Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs combine a verb with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) to create a new meaning. They are extremely common in spoken and informal English.
What are phrasal verbs?
A phrasal verb is a verb + particle (adverb or preposition) that together express a meaning different from the original verb. The combined meaning is often idiomatic.
give up = quit, stop trying (not literally give something upward)
look after = take care of (not literally look in a direction)
break down = stop working / become emotionally distressed
come across = find something unexpectedly
Common phrasal verbs by meaning
| Category | Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting / stopping | set off, give up, break off, carry on | begin a journey / quit / end / continue | We set off at dawn. |
| Relationships | fall out, make up, get on, break up | argue / reconcile / have a good relationship / end a relationship | They fell out over money. |
| Problems | break down, run out, use up, come up | stop working / have none left / exhaust / arise | The car broke down. |
| Understanding | work out, figure out, come across, look into | calculate / understand / find / investigate | She worked out the answer. |
Separable and inseparable phrasal verbs
Some phrasal verbs are separable — the object can go between the verb and the particle. Others are inseparable — the object must come after the complete phrasal verb.
Separable: She turned off the light. / She turned the light off. ✓
Separable (pronoun): She turned it off. ✓ / She turned off it. ✗
Inseparable: He looked after the children. ✓ / He looked the children after. ✗
Pronoun rule: With separable phrasal verbs, if the object is a pronoun, it must always go between the verb and particle: turn it off, pick it up, put it down.
Tip: Learn phrasal verbs in context — in sentences, not just as word pairs. Note whether each one is separable or inseparable, and practise with pronouns.