo$t something
osie made up a story abo$t why we
to a boil.
were late. make up
forgive each other
6e were angry last night* b$t we made up at breafast.
make someone up
apply cosmetics to
&y sisters made me up for my grad$ation party.
mix something up
conf$se two or more things
# mixed up the twins% names again
pass awa"
die
is $ncle passed awa" last night after a long illness.
pass out
faint
#t was so hot in the ch$rch that an elderly lady passed out.
pass something out
give the same thing to many people
'he professor passed the te!tboos out before class.
pass something up
decline ($s$ally something good)
# passed up the job beca$se # am afraid of change.
pa" someone back
ret$rn owed money
'hans for b$ying my ticet. #%ll pa" yo$ back on Driday.
pa" for something
be p$nished for doing something bad
'hat b$lly will pa" for being mean to my little brother.
pick something out
choose
# picked out three sweaters for yo$ to try on.
&oint someone/something out
indicate with yo$r finger
#%ll point my boyfriend out when he r$ns by.
put something down
p$t what yo$ are holding on a s$rface or floor
0o$ can put the groceries down on the itchen co$nter.
put someone down
ins$lt* mae someone feel st$pid
'he st$dents put the s$bstit$te teacher down beca$se his pants were too short.
put something off
postpone
6e are putting off o$r trip $ntil an$ary beca$se of the h$rricane.
put something out
e!ting$ish
'he neighbo$rs put the fire out before the firemen arrived.
put something together
assemble
# have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.
put up with someone/something
tolerate
# don%t thin # can put up with three small children in the car.
put something on
p$t clothing8accessories on yo$r body
Eon%t forget to put on yo$r new earrings for the party.
run into someone/something
meet $ne!pectedly
# ran into an old schoolBfriend at the mall.
run over someone/something
drive a vehicle over a person or thing
# accidentally ran over yo$r bicycle in the driveway.
run over#through something
rehearse* review
,et%s run over#through these lines one more time before the show.
run awa"
leave $ne!pectedly* escape
'he child ran awa" from home and has been missing for three days.
run out
have none left
6e ran out of shampoo so # had to wash my hair with soap.
send something back
ret$rn ($s$ally by mail)
&y letter got sent back to me beca$se # $sed the wrong stamp.
set something up
arrange* organi
7$r boss set a meeting up with the president of the company.
set someone up
tric* trap
'he police set up the car thief by $sing a hidden camera.
shop around
compare prices
# want to shop around a little before # decide on these boots.
show off
act e!tra special for people watching ($s$ally boastf$lly)
e always shows off on his sateboard
sleep over
stay somewhere for the night (informal)
0o$ sho$ld sleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home.
sort something out
organi
6e need to sort the bills out before the first of the month.
stick to something
contin$e doing something* limit yo$rself to one partic$lar thing
0o$ will lose weight if yo$ stick to the diet.
switch something off
stop the energy flow* t$rn off
'he light%s too bright. ?o$ld yo$ switch it off .
switch something on
start the energy flow* t$rn on
6e heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio.
take after someone
resemble a family member
# take after my mother. 6e are both impatient.
take something apart
p$rposely brea into pieces
e took the car braes apart and fo$nd the problem.
take something back
ret$rn an item
# have to take o$r new ' back beca$se it doesn%t wor.
take off
start to fly
&y plane takes off in five min$tes.
remove something ($s$ally clothing)
Take off yo$r socs and shoes and
take something out
remove from a place or thing
?an yo$ take the garbage out to the street for me
take someone out
pay for someone to go somewhere with yo$
&y grandparents took $s out for dinner and a movie.
tear something up
rip into pieces
# tore up my e!Bboyfriend%s letters and gave them bac to him.
think back
remember (often + to* sometimes + on)
6hen # think back on my yo$th* # wish # had st$died harder.
think something over
consider
#%ll have to think this job offer over before # mae my final decision.
throw something awa"
dispose of
6e threw o$r old f$rnit$re awa" when we won the lottery.
turn something down
decrease the vol$me or strength (heat* light etc)
Please turn the ' down while the g$ests are here.
turn something down
ref$se
# turned the job down beca$se # don%t want to move.
turn something off
stop the energy flow* switch off
0o$r mother wants yo$ to turn the ' off and come for dinner.
turn something on
start the energy* switch on
#t%s too dar in here. ,et%s turn some lights on.
turn something up
increase the vol$me or strength (heat* light etc)
?an yo$ turn the m$sic up 'his is my favo$rite song.
turn up
appear s$ddenly
7$r cat turned up after we p$t posters $p all over the neighbo$rhood.
tr" something on
sample clothing
#%m going to tr" these jeans on* b$t # don%t thin they will fit.
tr" something out
test
# am going to tr" this new brand of detergent out.
use something up
finish the s$pply
'he ids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to b$y some more.
wake up
stop sleeping
6e have to wake up early for wor on &onday.
Warm someone/something up
increase the temperat$re
0o$ can warm yo$r feet up in front of the fireplace.
take something off
come in the lae
warm up
prepare body for e!ercise
# always warm up by doing sitB$ps before # go for a r$n.
wear off
fade away
&ost of my maeB$p wore off before # got to the party.
work out
e!ercise
# work out at the gym three times a wee.
work out
be s$ccessf$l
7$r plan worked out fine.
work something out
mae a calc$lation
6e have to work out the total cost before we b$y the ho$se.
