1. Phrasal Verbs
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The following is a mini-tutorial on PHRASAL VERBS. Once you have completed the tutorial, you are
ready to do the practice exercises.
PHRASAL VERBS are verbs which are followed by particles (adverbs or prepositions). For example, look
up:
Look up any words you don’t understand in the dictionary
While look up can have a literal meaning, as in Look up! There’s a bird in the sky, in this sentence, it
means to find information. This ability to have a literal meaning in some cases and a special meaning (as
in the sentence above) is what makes phrasal verbs so difficult.
There are four different types of phrasal verbs. There are phrasal verbs with two particles. For example:
I’ll get round to that project when I have time
I don’t know why you put up with her rude behaviour
We look forward to seeing you next week
There are phrasal verbs with one particle. This particle is followed by an object and the particle is
inseparable. For example:
I asked after John’s mother
(You CAN’T SAY I asked John’s mother after. Asked and after must go together followed by the object; in
this case, John’s mother)
She came into a small fortune when her grandfather died
(You CAN’T SAY She came a small fortune into when her grandfather died. Came and into must go
together followed by the object; in this case, a small fortune)
We ran into Mary when we were in town
(You CAN’T SAY We ran Mary into when we were in town. Ran and into must go together followed by
the object; in this case, Mary)
There are phrasal verbs with one particle. This particle is followed by an object and the particle can be
separated from the verb. Note that when a pronoun is used, it must go between the verb and the
particle. For example:
They give away a lot of money to charity
They give a lot of money away to charity
They give it away to charity
Our company is taking over XYZ Enterprises
Our company is taking XYZ Enterprises over
Our company is taking it over
He turned down the job offer
He turned the job offer down
He turned it down
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2. Phrasal Verbs
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There are phrasal verbs with one particle and no object. For example:
My car broke down on the way to work
My sister and I have fallen out again
His new novel is coming out in January
Here is a list of phrasal verbs which you will see in the practice exercise, along with the meaning as it is
used in the exercise sentences. It should be noted that in those cases where a second meaning is
possible, the structure of the verb may change. For example, when we use fill in to mean complete by
writing, the verb and the particle can be separated:
I filled in the form
I filled the form in
However, when we use fill in to mean to take someone’s place, the verb and the particle cannot be
separated:
My teacher was ill and Mr Jones filled in
There is an asterisk next to the verbs where a change in structure is possible if there is a change in
meaning.
Phrasal verbs with one particle followed by an inseparable object:
ASK AFTER ask for news of
CALL FOR go to someone’s house and collect them
CALL ON visit for a short time
COME ACROSS find by chance
COME INTO inherit
COUNT ON depend on
DEAL WITH take action to solve a problem
DO WITHOUT manage without having
GET AT suggest
GET OVER recover from
GO OVER review
JOIN IN take part in
LIVE ON have as income
LOOK INTO investigate
LOOK ROUND look at everything
MAKE FOR go in the direction of
PICK ON choose a person to punish
RUN INTO meet by chance
SEE ABOUT make arrangements
SEE TO take care of
STAND FOR tolerate
STAND FOR be a candidate for
TAKE AFTER have the same characteristics as
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3. Phrasal Verbs
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Phrasal verbs with one particle followed by an object. The particle can be separated from the verb:
BRING UP to care for a child until adulthood
CARRY OUT act upon
CALL OFF cancel
CLEAR UP* make tidy, improve
FILL IN* complete by writing, take someone’s place
FIND OUT discover
GIVE AWAY make a gift of, tell something
GIVE UP* stop doing something, stop trying to do
something
HOLD UP rob
KNOCK OUT make unconscious
LEAVE OUT omit
LOOK UP* find information, appear better
MAKE UP* invent, become friends again
PICK UP collect
PUT ASIDE save
PUT OFF postpone
PUT OFF make someone not want to do something
PUT UP provide accommodation
SHOW AROUND give a guided tour
TAKE OVER* buy a company, take someone’s place
TAKE UP start a hobby
TEAR UP tear into pieces
THINK OVER consider
TRY OUT use for the first time
TURN DOWN refuse
WEAR OUT make tired
WORK OUT find a solution
Phrasal verbs with one particle and no object:
BREAK DOWN stop working
BREAK OUT begin suddenly
COME OUT be published
DRAW UP* come to a stop (vehicle),
write a legal document
FALL OUT argue
GET AWAY escape
GIVE IN stop fighting against
GO OFF explode
LOOK OUT be careful
SET IN arrive and stay
SHOW OFF behave to attract attention
TAKE OFF leave the ground
TURN UP* arrive, in some cases, unexpectedly,
increase
WEAR OFF become less strong or disappear
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4. Phrasal Verbs
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Phrasal verbs with two particles:
CUT DOWN ON* reduce the amount of
CATCH UP WITH* reach the same place as
COME UP AGAINST meet, find
COME UP WITH think of
DROP IN ON* visit unexpectedly for a short time
FACE UP TO accept, deal with
FEEL UP TO have the strength and energy to do
GET AWAY WITH do something bad and not be punished
GET ON WITH continue doing something
GET ALONG /ON WITH* have good relations with
GET OUT OF avoid a responsibility
GET ROUND TO find time to do
GET UP TO do something bad
GO IN FOR enjoy as a hobby
GROW OUT OF become too old or too big for
KEEP UP WITH* stay in the same place as
LOOK DOWN ON feel superior to
LOOK FORWARD TO think you will enjoy
LOOK UP TO respect
MAKE UP FOR compensate for
PUT UP WITH tolerate
RUN OUT OF* have no more of
STAND UP FOR defend
You are now ready to put into practice what you have learned in this tutorial. Go directly to the practice
exercises.
