Englische Phrasal Verbs: Kleine Wörter, große Bedeutungen (get up, turn on)
natürlichem Alltagsenglisch.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a particle to create a brand new meaning that is often idiomatic.
- The meaning is usually different from the individual words (e.g., 'give up' means stop).
- Only the verb part changes for tense (e.g., 'get up' becomes 'got up').
- If the object is a pronoun, it must go in the middle of separable verbs.
Overview
Get heißt 'bekommen', aber get up heißt 'aufstehen'.postpone statt put off). Wenn du im Büro oder beim Feierabendbier in der Kneipe authentisch klingen willst, kommst du an Phrasal Verbs nicht vorbei.- 1Intransitive Phrasal Verbs: Diese brauchen kein Objekt. Sie stehen immer zusammen. Beispiel:
The meeting broke up.(Das Treffen löste sich auf). Hier gibt es kein Objekt, die Handlung endet beim Subjekt.
- 1Transitive Phrasal Verbs: Diese brauchen ein Objekt. Hier wird es für uns Deutsche spannend: Ist das Verb trennbar (
separable) oder nicht (inseparable)?
- Trennbare Verben: Das Objekt kann zwischen Verb und Partikel stehen.
Turn on the lightoderTurn the light on. Aber Achtung: Wenn das Objekt ein Pronomen ist (it,them,him), MUSS es dazwischen stehen.Turn it onist korrekt,Turn on itist ein klassischer Fehler, den wir oft machen, weil wir die Struktur vom Deutschen (wo das Präfix am Satzende klebt) im Kopf haben.
- Untrennbare Verben: Hier darfst du das Verb und die Partikel niemals trennen.
I am looking for my keys.Du kannst nicht sagenI am looking my keys for. Das ist wie bei einem festen Begriff. Viele dieser Verben verhalten sich wie eine Kombination aus Verb + Präposition. Im Deutschen würden wir sagen: 'Ich suche nach meinen Schlüsseln'. Im Englischen ist dasforfest mit demlookverwachsen.
give up | Ja |look at | Nein |put up with | Nein |We need to follow up on this email (Wir müssen bei dieser E-Mail nachhaken). In der Uni: I have to hand in my essay (Ich muss meine Hausarbeit abgeben).Could you pick up some milk? (Kannst du Milch mitbringen?).- 1Das Pronomen-Problem: Viele Deutsche sagen
Pick up itstattPick it up. Der Grund: Wir sind es gewohnt, dass das trennbare Präfix am Ende steht (Ich hebe es auf). Im Englischen muss das Pronomen bei trennbaren Verben immer in die Mitte. - 2Zu formelle Wortwahl: Wir nutzen oft Wörter wie
terminatestattcall offoderpostponestattput off. Das klingt im Englischen oft unnatürlich und übertrieben förmlich. - 3Falsche Trennung bei untrennbaren Verben: Wir versuchen, das Objekt dazwischen zu schieben, weil wir es von unseren trennbaren Verben gewohnt sind. Bei
look after(sich kümmern um) sagen mancheLook your brother after. Das ist ein klassischer Interferenzfehler aus dem Deutschen.
- 1Gibt es eine Regel, wann ein Verb trennbar ist? Leider nein, das ist Vokabelwissen. Aber: Wenn die Partikel eine räumliche Richtung angibt (up, down, off, out), ist es öfter trennbar.
- 2Muss ich alle Phrasal Verbs lernen? Nein, konzentriere dich auf die 50 häufigsten. Das reicht für B1/B2 völlig aus.
- 3Klingt es unhöflich, wenn ich Phrasal Verbs benutze? Nein, ganz im Gegenteil. Es klingt natürlicher. Nur in juristischen Verträgen oder hochwissenschaftlichen Papieren solltest du eher die lateinischen Alternativen wählen.
Conjugating 'Wake up'
| Tense | Subject | Verb Form | Particle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I
|
wake
|
up
|
I wake up at 8.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
She
|
is waking
|
up
|
She is waking up now.
|
|
Past Simple
|
They
|
woke
|
up
|
They woke up late.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
He
|
has woken
|
up
|
He has just woken up.
|
|
Future (will)
|
We
|
will wake
|
up
|
We will wake up early.
|
|
Gerund
|
-
|
waking
|
up
|
Waking up is hard.
|
Pronoun Placement (Separable Verbs)
| Object Type | Structure | Correct Example | Incorrect Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Noun
|
Verb + Object + Particle
|
Turn the light off
|
-
|
|
Noun
|
Verb + Particle + Object
|
Turn off the light
|
-
|
|
Pronoun
|
Verb + Pronoun + Particle
|
Turn it off
|
-
|
|
Pronoun
|
Verb + Particle + Pronoun
|
-
|
Turn off it
|
Meanings
A phrasal verb is a combination of a standard verb and a preposition or adverb (a particle) that functions as a single semantic unit.
Literal Movement
The particle indicates a physical direction or position.
“Please sit down on the chair.”
“He walked out of the room.”
Idiomatic/Figurative
The combination creates a completely new meaning unrelated to the original words.
“Don't give up on your dreams!”
“We ran out of milk this morning.”
Aspectual/Completion
The particle indicates that an action is finished or done thoroughly.
“Eat up your vegetables!”
“Drink up, we have to leave.”
Reference Table
| Phrasal Verb | Bedeutung | Beispiel (Trennbar?) | Typ |
|---|---|---|---|
|
get up
|
Aufstehen (aus dem Bett)
|
I `get up` early. (Untrennbar)
|
Intransitiv
|
|
turn on
|
Einschalten (Gerät)
|
Please `turn on` the TV. (Trennbar)
|
Transitiv
|
|
look for
|
Suchen nach
|
She's `looking for` her keys. (Untrennbar)
|
Transitiv
|
|
give up
|
Aufgeben / Aufhören
|
Don't `give up`! (Trennbar, manchmal intransitiv)
|
Transitiv/Intransitiv
|
|
take off
|
Ausziehen (Kleidung) / Abfliegen (Flugzeug)
|
He `took off` his jacket. (Trennbar)
|
Transitiv/Intransitiv
|
|
call off
|
Absagen
|
They `called off` the meeting. (Trennbar)
|
Transitiv
|
|
put off
|
Aufschieben
|
Don't `put off` your homework. (Trennbar)
|
Transitiv
|
|
break down
|
Kaputtgehen (Maschine) / Emotional zusammenbrechen
|
My car `broke down`. (Intransitiv)
|
Intransitiv
|
Formalitätsspektrum
The committee decided to cancel the scheduled meeting. (Business/Social)
They decided to call off the meeting. (Business/Social)
They've scrapped the meeting. (Business/Social)
The meeting's been binned. (Business/Social)
Die Welt der Phrasal Verbs
Beispiele
- `get up` Aufstehen
- `turn on` Aktivieren
- `look for` Suchen
Typen
- Separable Objekt kann zwischen Verb & Partikel stehen
- Inseparable Objekt muss nach Partikel stehen
- Intransitive Kein Objekt
Partikel-Rollen
- Preposition z.B. `for`, `on`, `at`
- Adverb z.B. `up`, `off`, `out`
Kernidee
- Idiomatic Bedeutung nicht aus Teilen ableitbar
- Context Entscheidend für das Verständnis
Trennbare vs. Untrennbare Phrasal Verbs
Ist es ein trennbares Phrasal Verb?
Erzeugen Verb + Partikel eine neue, idiomatisierte Bedeutung?
Nimmt das Phrasal Verb ein Objekt?
Ist das Objekt ein Pronomen (z.B. `it`, `them`)?
Phrasal Verbs im modernen Leben
Tech & Digital
- • `turn on` the computer
- • `log in` to an account
- • `back up` your files
- • `scroll down`
Sozialisieren
- • `hang out` with friends
- • `catch up` on news
- • `chill out`
- • `meet up`
Alltägliche Aufgaben
- • `get up` in the morning
- • `fill out` a form
- • `put away` clothes
- • `take out` the trash
Lernen & Arbeit
- • `look up` a word
- • `work out` a solution
- • `hand in` an assignment
- • `go over` notes
Beispiele nach Niveau
Please sit down.
Por favor, siéntate.
I get up at 7 AM.
Me levanto a las 7 AM.
Stand up, please.
Levántate, por favor.
Go away!
¡Vete!
Can you turn on the TV?
¿Puedes encender la tele?
I am looking for my keys.
Estoy buscando mis llaves.
Pick up your clothes.
Recoge tu ropa.
He took off his hat.
Él se quitó el sombrero.
I need to look the word up in the dictionary.
Necesito buscar la palabra en el diccionario.
We ran out of coffee.
Nos quedamos sin café.
She gets along with her sister.
Ella se lleva bien con su hermana.
Don't give up now!
¡No te rindas ahora!
The meeting was called off due to the rain.
La reunión fue cancelada debido a la lluvia.
I'll look into the matter and call you back.
Investigaré el asunto y te devolveré la llamada.
He really stands out in a crowd.
Él realmente destaca entre la multitud.
We need to come up with a better plan.
Necesitamos idear un plan mejor.
The company is trying to phase out old technology.
La empresa está intentando retirar gradualmente la tecnología antigua.
I was completely taken aback by his comments.
Me quedé completamente sorprendido por sus comentarios.
You should brush up on your French before the trip.
Deberías repasar tu francés antes del viaje.
The deal fell through at the last minute.
El trato fracasó en el último minuto.
The evidence doesn't quite bear out his theory.
La evidencia no confirma del todo su teoría.
He's always harping on about his glory days.
Él siempre está insistiendo pesadamente sobre sus días de gloria.
We need to iron out the remaining details of the contract.
Necesitamos resolver los detalles restantes del contrato.
The effects of the medication are starting to wear off.
Los efectos de la medicación están empezando a desaparecer.
Leicht verwechselbar
Both start with 'look' but have opposite meanings: searching vs. caring.
One is about lifting/collecting, the other is about choosing.
One is for electronics, the other is for transformation.
Häufige Fehler
I getted up.
I got up.
Sit you down.
Sit down.
I look my keys.
I am looking for my keys.
He standed up.
He stood up.
Turn off it.
Turn it off.
I am looking my cat.
I am looking for my cat.
She is wake uping.
She is waking up.
I'll look the baby after.
I'll look after the baby.
We ran out milk.
We ran out of milk.
I look forward to meet you.
I look forward to meeting you.
The plane took off the ground.
The plane took off.
He brought the issue out.
He brought the issue up.
I'm worn outed.
I'm worn out.
Satzmuster
I usually ___ (verb) up at ___ (time).
Can you please turn ___ (object) ___ (particle)?
I've ___ (verb) out of ___ (noun).
I'm really looking forward to ___ (verb-ing).
Real World Usage
Hey, what are you up to?
I'm looking for a role where I can grow.
What time does the plane take off?
The driver will drop off your food soon.
Check out my new vlog!
Try to log in again after resetting.
Im Kontext lernen
pick up.Achtung, Pronomen-Platzierung!
turn it on, NIE turn on it.Visuelle Hilfen erstellen
stick out lassen und leichter zu merken sein, besonders bei get up oder turn off.Sei locker!
try them out!Smart Tips
Keep the verb and particle together. It is almost always grammatically safe to say 'Turn off the light', but it is risky to say 'Turn the light off' if you aren't sure.
Always put them in the middle if the verb is separable. This is a non-negotiable rule of English rhythm.
Check if it means 'completely'. If someone says 'clean up', they don't mean clean in an upward direction; they mean clean the whole thing.
Scan for phrasal verbs and try to replace them with single-word synonyms to sound more professional.
Aussprache
Stress on the Particle
In phrasal verbs, the stress usually falls on the particle, not the verb.
Linking
If the verb ends in a consonant and the particle begins with a vowel, they link together.
Rising on Particle
Did you wake UP? ↗
Standard yes/no question intonation emphasizing the action.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
The 'Pronoun Sandwich': The pronoun is the meat, and the verb and particle are the bread. The meat always goes in the middle!
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a light switch. When you 'turn it on', you are physically connecting two parts. When you 'turn it off', you are separating them. This helps remember the 'on/off' logic of many phrasal verbs.
Rhyme
If it's a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', Put it in the middle, again and again!
Story
I woke up (1) and put on (2) my shoes. I went out (3) to look for (4) a cafe. I ran out of (5) money, so I had to go back (6) home.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look around your room. Find 5 objects and say a sentence for each using a phrasal verb (e.g., 'I need to put away my laptop').
Kulturelle Hinweise
Americans say 'fill out' a form, while British speakers usually say 'fill in' a form.
The phrasal verb 'faff around' is common in the UK to mean wasting time, but rarely used in the US.
Australians often use 'reckon' in phrasal-like structures or 'give it a go' for trying something.
Phrasal verbs are a core feature of Germanic languages (like Old English, German, and Dutch).
Gesprächseinstiege
What time do you usually get up on weekends?
Have you ever given up a hobby? Why?
Who do you look up to the most in your life?
How do you come up with new ideas for your work or studies?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
Can you please `turn ___` the lights when you leave?
Find and fix the mistake:
I can't `look my keys for` anywhere.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella se levantó temprano para ir a trabajar.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Score: /4
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesWhich of these is correct?
I need to look ___ my lost keys.
Find and fix the mistake:
He is get uping at 6 AM.
Rewrite: 'The meeting was cancelled.'
Give up
Look after (the baby)
A: Where is the milk? B: Sorry, we ___.
In the past tense, you add -ed to the particle (e.g., 'get uped').
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesPlease `fill ___` this form before you enter the building.
I don't know the word. I'll `look it up in` the dictionary.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings:
I need to `___ my homework` before I can `hang out` with friends.
She couldn't `figure out the problem`.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Ella siempre se lleva bien con sus compañeros de trabajo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the phrasal verb with its opposite:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Unfortunately, there is no perfect rule. You must check a dictionary. However, most phrasal verbs with an object are separable, except for three-word ones like `look forward to`.
It's better to avoid them in very formal contexts (like a legal contract). Use single-word verbs like `investigate` instead of `look into`.
`Wake up` means to stop sleeping. `Get up` means to physically leave your bed.
The particle `up` is very productive. It often means 'completely' (eat up) or 'increasing' (speak up).
Technically, it's a prepositional verb. The meaning of `look` doesn't change; `at` just points to the object.
Yes! `Take off` can mean a plane leaving the ground, or removing clothes, or becoming successful suddenly.
Mostly, yes. There are small differences like `fill in` (UK) vs `fill out` (US), but they will understand both.
It's a verb + two particles, like `get along with`. These are always inseparable.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Single verbs (e.g., 'subir' for 'go up')
English uses particles to change meaning; Spanish uses different verb roots.
Single verbs (e.g., 'entrer' for 'go in')
French lacks the 'particle' concept entirely.
Trennbare Verben (Separable Verbs)
Word order rules for the particle differ significantly between the two.
Compound Verbs (V+V)
Japanese uses Verb+Verb; English uses Verb+Particle.
Verb + Prepositional Phrase
English particles create entirely new, non-literal meanings.
Resultative Verb Compounds
Chinese complements are more grammatically rigid than English particles.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Verwandte Videos
Related Grammar Rules
Der Phrasal Verb 'Face up to' (Die Realität akzeptieren)
Overview Bei diesem Phrasal Verb geht es um den mentalen Wechsel von Vermeidung zu Anerkennung. Es bezieht sich speziell...
Zeitliche Präpositionen: in, on, at
Overview Hast du schon mal eine Nachricht geschickt, dass du `in` 17 Uhr ankommst, und ein verwirrtes Emoji zurückbekomm...
Phrasalverb: Take off (Ausziehen & Abfliegen)
### Overview Willkommen, Sprachlerner! Als jemand, der wie du mit Deutsch als Muttersprache aufgewachsen ist, weiß ich...
Warte mal! 'Hold on' verwenden
### Overview Stell dir vor, du bist in einer Videokonferenz mit deinem Team, dein Internet ruckelt plötzlich, und du mu...
Sich schick machen: Formelle Kleidung & Kostüme (Dress up)
### Overview Stell dir vor, du stehst vor deinem Kleiderschrank. Es ist Samstagabend, und du bist zu einer exklusiven G...
