Phrasal Verbs

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Phrasal verbs can present daunting obstacles to many English learners. Very often, they might have unpredictable meanings, which leads to misinterpretations and communication gaps. So, it’s vital to understand the basics of phrasal verbs. In this article, you will learn what is a phrasal verb, discover some examples, and get tips to avoid common mistakes when using phrasal verbs.

What is a phrasal verb

A phrasal verb is a verb that consists of several words, together forming a new meaning. Usually, verbs are combined with prepositions or adverbs to create new expressions. Their functions are to enrich the language and everyday conversations. Here are some examples:

“to look”+”up” forms “to look up” means “searching for information”;
“to take”+”of” forms “take off,” which literally means “begin to fly” and metaphorically - “rapid start or success of something (project, career, etc.);
“to break”+”down” forms “break down,” which means “to stop functioning.” It’s used in literal meaning regarding machines (My computer broke down) or metaphorical ones regarding some processes (The negotiation broke down after trying to find common ground for 2 hours.)

The special thing about phrasal verbs is that they are used both in spoken and written forms. You may find the phrasal verbs in informal and formal communication. Understanding the phrasal verbs, you will be confident in different contexts.

Types of phrasal verbs

Generally, phrasal verbs are divided into two big categories: separable and non-separable. The former offers flexibility, meaning you can put something between the parts of a phrase without losing the meaning. Non-separable phrasal verbs don’t offer such an opportunity. Understanding the difference is crucial for grammatical accuracy and communication.

Separable phrasal verbs

Usually, the separable phrasal verbs are separated by the object of the verb. In other words, by the thing that the phrasal verb refers to. For example, “to turn off” means to deactivate. Both “turn off the light” and “turn the light off” are correct sayings, although they have different structures.

Here are the golden rules for using separable phrasal verbs in English:

Identification. You should understand whether the phrasal verb is separable. Just try to put the object between the parts of the phrasal verb and check whether it makes sense.
Pronoun Placement. If the verb is separable, and the object is a pronoun (e.g., it, them), it must come between the verb and the particle. You can say "pick it up" but not "pick it up."
Contextual Flexibility. The choice to separate a phrasal verb or keep it intact often depends on the context, emphasis, or stylistic preference. For example, "turn off the light" might be preferred in formal writing, while "turn the light off" could be more common in casual speech.

Here are some common mistakes in using separable phrasal verbs.

Forcing separation. Beginner language learners often tend to separate an inseparable phrasal verb. For example, they try to say “to come it across” when it should be “come across it.” Remember to identify in advance whether the verb is separable.
Skipping the context. In formal writing, it’s safer to keep the verb and particle together after the object (unless the object is a pronoun). This ensures clarity and avoids possible misinterpretations.

Practice using different phrasal verb examples to remember these rules. These constructions might be challenging, but by completing several exercises, you will start using the separable phrasal verbs intuitively.

Non-separable phrasal verbs

The non-phrasal verb meaning is straightforward: it combines a verb and preposition or adverb that function as a single unit. So, you can’t put an object between the parts of such a verb. For example, "to run into" means to meet someone unexpectedly. You can’t “run someone into” because such a structure will significantly change the meaning, creating nonsense. So, the rules for using non-separable phrasal verbs are as follows:

Fixed Structure. The verb and its particle(s) (preposition or adverb) remain together, regardless of the verb's object.
Object Placement. Since the verb and particle cannot be separated, the object (if there is one) always follows the phrasal verb. This rule applies even when the object is a pronoun, as in "look after it."
Interpreting Meaning. The meanings of non-separable phrasal verbs must be learned as a whole. Because these meanings can be idiomatic or figurative, context clues and common usage patterns are invaluable for understanding and application.

There are several strategies to master these rules:

Learn through a context. Don’t rely just on remembering the verb itself. Practice it through reading, listening, and speaking. Try integrating it into different contexts, or ask your tutor to create relevant exercises.
Repeat. Of course, you shouldn’t overuse the verbs. However, try to practice them in your communication when it’s appropriate. This will help you to remember the correct usage.
Engage with proficient learners. Connect with tutors or learners who have reached higher fluency levels and ask for their feedback. This approach will help you understand the non-separable phrasal verbs faster.

By understanding the structure of non-separable phrasal verbs, embracing their idiomatic meanings, and avoiding common errors, you can confidently integrate such expressions into your language.

List of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are a versatile language tool, so there are many combinations of them. Below, you can find some common phrasal verbs examples with their meanings.

Separable Phrasal verbs	Meaning	Example sentence	Non-separable Phrasal verbs	Meaning	Example sentence
turn off	To deactivate	Please turn off the lights before leaving.	come across	To find by chance	I came across an old friend in the city.
pick up	To lift and hold something	Can you pick up the book from the floor?	get along	To have a harmonious relationship	They get along very well.
fill out	To complete (a form, survey)	Remember to fill out your application.	run into	To meet unexpectedly	I ran into your brother at the mall.
break down	To fail to function	My car broke down on the way to work.	look after	To care for	She looks after her younger siblings.
take off	To depart or ascend	The plane takes off at noon.	count on	To rely on	You can count on me.
put away	To tidy up by storing	Put away your toys after playing.	deal with	To handle or confront	He deals with stress very effectively.
throw out	To discard	It's time to throw out the old magazines.	fall apart	To disintegrate or fail	The plan fell apart at the last minute.
bring up	To mention	She brought up an interesting point during the meeting.	get over	To recover from	It took him a while to get over the illness.
call off	To cancel	The game was called off due to rain.	go through	To endure or undergo	She went through a lot last year.
set up	To establish or arrange	They set up a new company.	keep on	To continue doing	Keep on trying until you succeed.
make up	To reconcile or invent	We need to make up after the argument.	look forward to	To anticipate with pleasure	I'm looking forward to the vacation.
look up	To search for information	I'll look up the word in the dictionary.	pass out	To faint	Several students passed out from the heat.
give back	To return something	Please give back the book tomorrow.	put up with	To tolerate	I can't put up with the noise anymore.
take back	To retract or take back	I take back what I said earlier.	run out of	To deplete one's supply of	We're running out of milk.
put on	To dress oneself with	Put on your coat; it's cold outside.	stand for	To represent or mean	What does this acronym stand for?
hold on	To wait or pause	Hold on, I'm on the phone.	turn into	To change into	The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.
throw away	To dispose of	Throw away the expired food.	watch out for	To be cautious of	Watch out for icy roads.
try on	To try clothes for fitting	Try on the dress to see if it fits.	back down	To retreat or yield	He backed down from the challenge.
work out	To exercise or solve	I work out at the gym every day.	break out	To erupt or flare up	A fight broke out at the concert.
run through	To explain or go over quickly	Let's run through the presentation again.	come up with	To devise or think of	We need to come up with a solution.

Keep in mind that this list is non-exhaustive. Enriching your language vocabulary, you will face more expressions that can be useful for everyday communication.

Conclusion

Remember, mastering phrasal verbs is not just about learning the language. It’s about understanding people better and even embracing the cultural contexts. Learn these expressions, practice through phrasal verb exercises, and communicate with confidence in English.