Grammar - Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs – Complete Explanation
1. What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is a combination of:
A verb + one particle (adverb or preposition), or
A verb + two particles
Together, they create a new meaning that is often different from the meaning of the original verb.
Structure
Verb + Adverb
Verb + Preposition
Verb + Adverb + Preposition
Examples
give up = stop trying
look after = take care of
run into = meet unexpectedly
put up with = tolerate
Notice that the meanings cannot always be guessed from the individual words.
2. Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important?
Phrasal verbs are used frequently in:
Everyday conversations
Movies and TV shows
Newspapers
Emails
Business English
Academic English (less frequently than formal verbs)
Knowing phrasal verbs makes your English sound more natural and fluent.
3. Types of Phrasal Verbs
There are three main types:
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
Transitive Phrasal Verbs
Three-word Phrasal Verbs
4. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
These do not take an object.
Structure
Subject + Phrasal Verb
Examples
The plane took off.
Please sit down.
Wake up!
Hurry up!
The meeting broke up.
5. Transitive Phrasal Verbs
These require an object.
Structure
Subject + Phrasal Verb + Object
Examples
She turned off the light.
I picked up the book.
They looked after the baby.
He gave up smoking.
6. Separable Phrasal Verbs
The object can come:
After the phrasal verb, or
Between the verb and the particle.
Examples
Turn off the light.
Turn the light off.
Both are correct.
With Pronouns
The pronoun must go between the verb and the particle.
✔ Turn it off.
❌ Turn off it.
Another example:
✔ Pick them up.
❌ Pick up them.
7. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
The object must come after the entire phrasal verb.
Examples
Look after the baby.
Run into an old friend.
Deal with the problem.
Listen to music.
You cannot separate them.
❌ Look the baby after.
✔ Look after the baby.
8. Three-word Phrasal Verbs
These consist of:
Verb + Adverb + Preposition
Examples
Put up with = tolerate
Get away with = escape punishment
Look forward to = await happily
Come up with = produce an idea
Catch up with = reach the same level as someone
Examples in Sentences
I can't put up with the noise.
We look forward to seeing you.
She came up with a great idea.
9. Common Phrasal Verbs
A. Get
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| get up | rise from bed | I get up at 6 a.m. |
| get on | board / have a good relationship | Get on the bus. |
| get off | leave a bus, train, etc. | We got off at the next stop. |
| get over | recover | She got over her illness. |
| get back | return | He got back yesterday. |
| get through | finish or succeed | She got through the exam. |
| get along | have a good relationship | They get along well. |
B. Look
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| look after | take care of |
| look for | search |
| look at | watch |
| look up | search for information |
| look into | investigate |
| look forward to | await happily |
| look out | be careful |
Examples
Look after your little brother.
I'm looking for my keys.
Look out! A car is coming.
C. Take
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| take off | remove / plane leaves |
| take away | remove |
| take over | assume control |
| take back | return |
| take up | begin a hobby |
| take out | remove |
Examples
The plane took off.
She took off her shoes.
He took up swimming.
D. Put
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| put on | wear |
| put off | postpone |
| put away | store |
| put down | place on a surface |
| put up | build / raise |
| put up with | tolerate |
Examples
Put on your coat.
The meeting was put off.
I can't put up with the noise.
E. Give
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| give up | stop |
| give away | donate |
| give back | return |
| give out | distribute |
| give in | surrender |
Examples
Never give up.
Please give back my book.
F. Come
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come in | enter |
| come out | appear |
| come back | return |
| come across | find by chance |
| come up with | invent an idea |
Examples
Come in, please.
I came across an old photo.
She came up with a good solution.
G. Break
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| break down | stop working |
| break into | enter by force |
| break out | begin suddenly |
| break up | end a relationship or meeting |
Examples
My car broke down.
Fire broke out in the building.
H. Run
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| run into | meet unexpectedly |
| run away | escape |
| run out of | have no more |
| run over | hit with a vehicle |
Examples
I ran into my teacher.
We ran out of milk.
I. Bring
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| bring up | raise a child / mention |
| bring back | return |
| bring about | cause |
Examples
She brought up three children.
His speech brought about change.
J. Call
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| call back | return a phone call |
| call off | cancel |
| call on | visit |
Examples
The match was called off.
I'll call you back.
10. Formal Verbs vs Phrasal Verbs
| Formal Verb | Phrasal Verb |
|---|---|
| continue | carry on |
| tolerate | put up with |
| discover | find out |
| remove | take off |
| postpone | put off |
| return | give back |
| investigate | look into |
| recover | get over |
| cancel | call off |
| invent | come up with |
11. Common Errors
❌ Turn off it.
✅ Turn it off.
❌ Look the baby after.
✅ Look after the baby.
❌ I look forward see you.
✅ I look forward to seeing you.
❌ We ran out milk.
✅ We ran out of milk.
12. Practice
Choose the correct phrasal verb.
1.
Please ______ the lights before leaving.
a) turn on
b) turn off
Answer: turn off
2.
Who ______ your little sister?
a) looks after
b) looks up
Answer: looks after
3.
Don't ______. Keep trying!
a) give up
b) give away
Answer: give up
4.
The meeting was ______ because of heavy rain.
a) called off
b) called back
Answer: called off
5.
I ______ an old friend at the market yesterday.
a) ran into
b) ran away
Answer: ran into
13. Summary Table
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get up | rise from bed |
| look after | take care of |
| look for | search |
| take off | remove / plane leaves |
| put on | wear |
| put off | postpone |
| give up | stop trying |
| come across | find unexpectedly |
| break down | stop working |
| run into | meet unexpectedly |
| call off | cancel |
| bring up | raise a child / mention |
| look forward to | await happily |
| put up with | tolerate |
| come up with | think of an idea |
14. Memory Tips
Verb + Particle = New Meaning
give ≠ give up
look ≠ look after
Learn phrasal verbs as complete expressions, not as separate words.
Remember:
Some are separable (turn the light off / turn it off).
Some are inseparable (look after the baby).
Pronouns go between the verb and the particle in separable phrasal verbs.
15. Easy Definition to Remember
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more particles (an adverb and/or a preposition) that creates a new meaning, often different from the meaning of the original verb.
Formula
Verb + Adverb → wake up
Verb + Preposition → look after
Verb + Adverb + Preposition → put up with
Examples
She gave up smoking. (stopped)
We looked after the children. (took care of)
He came across an old letter. (found by chance)
Mastering phrasal verbs is essential for understanding natural spoken English and for speaking and writing in a more fluent, idiomatic, and native-like way.
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