Is it take on or take after?
Is it run into or run over?
Is it call off or put off?
Do you find yourself hesitating which preposition or verb to use to make common phrasal verbs? If so this is the blog for you.
Phrasal verbs can be the most difficult part of learning English for non-native speakers. They are so challenging as changing the preposition can change the meaning of the phrasal verb completely. They also have multiple meanings and which one to use depends on the context. Plus they often can’t be translated literally into other languages.
What is a phrasal verb?
An idiomatic phrase that consists of a verb + a particle (normally a preposition). The particle changes the meaning of the verb.
There are two types of phrasal verbs:
Separable and non-separable.
Separable phrasal verbs mean the verb and the particle can be separated.
Non-separable phrasal verbs mean the verb and the particle must stay together.
Why are phrasal verbs important?
A native speaker will almost always use the phrasal verb over the traditional latin verb. Therefore, if you want to sound like a native speaker, you need to learn and use phrasal verbs.
Here are my top 15 most common and useful phrasal verbs:
- Take after – To resemble someone, usually a family member.
- She takes after her mother.
- She takes after her mother.
- Run into – To meet someone unexpectedly.
- I ran into an old friend at the store.
- I ran into an old friend at the store.
- Break up – To end a relationship or to disperse.
- They broke up last month.
- The crowd broke up after the concert.
- Look forward to – To feel excited about something happening in the future.
- I’m really looking forward to the weekend.
- I’m really looking forward to the weekend.
- Get across – To successfully communicate an idea or message.
- He had trouble getting his point across in the meeting.
- He had trouble getting his point across in the meeting.
- Call off – To cancel something.
- The event was called off because of the rain.
- The event was called off because of the rain.
- Bring up – To mention or introduce a topic.
- She brought up an interesting point during the discussion.
- She brought up an interesting point during the discussion.
- Come up with – To think of or create something, like an idea or solution.
- He came up with a great plan for the project.
- He came up with a great plan for the project.
- Turn down – To refuse or reject something.
- She turned down the job offer.
- She turned down the job offer.
- Put off – To delay or postpone something.
- We had to put off the meeting until next week.
- We had to put off the meeting until next week.
- Pick up – To gather or collect something, or to improve.
- I need to pick up my dry cleaning.
- His English has really picked up.
- Look up to – To admire or respect someone.
- He has always looked up to his older brother.
- He has always looked up to his older brother.
- Set up – To arrange or organize something.
- She set up the meeting for tomorrow.
- She set up the meeting for tomorrow.
- Give up – To quit or stop doing something.
- Don’t give up on your dreams.
- Don’t give up on your dreams.
- Hang out – To spend time relaxing or socializing.
- I love hanging out with my friends on weekends.
These phrasal verbs are tough because they don’t always have a clear, straightforward translation or they can change meaning depending on how they are used in a sentence. The key is practice and exposure to different contexts!
If you would like to check the pronunciation of these phrasal verbs, be sure to check out my Ask Us Anything live videos on this topic. There are three videos to watch.
Ready to finally figure out phrasal verbs? Figure Out Phrasal Verbs is one of our most popular courses in the Intrepid English Academy. All Intrepid English Memberships include full access to our extensive library of online courses. Study online at a time and place that suits you.