English Phrasal Verbs: 100 Common Examples, Meanings and Sentences

A phrasal verb is generally formed by combining a verb with one or more particles, such as an adverb or a preposition. The combination often creates a meaning that is different from the meaning of the original verb.

For example, the verb give means to hand something to another person. However, give up means to stop trying or to quit something.

Consider these sentences:

• I will give you my book.

• I will not give up learning English.

The first sentence describes handing something to someone, while the second describes refusing to stop trying.

This difference is one reason why English learners sometimes find phrasal verbs difficult. A learner may understand the individual words but still fail to understand the meaning of the complete expression.

The good news is that phrasal verbs become easier when they are learned in context. Instead of memorizing long lists without examples, learners should study each expression with its meaning, sentence structure and practical use.

This article explains what phrasal verbs are, how they work, the different types, and how to use them correctly. It also provides 100 common English phrasal verbs, with clear meanings and example sentences, followed by common mistakes, practical exercises and an answer key.

1. What Are Phrasal Verbs in English?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a main verb and one or more particles that function together as a unit of meaning.

The main verb expresses an action or state, while the particle changes, extends or completes its meaning.

Examples include:

In many cases, the meaning of the complete expression cannot be understood simply by translating each word separately.

For example, look usually refers to directing your eyes towards something. However, look after means to take care of someone or something.

• Please look at the picture.

• Please look after my younger brother.

The second sentence does not mean that the speaker wants someone to look at their brother. It means that the person should take care of him.

1.1 The main parts of a phrasal verb

A phrasal verb normally contains two or three parts.

Verb + adverb particle

Examples:

• Get up.

• Sit down.

• Give in.

• Take off.

• Break down.

Verb + preposition

Examples:

• Look after.

• Believe in.

• Depend on.

• Deal with.

• Listen to.

Verb + adverb particle + preposition

Examples:

• Look forward to.

• Get away with.

• Put up with.

• Look down on.

• Come up with.

The particle is important because it contributes to the expression’s meaning.

1.2 Phrasal verbs can have more than one meaning

Some phrasal verbs have several meanings depending on the context.

For example, take off can mean to remove clothing, to leave the ground in an aircraft or to become successful very quickly.

Consider these examples:

1. Please take off your shoes before entering.

2. The aeroplane will take off at 6 p.m.

3. Her business began to take off after the advertisement.

The same expression has three different meanings.

Therefore, it is important to learn phrasal verbs through complete sentences rather than memorizing only one definition.

2. Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important in English?

Phrasal verbs are widely used in spoken and written English. Understanding them can improve vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and writing.

2.1 They make everyday communication more natural

Native and fluent English speakers frequently use phrasal verbs in ordinary conversations.

For example:

• Please come in.

• I need to find out what happened.

• Can you pick me up after work?

• We should set off early tomorrow.

• I will call you back later.

Learners who understand these expressions can follow everyday conversations more easily.

2.2 They improve listening comprehension

Phrasal verbs often appear in films, interviews, podcasts, television programmes and informal discussions.

A speaker might say:

“I tried to contact the manager, but I could not get through.”

A learner who understands get through in this context knows that the speaker was unable to make contact.

Without knowledge of the expression, the sentence may be confusing.

2.3 They expand vocabulary

Learning phrasal verbs gives learners more ways to express similar ideas.

For example:

• Continue: carry on, go on.

• Discover: find out.

• Postpone: put off.

• Reject: turn down.

• Tolerate: put up with.

• Cancel: call off.

Knowing these alternatives makes communication more flexible.

2.4 They help learners understand informal English

Many phrasal verbs are common in informal communication.

Compare:

• We need to investigate the problem.

• We need to look into the problem.

Both sentences communicate a similar idea, although their tone and context may differ.

Phrasal verbs are not all informal. Many are also used in formal and professional contexts, but learners should understand which expressions are appropriate for particular situations.

2.5 They improve writing and speaking

Using phrasal verbs correctly can make communication sound more natural and varied.

For example:

Instead of repeatedly saying:

“I will continue working.”

You can sometimes say:

“I will carry on working.”

Instead of saying:

“Please investigate the matter.”

You might say:

“Please look into the matter.”

The best choice depends on the context, audience and level of formality.

3. Types of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can be classified according to their grammatical structure and how they behave in sentences.

The most useful categories for English learners are transitive, intransitive, separable, inseparable and three-word phrasal verbs.

3.1 Transitive phrasal verbs

A transitive phrasal verb requires an object to complete its meaning.

For example:

“She turned off the television.”

The expression turned off has an object: the television.

Other examples include:

• Please put away your books.

• He looked after the children.

• I found out the truth.

• They called off the meeting.

The object receives or is affected by the action.

3.2 Intransitive phrasal verbs

An intransitive phrasal verb does not require an object.

For example:

“The baby woke up.”

The sentence is complete without an object.

Other examples include:

• The car broke down.

• Please sit down.

• The plane took off.

• My friends came over.

An intransitive phrasal verb cannot normally be separated by inserting an object because it does not take one in that use.

3.3 Separable phrasal verbs

Some transitive phrasal verbs allow the object to appear either after the complete expression or between the verb and the particle.

For example:

• Please turn off the light.

• Please turn the light off.

Both sentences are correct.

Other examples:

• Pick up the bag.

• Pick the bag up.

• Put away your clothes.

• Put your clothes away.

• Write down the address.

• Write the address down.

However, when the object is a pronoun, it normally goes between the verb and the particle.

Correct:

• Turn it off.

• Pick them up.

• Put it away.

• Write it down.

Incorrect in standard usage:

• Turn off it.

• Pick up them.

• Put away it.

• Write down it.

This is an important rule for learners.

3.4 Inseparable phrasal verbs

Some phrasal verbs cannot be separated. The verb and its particle must remain together.

Examples:

• Look after the baby.

• Look into the complaint.

• Get over an illness.

• Run into an old friend.

• Come across an interesting book.

You cannot normally place the object between the verb and the particle.

Correct:

“She looks after her grandmother.”

Incorrect:

“She looks her grandmother after.”

3.5 Three-word phrasal verbs

Some phrasal verbs contain a verb and two particles.

Examples:

• Look forward to.

• Put up with.

• Get away with.

• Look down on.

• Come up with.

These expressions usually have a fixed structure.

Examples:

• I look forward to meeting you.

• I cannot put up with the noise.

• He thought he could get away with cheating.

• They look down on people who are poor.

• She came up with a good idea.

Notice that in look forward to, the word to is a preposition. Therefore, when a verb follows it, the verb normally takes the -ing form.

Correct: “I look forward to seeing you.”

Incorrect: “I look forward to see you.”

4. 100 Common English Phrasal Verbs, Meanings and Sentences

The following list contains 100 useful phrasal verbs commonly encountered in everyday English. They are grouped by topic to make them easier to learn and remember.

Group 1: Everyday Activities

1. Wake up

Meaning: To stop sleeping.

Examples:

• I usually wake up at six o’clock every morning.

• She woke up late and missed the bus.

2. Get up

Meaning: To leave your bed after sleeping.

Examples:

• I get up early to prepare for work.

• He got up at seven o’clock yesterday.

3. Sit down

Meaning: To move into a sitting position.

Examples:

• Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.

• The teacher asked the students to sit down.

4. Stand up

Meaning: To rise to your feet from a sitting or lying position.

Examples:

• Everyone stood up when the principal entered the room.

• Please stand up if you know the answer.

5. Lie down

Meaning: To put your body in a flat position, usually to rest.

Examples:

• I have a headache, so I need to lie down.

• The doctor advised him to lie down for a while.

6. Go out

Meaning: To leave your home, often for entertainment or social activities.

Examples:

• We usually go out for dinner on Fridays.

• She went out with her friends last night.

7. Come back

Meaning: To return to a place.

Examples:

• Please come back before eight o’clock.

• My brother came back from school an hour ago.

8. Come in

Meaning: To enter a room or building.

Examples:

• Please come in and take a seat.

• The visitors came in through the front door.

9. Hurry up

Meaning: To do something more quickly.

Examples:

• Hurry up, or we will miss the train.

• She hurried up because the meeting was about to start.

10. Slow down

Meaning: To reduce speed or do something less quickly.

Examples:

• You should slow down when driving in a busy area.

• The teacher asked the students to slow down while reading.

Group 2: Communication and Information

11. Find out

Meaning: To discover information or learn something.

Examples:

• I need to find out when the examination will begin.

• She found out the truth about the incident.

12. Point out

Meaning: To draw attention to something or identify it.

Examples:

• The teacher pointed out several mistakes in my essay.

• He pointed out the nearest hospital.

13. Bring up

Meaning: To introduce a subject into a conversation.

Examples:

• She brought up an important issue during the meeting.

• I do not want to bring up the past again.

14. Call back

Meaning: To telephone someone again or return a telephone call.

Examples:

• I am busy right now, so I will call you back later.

• The manager called back after receiving my message.

15. Speak up

Meaning: To speak more loudly or express an opinion.

Examples:

• Please speak up because I cannot hear you clearly.

• She spoke up when she noticed the unfair treatment.

16. Talk over

Meaning: To discuss something carefully with another person.

Examples:

• We need to talk over the proposal before making a decision.

• The two managers talked over the problem.

17. Get through

Meaning: To make contact with someone by telephone; it can also mean to complete something difficult.

Examples:

• I tried calling the office, but I could not get through.

• She worked hard to get through the examination.

18. Write down

Meaning: To record information in writing.

Examples:

• Please write down your name and telephone number.

• He wrote down the teacher’s instructions.

19. Read out

Meaning: To say written information aloud.

Examples:

• The secretary read out the names of the successful candidates.

• Please read out the first paragraph.

20. Go over

Meaning: To review, examine or explain something carefully.

Examples:

• Let us go over the answers before submitting the test.

• The teacher went over the lesson again.

Group 3: Work and Education

21. Carry on

Meaning: To continue doing something.

Examples:

• Please carry on with your assignment.

• Despite the difficulties, she carried on working.

22. Give up

Meaning: To stop trying or to quit something.

Examples:

• Never give up when you face a difficult challenge.

• He gave up smoking last year.

23. Hand in

Meaning: To submit or deliver something, especially an assignment or document.

Examples:

• Students must hand in their assignments on Friday.

• I handed in my application yesterday.

24. Hand out

Meaning: To distribute something to several people.

Examples:

• The teacher handed out the examination papers.

• Volunteers handed out food to the visitors.

25. Set up

Meaning: To establish, organize or arrange something.

Examples:

• They set up a new business in Lagos.

• The technician set up the computer before the meeting.

26. Take on

Meaning: To accept responsibility, work or a challenge.

Examples:

• She decided to take on more responsibilities at work.

• The company will take on twenty new employees.

27. Put off

Meaning: To postpone or delay something.

Examples:

• We had to put off the meeting until Monday.

• Do not put off your studies until the last minute.

28. Call off

Meaning: To cancel an event or arrangement.

Examples:

• The organisers called off the football match because of heavy rain.

• The manager called off the meeting.

29. Carry out

Meaning: To perform or complete a task, plan or investigation.

Examples:

• The researchers carried out an important study.

• The workers carried out the instructions carefully.

30. Work out

Meaning: To solve a problem, calculate something or find a solution.

Examples:

• I cannot work out the answer to this question.

• We need to work out a better plan.

Group 4: Relationships and Social Interaction

31. Look after

Meaning: To take care of someone or something.

Examples:

• She looks after her younger brother after school.

• Please look after my bag while I am away.

32. Get along with

Meaning: To have a friendly relationship with someone.

Examples:

• I get along well with my colleagues.

• She does not get along with her neighbour.

33. Fall out

Meaning: To have an argument or disagreement with someone and stop being friendly.

Examples:

• The two friends fell out over a misunderstanding.

• I do not want to fall out with my brother.

34. Make up

Meaning: To become friendly again after an argument.

Examples:

• They argued yesterday, but they have made up.

• She apologised, and the two friends made up.

35. Look up to

Meaning: To admire or respect someone.

Examples:

• Many young people look up to successful teachers.

• I have always looked up to my father.

36. Look down on

Meaning: To consider someone less important or inferior.

Examples:

• You should not look down on people because of their jobs.

• He looks down on anyone who disagrees with him.

37. Get together

Meaning: To meet socially or gather as a group.

Examples:

• Our family gets together during the holidays.

• The students got together to plan the event.

38. Ask out

Meaning: To invite someone to go on a date.

Examples:

• He finally asked her out for dinner.

• She was happy when her classmate asked her out.

39. Break up

Meaning: To end a romantic relationship.

Examples:

• They decided to break up after several disagreements.

• Her friend broke up with her boyfriend last month.

40. Put up with

Meaning: To tolerate something unpleasant or difficult.

Examples:

• I cannot put up with this noise any longer.

• She puts up with a lot of pressure at work.

Group 5: Movement and Travel

41. Set off

Meaning: To begin a journey.

Examples:

• We set off early to avoid traffic.

• They set off for Abuja at six in the morning.

42. Take off

Meaning: For an aircraft to leave the ground; also, to remove clothing or an object.

Examples:

• The aeroplane will take off in twenty minutes.

• Please take off your shoes before entering the house.

43. Get in

Meaning: To enter a car or arrive at a place.

Examples:

• She got in the car and fastened her seat belt.

• What time did you get in last night?

44. Get out

Meaning: To leave a vehicle or place.

Examples:

• Please get out of the car carefully.

• The passengers got out of the bus.

45. Pick up

Meaning: To collect someone or something from a place; it can also mean to lift something.

Examples:

• I will pick you up after work.

• He picked up the book from the floor.

46. Drop off

Meaning: To take someone or something to a particular place and leave them there.

Examples:

• My father drops me off at school every morning.

• The driver dropped off the package at the office.

47. Check in

Meaning: To register your arrival at a hotel, airport or event.

Examples:

• We checked in at the hotel at 3 p.m.

• Passengers should check in two hours before departure.

48. Check out

Meaning: To leave a hotel after paying; it can also mean to examine or look at something.

Examples:

• We must check out of the hotel before noon.

• You should check out the new library.

49. Turn back

Meaning: To return in the direction from which you came.

Examples:

• We had to turn back because the road was closed.

• The hikers turned back when the weather became dangerous.

50. Move on

Meaning: To continue to a new activity, situation or stage of life.

Examples:

• After discussing the first question, the teacher moved on to the next one.

• It is time to move on from past disappointments.

Group 6: Problems, Emotions and Experiences

51. Break down

Meaning: To stop functioning, especially when referring to a machine or vehicle; it can also describe an emotional collapse.

Examples:

• Our car broke down on the way to work.

• She broke down in tears after hearing the news.

52. Cheer up

Meaning: To become happier or make someone feel happier.

Examples:

• Cheer up! Everything will be fine.

• Her friends tried to cheer her up after the disappointment.

53. Calm down

Meaning: To become less angry, nervous or excited.

Examples:

• Please calm down and explain what happened.

• He took a deep breath to calm down.

54. Get over

Meaning: To recover from an illness, disappointment or difficult experience.

Examples:

• It took her several weeks to get over the flu.

• He is still trying to get over the disappointment.

55. Run out of

Meaning: To use all of something so that none remains.

Examples:

• We have run out of drinking water.

• The shop ran out of bread this morning.

56. Give in

Meaning: To stop resisting or agree to something after pressure.

Examples:

• After a long discussion, he finally gave in.

• The child kept asking until her parents gave in.

57. Put down

Meaning: To place something on a surface; it can also mean to criticize someone.

Examples:

• Please put down your bag near the door.

• You should not put people down because of their mistakes.

58. Hold on

Meaning: To wait for a short time or maintain a firm grip.

Examples:

• Please hold on while I check your details.

• Hold on to the railing when climbing the stairs.

59. Pass away

Meaning: To die; this is a softer and more polite expression.

Examples:

• Her grandfather passed away last year.

• We were saddened to hear that the writer had passed away.

60. Let down

Meaning: To disappoint someone by failing to do what was expected.

Examples:

• I promised to help her, and I do not want to let her down.

• The team let down its supporters by playing poorly.

Group 7: Decisions, Plans and Possibilities

61. Think over

Meaning: To consider something carefully before making a decision.

Examples:

• I need time to think over your suggestion.

• She thought over the offer before accepting it.

62. Find out about

Meaning: To obtain information about something.

Examples:

• I want to find out about the available courses.

• He called the office to find out about the application process.

63. Come up with

Meaning: To produce or suggest an idea, answer or solution.

Examples:

• She came up with a brilliant idea.

• We need to come up with a solution to the problem.

64. Plan ahead

Meaning: To make arrangements in advance.

Examples:

• It is important to plan ahead before travelling.

• They planned ahead for the annual conference.

65. Look forward to

Meaning: To feel happy or excited about something that will happen in the future.

Examples:

• I look forward to seeing you next week.

• She is looking forward to her graduation ceremony.

66. Turn down

Meaning: To reject an offer, request or invitation; it can also mean to reduce volume or intensity.

Examples:

• He turned down the job offer.

• Please turn down the television because the baby is sleeping.

67. Go ahead

Meaning: To proceed with an action or give permission for something to happen.

Examples:

• You can go ahead with the presentation.

• The manager told us to go ahead with the plan.

68. Back out

Meaning: To withdraw from an agreement, arrangement or commitment.

Examples:

• He backed out of the agreement at the last minute.

• She promised to help, but she backed out.

69. Bring about

Meaning: To cause something to happen or produce a change.

Examples:

• The new policy brought about significant improvements.

• Education can bring about positive changes in society.

70. Work on

Meaning: To spend time improving, developing or completing something.

Examples:

• I am working on my English pronunciation.

• The engineers are working on a new design.

Group 8: Shopping, Money and Possessions

71. Pay back

Meaning: To return money that you borrowed.

Examples:

• I will pay back the money next week.

• She paid back her friend after receiving her salary.

72. Save up

Meaning: To gradually collect money for a particular purpose.

Examples:

• He is saving up to buy a new laptop.

• We saved up for our family holiday.

73. Splash out

Meaning: To spend a lot of money on something, often something special or enjoyable.

Examples:

• They splashed out on a new television.

• She splashed out on an expensive birthday present.

74. Cut down on

Meaning: To reduce the amount of something you use, consume or do.

Examples:

• I am trying to cut down on sugary drinks.

• The company wants to cut down on unnecessary expenses.

75. Shop around

Meaning: To compare prices or products in different shops before buying something.

Examples:

• You should shop around before buying a new phone.

• We shopped around to find a cheaper hotel.

76. Sell out

Meaning: To have no more items available because everything has been sold.

Examples:

• The concert tickets sold out in two days.

• The shop has sold out of the popular shoes.

77. Give away

Meaning: To give something to someone without expecting payment; it can also mean to reveal a secret.

Examples:

• The charity gave away free school supplies.

• Do not give away the surprise before the party.

78. Pay for

Meaning: To give money in exchange for a product or service.

Examples:

• I will pay for the meal.

• She paid for her ticket online.

79. Take back

Meaning: To return a purchased item to a shop; it can also mean to withdraw something you said.

Examples:

• I need to take back this shirt because it is too small.

• I take back what I said earlier.

80. Put aside

Meaning: To save money or reserve something for later use.

Examples:

• I put aside some money every month.

• Please put aside these documents for the manager.

Group 9: Change, Development and Results

81. Grow up

Meaning: To develop from a child into an adult.

Examples:

• I grew up in a small town.

• She wants to become a doctor when she grows up.

82. Turn into

Meaning: To change or develop into something different.

Examples:

• The small village has turned into a busy town.

• The discussion turned into an argument.

83. End up

Meaning: To finally reach a particular place, situation or result, sometimes unexpectedly.

Examples:

• We got lost and ended up in the wrong town.

• He studied hard and ended up becoming a successful engineer.

84. Come out

Meaning: To become available or be released; it can also mean to leave a place.

Examples:

• Her new book will come out next month.

• The truth finally came out.

85. Bring back

Meaning: To return something or cause someone to remember something.

Examples:

• Please bring back the books tomorrow.

• This song brings back memories of my childhood.

86. Break out

Meaning: To begin suddenly, especially when referring to a fire, war, disease or other serious event.

Examples:

• A fire broke out in the market.

• Fighting broke out after the disagreement.

87. Fade away

Meaning: To gradually become weaker, less noticeable or disappear.

Examples:

• The sound of the music slowly faded away.

• The pain began to fade away after a few days.

88. Take up

Meaning: To begin a new activity, hobby or interest; it can also mean to occupy time or space.

Examples:

• She has taken up swimming.

• This table takes up too much space.

89. Turn out

Meaning: To develop or happen in a particular way; it can also mean to attend an event.

Examples:

• The examination turned out to be easier than expected.

• Many people turned out for the charity event.

90. Catch up

Meaning: To reach the same level or position as someone or something; it can also mean to exchange recent news.

Examples:

• I need to study harder to catch up with my classmates.

• We met to catch up after several years.

Group 10: Useful Advanced and Everyday Expressions

91. Look into

Meaning: To investigate or examine something.

Examples:

• The police will look into the complaint.

• The manager promised to look into the problem.

92. Come across

Meaning: To find or meet someone or something unexpectedly.

Examples:

• I came across an interesting article online.

• She came across an old friend at the shopping centre.

93. Get away with

Meaning: To do something wrong without being punished or facing consequences.

Examples:

• He thought he could get away with cheating in the examination.

• You cannot get away with breaking the rules.

94. Keep up with

Meaning: To remain at the same level or pace as someone or something.

Examples:

• It is difficult to keep up with all the latest technology.

• She walks quickly, so I struggle to keep up with her.

95. Put forward

Meaning: To suggest an idea, plan or proposal for consideration.

Examples:

• He put forward a proposal to improve the school.

• Several ideas were put forward during the meeting.

96. Run into

Meaning: To meet someone unexpectedly or encounter a problem.

Examples:

• I ran into my former teacher at the supermarket.

• The project ran into several difficulties.

97. Take after

Meaning: To resemble an older family member in appearance or behaviour.

Examples:

• She takes after her mother.

• He takes after his grandfather in the way he speaks.

98. Get rid of

Meaning: To remove or dispose of something unwanted.

Examples:

• We need to get rid of these broken chairs.

• She got rid of the clothes she no longer wore.

99. Put together

Meaning: To assemble or combine different parts to form something.

Examples:

• He put together the new bookshelf.

• The students put together a presentation about climate change.

100. Make out

Meaning: To understand or recognize something, often with difficulty; it can also have other meanings depending on context.

Examples:

• I could not make out what the speaker was saying.

• Can you make out the words on that sign?

5. Phrasal Verbs with More Than One Meaning

Some English phrasal verbs have several meanings. Understanding the context is essential because the same expression can communicate different ideas.

Here are ten useful examples.

5.1 Take off

Meaning 1: An aircraft leaves the ground.

– The plane took off at 9 a.m.

Meaning 2: Remove clothing or an object.

– Please take off your jacket.

Meaning 3: Become successful or popular quickly.

– Her business took off after the television advertisement.

5.2 Turn down

Meaning 1: Reject an offer or invitation.

– She turned down the job.

Meaning 2: Reduce volume or intensity.

– Please turn down the radio.

5.3 Pick up

Meaning 1: Collect someone or something.

– I will pick you up at the station.

Meaning 2: Lift something.

– He picked up the pen.

Meaning 3: Learn something informally.

– Children often pick up languages quickly.

Meaning 4: Improve or increase.

– Business usually picks up during the holiday season.

5.4 Break down

Meaning 1: Stop working.

– The washing machine broke down.

Meaning 2: Lose emotional control.

– She broke down when she heard the news.

Meaning 3: Divide something into smaller parts.

– The teacher broke down the problem into simple steps.

5.5 Work out

Meaning 1: Solve a problem.

– I cannot work out the answer.

Meaning 2: Exercise.

– She works out at the gym three times a week.

Meaning 3: Develop successfully.

– I hope everything works out well.

5.6 Bring up

Meaning 1: Introduce a topic.

– He brought up the issue during the discussion.

Meaning 2: Raise a child.

– She was brought up by her grandparents.

5.7 Give away

Meaning 1: Give something for free.

– The organisation gave away free books.

Meaning 2: Reveal information or a secret.

– His expression gave away his surprise.

5.8 Check out

Meaning 1: Leave a hotel.

– We checked out at 11 a.m.

Meaning 2: Examine something.

– Check out this new application.

Meaning 3: Borrow or obtain an item from a library.

– I checked out two books from the library.

5.9 Come out

Meaning 1: Be released or published.

– The film comes out next month.

Meaning 2: Become known or revealed.

– The truth came out during the investigation.

Meaning 3: Leave or emerge from somewhere.

– She came out of the office.

5.10 Turn out

Meaning 1: Develop or happen in a particular way.

– The event turned out better than expected.

Meaning 2: Attend an event.

– Thousands of people turned out for the concert.

Meaning 3: Produce or manufacture something.

– The factory turns out hundreds of products every day.

6. Grammar Rules for Using Phrasal Verbs Correctly

Knowing the meaning of a phrasal verb is not enough. Learners must also understand how to use it grammatically.

6.1 Separable phrasal verbs and object placement

Some phrasal verbs allow the object to appear in two positions.

For example:

• She turned off the computer.

• She turned the computer off.

Both are correct.

However, if the object is a pronoun, it usually goes between the verb and the particle.

Correct:

• She turned it off.

• He picked them up.

• Please write it down.

Incorrect:

• She turned off it.

• He picked up them.

• Please write down it.

This rule is especially important in examinations and formal writing.

6.2 Inseparable phrasal verbs

Inseparable phrasal verbs must remain together.

Examples:

• Look after the children.

• Look into the problem.

• Get over the illness.

• Run into a friend.

Do not place the object between the verb and the particle.

Correct: “She looked after the children.”

Incorrect: “She looked the children after.”

6.3 Phrasal verbs with three words

Three-word phrasal verbs usually have a fixed order.

Examples:

• Look forward to.

• Put up with.

• Get away with.

• Keep up with.

• Look down on.

Correct:

• I look forward to the holiday.

• I look forward to seeing you.

• She cannot put up with the noise.

Incorrect:

• I look the holiday forward to.

• She cannot put the noise up with.

6.4 Phrasal verbs in different tenses

Phrasal verbs change according to the tense of the sentence. The particle normally remains unchanged.

Present simple:

• I wake up early.

• She looks after her brother.

Past simple:

• I woke up early yesterday.

• She looked after her brother.

Present continuous:

• I am working on my assignment.

• They are setting up a new office.

Present perfect:

• I have given up smoking.

• She has found out the truth.

Future simple:

• I will call you back.

• They will carry on with the project.

6.5 Phrasal verbs followed by gerunds

Some phrasal verbs are followed by a verb ending in -ing.

Examples:

• Look forward to meeting.

• Give up smoking.

• Put off travelling.

• Carry on working.

In these expressions, the following verb takes the gerund form.

Correct: “She gave up smoking.”

Incorrect: “She gave up to smoke.”

6.6 Phrasal verbs followed by infinitives

Some expressions can be followed by an infinitive.

Examples:

• We set out to find the truth.

• She went on to become a successful writer.

The grammatical structure depends on the particular expression and its meaning. Learners should study common patterns with examples.

6.7 Phrasal verbs in passive sentences

Some transitive phrasal verbs can be used in the passive voice.

Examples:

• The meeting was called off.

• The forms were handed in yesterday.

• The problem is being looked into.

• The invitations have been sent out.

Notice that the particle remains part of the expression in the passive sentence.

7. Phrasal Verbs and Their More Formal Alternatives

Some phrasal verbs have one-word alternatives that may be more appropriate in formal or academic writing.

For example:

Informal or conversational:

“We need to look into the problem.”

More formal:

“We need to investigate the problem.”

Both sentences are correct. The choice depends on the situation.

Phrasal verbs should not be avoided in formal communication simply because they contain more than one word. Expressions such as carry out, set up and bring about are common in professional and academic English.

8. Common Mistakes English Learners Make with Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can be confusing because their meanings and grammatical patterns are not always predictable.

The following mistakes are common among learners.

8.1 Translating each word separately

A learner may try to understand a phrasal verb by translating its individual parts.

For example, give up does not mean giving something upwards. It means stopping an activity or abandoning an attempt.

How to avoid the mistake: Learn the complete expression and its meaning in context.

8.2 Using the wrong particle

Changing the particle can change the meaning or make an expression incorrect.

Compare:

• Look after the children.

• Look into the complaint.

• Look up a word.

• Look for your keys.

• Look forward to the holiday.

The main verb is look, but the particles create different expressions.

How to avoid the mistake: Learn phrasal verbs as complete vocabulary items, including their particles.

8.3 Separating inseparable phrasal verbs

Incorrect:

“She looked her brother after.”

Correct:

“She looked after her brother.”

How to avoid the mistake: Learn whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.

8.4 Placing pronouns incorrectly

Incorrect:

“Please turn off it.”

Correct:

“Please turn it off.”

With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects normally go between the verb and the particle.

8.5 Confusing similar expressions

Some phrasal verbs look similar but have different meanings.

Look for: Try to find something.

– I am looking for my keys.

Look after: Take care of someone or something.

– I look after my grandmother.

Look into: Investigate something.

– The police will look into the matter.

Look up: Search for information or improve.

– Look up the meaning of the word.

Look forward to: Feel excited about something in the future.

– I look forward to meeting you.

8.6 Using phrasal verbs in inappropriate situations

Some phrasal verbs are more informal than their alternatives.

For example, put off is common in everyday communication, while postpone may be preferred in certain formal notices.

How to avoid the mistake: Consider your audience and the level of formality required.

8.7 Forgetting the correct tense

Incorrect:

“Yesterday, I wake up late.”

Correct:

“Yesterday, I woke up late.”

The verb must follow the tense rules of the sentence.

8.8 Forgetting the object

Some phrasal verbs require an object.

Incorrect:

“I am looking after.”

Correct:

“I am looking after my younger brother.”

However, some expressions, such as wake up and sit down, can be complete without an object.

8.9 Confusing the literal and idiomatic meanings

Some phrasal verbs can be interpreted literally or idiomatically.

For example:

• He picked up the bag. (Lifted it.)

• He picked up some Spanish while travelling. (Learned it informally.)

How to avoid the mistake: Use the surrounding sentence to identify the intended meaning.

9. How to Learn and Remember Phrasal Verbs

Memorizing 100 phrasal verbs at once can be difficult. A better approach is to learn them gradually and practise using them in real communication.

9.1 Learn phrasal verbs by topic

Organize vocabulary into useful groups.

For example:

Daily activities:

• Wake up.

• Get up.

• Sit down.

• Stand up.

• Go out.

Communication:

• Speak up.

• Call back.

• Find out.

• Point out.

• Write down.

Work and education:

• Carry out.

• Hand in.

• Set up.

• Put off.

• Work on.

Learning related expressions makes it easier to remember them.

9.2 Learn each phrasal verb in a sentence

Do not memorize only the expression and its dictionary meaning.

For example, rather than learning only:

Run out of = have no more.

Learn:

“We have run out of milk, so I need to buy some.”

The sentence shows how the expression works in a natural situation.

9.3 Create your own examples

After learning a new expression, write two or three original sentences.

For example, after learning give up, you might write:

• I will not give up learning English.

• She gave up drinking soft drinks.

• They wanted to give up, but their teacher encouraged them.

Creating personal examples helps you remember how the expression works.

9.4 Learn opposites and related expressions

Some phrasal verbs become easier to remember when studied alongside related expressions.

Examples:

These relationships help learners understand the meanings more clearly.

9.5 Practise with short conversations

Use new expressions in conversations rather than only writing them in notebooks.

Example:

Ada: What time do you usually wake up?

Tunde: I wake up at 6 a.m., but I do not get up immediately.

Ada: Why?

Tunde: I like to lie down for a few more minutes before starting my day.

This helps you use several related expressions naturally.

9.6 Use flashcards

Flashcards are useful for reviewing vocabulary.

Write the phrasal verb on one side and its meaning and example sentence on the other.

For example:

Front: What does “put off” mean?

Back: To postpone something. Example: We put off the meeting until Friday.

Review the cards regularly rather than studying them only once.

9.7 Read and listen to English regularly

Phrasal verbs appear frequently in ordinary communication.

Read short stories, articles and dialogues. Listen to interviews, podcasts, films and conversations.

When you encounter an unfamiliar expression, record it and check its meaning.

9.8 Use a vocabulary notebook

A phrasal verb notebook can include the following information:

Review the notebook regularly and add new examples as you learn.

9.9 Practise a small number every day

Instead of trying to learn all 100 expressions in one sitting, study five to ten each day.

A simple routine could be:

• Read the phrasal verb.

• Understand its meaning.

• Study the example sentence.

• Write your own sentence.

• Say the sentence aloud.

• Review the expression the following day.

9.10 Use new expressions in real communication

The best way to develop confidence is to use phrasal verbs when speaking and writing.

For example, try to use expressions such as find out, look after, carry on and come up with in ordinary conversations.

Correct use is more valuable than memorizing a very long list.

10. Practice Exercises on English Phrasal Verbs

The following exercises test your understanding of meanings, sentence structures and appropriate usage.

Exercise 1: Choose the correct phrasal verb

Choose the best option to complete each sentence.

1. I usually ______ at 6 a.m. every morning.

• A. wake up

• B. give away

• C. turn down

2. Please ______ the television because the baby is sleeping.

• A. look after

• B. turn down

• C. find out

3. She had to ______ the meeting because the manager was unavailable.

• A. call off

• B. take after

• C. come across

4. We have ______ sugar, so we need to buy some.

• A. looked into

• B. run out of

• C. taken up

5. My mother asked me to ______ my younger sister.

• A. look after

• B. give up

• C. break down

6. The teacher asked us to ______ our assignments before Friday.

• A. hand in

• B. take off

• C. get away

7. I cannot ______ the answer to this mathematics question.

• A. work out

• B. put on

• C. come back

8. We should ______ early if we want to avoid traffic.

• A. set off

• B. fall out

• C. give away

9. She ______ a brilliant idea during the meeting.

• A. came up with

• B. got rid of

• C. took after

10. I am really ______ meeting my old friends next week.

• A. looking forward to

• B. putting up with

• C. running out of

Exercise 2: Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings

Match each expression in Column A with the correct meaning in Column B.

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks

Complete the sentences using the phrasal verbs in the box. Use each expression only once.

Phrasal verbs: carry on, get over, put away, come across, write down, calm down, take off, save up, move on, look into.

1. Please ______ your books after finishing the lesson.

2. The manager promised to ______ the complaint.

3. I need to ______ some money to buy a laptop.

4. She was upset, but her friends helped her ______.

5. The teacher asked the students to ______ the important points.

6. We should ______ with the project despite the difficulties.

7. I ______ an interesting article while browsing the internet.

8. Please ______ your shoes before entering the room.

9. You need to ______ and explain what happened.

10. After discussing the first topic, we will ______ to the next one.

Exercise 4: Correct the mistakes

Each sentence contains an error involving a phrasal verb. Rewrite each sentence correctly.

1. She looks her younger brother after.

2. Please turn off it.

3. I gave to up smoking last year.

4. We put the meeting offed until Friday.

5. He is looking forward to see his parents.

6. The car broke up down on the highway.

7. I will pick up you after school.

8. They called the match out because of the rain.

9. She takes her mother after.

10. We have run out from water.

Exercise 5: Choose the correct meaning

Choose the meaning of the bold phrasal verb in each sentence.

1. The plane will take off at 8 p.m.

• A. Remove clothing

• B. Leave the ground

• C. Return home

2. She turned down the invitation.

• A. Accepted it

• B. Rejected it

• C. Forgot it

3. I came across an old photograph.

• A. Found it unexpectedly

• B. Destroyed it

• C. Purchased it

4. The business took off after the new advertisement.

• A. Closed permanently

• B. Became successful quickly

• C. Changed its location

5. He broke down when he heard the sad news.

• A. Repaired something

• B. Became emotionally overwhelmed

• C. Left the building

6. The meeting turned out better than expected.

• A. Developed or happened

• B. Was cancelled

• C. Was postponed

7. The students look up to their teacher.

• A. Admire and respect

• B. Disagree with

• C. Avoid

8. We need to cut down on unnecessary expenses.

• A. Increase

• B. Reduce

• C. Ignore

9. I cannot make out what the speaker is saying.

• A. Understand or recognize

• B. Repeat loudly

• C. Write down

10. The company will take on more workers.

• A. Dismiss

• B. Employ or accept

• C. Train informally

Exercise 6: Complete the conversation

Use suitable phrasal verbs to complete the dialogue.

Phrasal verbs: find out, get up, look after, call back, hurry up, sit down, put off, go out.

Conversation

Mother: What time do you usually ______ on school days?

Daughter: I usually ______ at 6 a.m.

Mother: Who will ______ your younger brother while I am away?

Daughter: My aunt will ______ him.

Mother: Please ______. Breakfast is ready.

Daughter: I am coming. I need to ______ because I am already late.

Mother: Did the school ______ the meeting?

Daughter: I will ______ and confirm the new date.

Exercise 7: Write your own sentences

Write one original sentence for each of the following phrasal verbs.

1. Give up.

2. Find out.

3. Look after.

4. Carry on.

5. Turn down.

6. Put off.

7. Come up with.

8. Get along with.

9. Run out of.

10. Look forward to.

Exercise 8: Identify the phrasal verbs

Read the passage and identify ten phrasal verbs.

“Yesterday, I woke up early because I had to set off for the airport. My brother picked me up at 6 a.m. Before leaving home, I put away my clothes and turned off the lights. At the airport, I checked in and waited for my flight. The plane took off at 8:30 a.m. During the journey, I came across an interesting article and wrote down a few important ideas. When I arrived, my cousin came to pick me up.”

Write down ten phrasal verbs from the passage and explain their meanings.

Exercise 9: Complete the sentences with the correct form

Use the phrasal verb in brackets in the correct tense or form.

1. Yesterday, I ______ at 5:30 a.m. (wake up)

2. She has ______ smoking. (give up)

3. They are ______ a new office. (set up)

4. We ______ the meeting until Monday last week. (put off)

5. He ______ his grandmother every weekend. (look after)

6. The plane ______ before we reached the airport. (take off)

7. I am ______ seeing you again. (look forward to)

8. The students ______ their assignments yesterday. (hand in)

9. The company has ______ twenty new workers. (take on)

10. She ______ an old friend while shopping. (run into)

Exercise 10: Translate the meaning into a sentence

Write a complete English sentence using the phrasal verb that matches each meaning.

1. Stop sleeping.

2. Take care of a child.

3. Discover information.

4. Postpone an appointment.

5. Continue working.

6. Reject an offer.

7. Collect someone from a location.

8. Have no more food or supplies.

9. Suggest a new idea.

10. Tolerate an unpleasant situation.

11. Answer Key

Answers to Exercise 1

1. A. Wake up.

2. B. Turn down.

3. A. Call off.

4. B. Run out of.

5. A. Look after.

6. A. Hand in.

7. A. Work out.

8. A. Set off.

9. A. Came up with.

10. A. Looking forward to.

Answers to Exercise 2

1. C. Stop trying.

2. A. Discover information.

3. B. Postpone something.

4. E. Collect someone or lift something.

5. D. Take care of someone.

6. F. Return a telephone call.

7. G. Stop functioning.

8. H. Become happier.

9. I. Reject an offer.

10. J. Establish or arrange something.

Answers to Exercise 3

1. Put away.

2. Look into.

3. Save up.

4. Get over.

5. Write down.

6. Carry on.

7. Came across.

8. Take off.

9. Calm down.

10. Move on.

Answers to Exercise 4

1. She looks after her younger brother.

2. Please turn it off.

3. I gave up smoking last year.

4. We put off the meeting until Friday.

5. He is looking forward to seeing his parents.

6. The car broke down on the highway.

7. I will pick you up after school.

8. They called off the match because of the rain.

9. She takes after her mother.

10. We have run out of water.

Answers to Exercise 5

1. B. Leave the ground.

2. B. Rejected it.

3. A. Found it unexpectedly.

4. B. Became successful quickly.

5. B. Became emotionally overwhelmed.

6. A. Developed or happened.

7. A. Admire and respect.

8. B. Reduce.

9. A. Understand or recognize.

10. B. Employ or accept.

Answers to Exercise 6

1. Get up.

2. Hurry up.

3. Look after.

4. Look after.

5. Sit down.

6. Hurry up.

7. Put off.

8. Find out or call back.

Note: The conversation is designed to practise the listed expressions. Some answers can vary depending on the intended meaning.

Answers to Exercise 7

Answers will vary. Possible examples include:

1. I will never give up learning English.

2. I need to find out the examination date.

3. My aunt looks after my younger cousins.

4. Please carry on with your work.

5. She turned down the invitation.

6. We put off the meeting until Friday.

7. The team came up with a useful solution.

8. I get along with my colleagues.

9. We have run out of drinking water.

10. I look forward to seeing my friends.

Answers to Exercise 8

Possible answers include:

1. Woke up: Stopped sleeping.

2. Set off: Began a journey.

3. Picked me up: Collected me.

4. Put away: Placed something in its proper storage place.

5. Turned off: Switched off the lights.

6. Checked in: Registered for the flight.

7. Took off: The plane left the ground.

8. Came across: Found something unexpectedly.

9. Wrote down: Recorded information.

10. Came to pick me up: Arrived to collect me.

Answers to Exercise 9

1. Woke up.

2. Given up.

3. Setting up.

4. Put off.

5. Looks after.

6. Had taken off or took off, depending on the intended time reference.

7. Looking forward to.

8. Handed in.

9. Taken on.

10. Ran into.

Answers to Exercise 10

Possible answers:

1. I wake up at 6 a.m. every day.

2. My mother looks after my younger brother.

3. I want to find out the truth.

4. We need to put off the appointment.

5. Please carry on working.

6. She turned down the offer.

7. I will pick you up at the station.

8. We have run out of food.

9. He came up with a new idea.

10. I cannot put up with this noise.

12. Frequently Asked Questions About Phrasal Verbs

12.1 What is a phrasal verb in English?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles that work together to create a meaning. Examples include wake up, give up, look after and find out.

12.2 How many phrasal verbs are there in English?

There is no single agreed number. English contains a large and constantly developing collection of phrasal verbs. Some are very common, while others are limited to particular contexts, regions or subject areas.

Learners do not need to memorize every phrasal verb. It is more useful to master frequently used expressions and gradually expand their vocabulary.

12.3 What are the most common English phrasal verbs?

Some particularly useful expressions include:

• Get up.

• Wake up.

• Give up.

• Find out.

• Look after.

• Turn on.

• Turn off.

• Pick up.

• Put off.

• Carry on.

• Come back.

• Go out.

• Set up.

• Run out of.

• Look forward to.

These expressions are useful in everyday communication.

12.4 Are phrasal verbs formal or informal?

Phrasal verbs can be formal, informal or neutral, depending on the expression and context.

For example, carry out an investigation is common in professional writing. Hang out is more informal and usually refers to spending time socially.

Learners should understand the tone of an expression before using it in formal communication.

12.5 What is the difference between a phrasal verb and an idiom?

A phrasal verb is a grammatical combination of a verb and a particle, while an idiom is an expression whose meaning is not always predictable from its individual words.

Some phrasal verbs are idiomatic, but not every idiom is a phrasal verb.

For example:

• Give up is a phrasal verb meaning to stop trying.

• A piece of cake is an idiom meaning something very easy.

12.6 Can one phrasal verb have different meanings?

Yes. Some phrasal verbs have several meanings.

For example, pick up can mean to collect someone, lift something, learn something informally or improve.

The context determines the intended meaning.

12.7 How do I know whether a phrasal verb is separable?

You need to learn the grammatical pattern of each expression.

For example:

• Turn off the light.

• Turn the light off.

• Turn it off.

However:

• Look after the child.

• Look after him.

You cannot say look the child after or look him after in standard English.

A good dictionary will often indicate whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.

12.8 Do phrasal verbs change in the past tense?

Yes. The main verb changes according to tense, while the particle usually remains the same.

Examples:

• Wake up: woke up.

• Give up: gave up.

• Find out: found out.

• Break down: broke down.

• Take off: took off.

Some phrasal verbs use regular past-tense forms:

• Look after: looked after.

• Turn off: turned off.

• Call back: called back.

12.9 Should beginners learn phrasal verbs?

Yes. Beginners should start with common expressions used in daily activities, such as wake up, get up, sit down, come in, go out and turn off.

Learning these expressions early helps learners understand ordinary conversations.

12.10 How can I remember phrasal verbs more easily?

Learn them in groups, study example sentences, create your own sentences, practise conversations and review them regularly.

It is better to learn five expressions properly and use them correctly than to memorize fifty without understanding their grammatical patterns.

12.11 Can I use phrasal verbs in academic writing?

Yes, where appropriate. Expressions such as carry out, bring about, set up and look into are widely used in academic and professional writing.

However, more formal alternatives may be preferable in some contexts. Always consider the tone and purpose of your writing.

12.12 Why are phrasal verbs difficult for English learners?

They can be difficult because the meaning of the complete expression is not always predictable from the individual words. Some also have several meanings or require particular grammatical structures.

Regular practice with examples helps learners understand these expressions.

Conclusion

Phrasal verbs are an important part of English vocabulary. They help speakers communicate naturally, express ideas in different ways and understand everyday conversations. Expressions such as wake up, give up, look after, find out, put off and come up with appear frequently in spoken and written English.

However, learning phrasal verbs involves more than memorizing their meanings. Learners must also understand how they are used in sentences, whether they are separable or inseparable, which objects they require and how their forms change with different tenses.

The 100 examples in this article provide a useful foundation for developing this knowledge. Study them gradually, pay attention to their meanings and practise using them in original sentences. Do not worry if you cannot remember every expression immediately. Repeated exposure and active use will make them easier to recognize and apply.

A practical approach is to learn five to ten phrasal verbs each day, review previously learned expressions and use new ones in conversations or short paragraphs. Reading, listening and speaking regularly will also help you recognize phrasal verbs in natural communication.

Most importantly, learn expressions in context. A phrasal verb may have more than one meaning, and the surrounding words often determine how it should be understood. With consistent practice, you can build a stronger vocabulary, improve your English comprehension and communicate with greater confidence.