Phrasal Verbs
Master English fluency by learning phrasal verbs, the essential combinations of verbs and particles that native speakers use every day.
⏰ When do we use Phrasal Verbs
A phrasal verb is a simple verb + a small word (like up, on, off, out). Together, they create a new meaning.
We use them in a few key ways:
To talk about actions on things or people (Verbs with an object)
Some phrasal verbs need a “who” or a “what” to be complete.
- You can’t just say, “I will pick up.” You need to say what: “I will pick up the pizza.”
- She turned off the lights.
- Please fill out this form.
To talk about actions by themselves (Verbs without an object)
These phrasal verbs make sense on their own. They don’t need anything after them.
- The plane took off. (This is a complete idea.)
- He woke up late.
- Please sit down.
To sound more natural
Native speakers use phrasal verbs all the time in conversation.
- “Can you find out what time the movie starts?” is more common than “Can you discover…”
- “They called off the party” is more common than “They cancelled…”
For special, “surprise” meanings
Often, the meaning of a phrasal verb is completely different from the original verb. You learn these like new vocabulary words.
- run out of milk = You have no milk left. (You are not running anywhere!)
- look up to someone = To admire or respect them. (You are not looking up at the ceiling!)
📌 Structure
There are two main types of phrasal verbs when you use them with an object.
Type 1: Verbs You Can Separate For these verbs, the object (the “what” or “who”) can go after the phrasal verb OR in the middle. Both are correct!
- You can say: “Please turn off the music.”
- OR: “Please turn the music off.”
Very Important Rule: If the object is a pronoun (it, them, me, him, her, us), it MUST go in the middle.
- Correct: “Please turn it off.”
- Incorrect: “Please
turn off it.”
Type 2: Verbs That Must Stay Together For these verbs, the verb and the small word must always stay together. The object always comes after.
- You must say: “Can you look after my cat?”
- Incorrect: “Can you
look my cat after?”
You don’t need to memorize which is which! You will learn the patterns naturally as you read and listen to English.
💬 Examples
✅ Verbs You Can Separate
- Put on your coat / Put your coat on
- Throw away the paper / Throw the paper away
- Pick up your toys / Pick your toys up
❌ Negative Examples
- I am looking for my keys. ➡ NOT: I am
looking my keys for. - She ran into her friend at the mall. ➡ NOT: She
ran her friend into. - Let’s get on the bus. ➡ NOT: Let’s
get the bus on.
🔄 Verbs Without an Object
- My car broke down.
- They broke up last year.
- We have to wake up early.
Ready to Sound More Natural and Fluent in English?
Mastering phrasal verbs (e.g., “look up,” “take off,” “put out”) is a fantastic step to understanding everyday English conversations and sounding more like a native speaker. They are incredibly common and versatile!
Do you want to practice the meanings and uses of common phrasal verbs and integrate them into your speech? My online English classes offer fun, interactive ways to master phrasal verbs and all other essential vocabulary. You’ll get plenty of chances to speak and build your confidence.
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