Verbos Frasales en Inglés: Palabras pequeñas, grandes significados (get up, turn on)
natural, como el de un native speaker en el everyday English.
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
cancelar, usamos el verbo cancelar. Pero en inglés, aunque existe cancel, lo más natural es escuchar call off. Los *phrasal verbs* son combinaciones de un verbo base (como get, go, put o take) y una pequeña palabra llamada partícula (una preposición o un adverbio, como up, off, in o out).get significa conseguir, pero get up significa levantarse. No tiene mucha lógica literal, ¿verdad? Es como si el verbo y la partícula hicieran clic para formar un concepto nuevo.discover, continue, postpone), pero las reserva para contextos muy formales.My car broke down.(Mi coche se averió). No hay un objeto después debroke down.I wake up at 7 AM.(Me despierto a las 7 AM). La acción de despertar no afecta a otra cosa.
I'm looking for... (Estoy buscando...), tu interlocutor se quedará esperando a que digas *qué* estás buscando.- Separables: En muchos casos, puedes poner el objeto al final o en medio del verbo y la partícula.
Turn off the light.(Correcto)Turn the light off.(Correcto)- La Regla del Pronombre (¡Ojo aquí!): Esta es la regla más importante. Si el objeto es un pronombre (
it,them,me,you,him,her,us), obligatoriamente debe ir en medio. Turn it off.(Correcto)Turn off it.(Incorrecto - Suena muy mal para un nativo)
- Inseparables: Hay otros verbos donde, por caprichos del idioma, el verbo y la partícula nunca se pueden separar, incluso si hay un objeto.
I am looking for my keys.(Correcto)I am looking my keys for.(Incorrecto)
Put | on | Put on | Ponerse (ropa) | Put on your coat, it's cold. |Take | off | Take off | Quitarse / Despegar | The plane takes off at noon. |Give | up | Give up | Rendirse / Dejar de | Don't give up on your dreams. |Turn | down | Turn down | Rechazar / Bajar volumen | She turned down the job offer. |Bring | up | Bring up | Mencionar un tema | Don't bring up politics at dinner. |Look | after | Look after | Cuidar de | Can you look after my cat? |Run | into | Run into | Encontrarse con alguien | I ran into Maria at the mall. |Get | over | Get over | Superar algo | He finally got over his ex. |Believe | in | Believe in | Creer en | Do you believe in ghosts? |jefes finales de los *phrasal verbs*. Son siempre transitivos e inseparables. El objeto siempre va al final de las tres palabras.Look + forward + to | Look forward to | Tener ganas de / Anhelar | I look forward to meeting you. |Put + up + with | Put up with | Aguantar / Tolerar | I can't put up with this noise. |Get + along + with | Get along with | Llevarse bien con | Do you get along with your boss? |Run + out + of | Run out of | Quedarse sin algo | We've run out of coffee. |Cut + down + on | Cut down on | Reducir el consumo de | I need to cut down on sugar. |extinguish en lugar de put out para apagar un cigarrillo sonaría como si estuvieras leyendo un informe policial en medio de una fiesta.Hang out(Pasar el rato) vs.Socialize.Check out(Mirar/Echar un ojo) vs.Examine.Find out(Enterarse/Descubrir) vs.Discover.
Let's set up a meeting.(Vamos a organizar una reunión).Can you look into this issue?(¿Puedes investigar este problema?).We need to fill out these forms.(Necesitamos rellenar estos formularios).
Log in/Log out(Iniciar/Cerrar sesión).Set up(Configurar).Back up(Hacer copia de seguridad).Scroll up/Scroll down(Subir/Bajar en la pantalla).
postpone en lugar de put off).Apágalo o Apaga eso. Como el objeto va al final, tendemos a decir Turn off it.- Incorrecto:
I like this song, turn up it! - Correcto:
I like this song, turn it up!
interrumpiendo la estructura del verbo de esta manera.- Incorrecto:
I'm looking my keys.(Significa: Estoy mirando mis llaves, como si las estuvieras observando). - Correcto:
I'm looking for my keys.(Significa: Estoy buscando mis llaves).
palabrita extra.entrar EN o depender DE, intentamos forzar esas preposiciones en inglés.- Incorrecto:
I entered to the room. - Correcto:
I entered the room.oI went into the room. - Incorrecto:
It depends of the weather. - Correcto:
It depends on the weather.
Look at the map | Verbo + Preposición | Mirar el mapa | Sí, look es mirar y at indica dirección. |Look for the map | Phrasal Verb | Buscar el mapa | No, la combinación crea el concepto de búsqueda. |Go up the stairs | Verbo + Preposición | Subir las escaleras | Sí, go es ir y up es hacia arriba. |Go up (precios) | Phrasal Verb | Aumentar | Es figurado, los precios no caminan hacia arriba. |Go on | Continue | Continuar |Call off | Cancel | Cancelar |Put off | Postpone | Posponer |Blow up | Explode | Explotar |Get together | Assemble / Meet | Reunirse |get up o go out que memorizar una lista alfabética de 100 verbos que nunca usarás.- Presente:
She takes off her coat. - Pasado:
She took off her coat. - Futuro:
She will take off her coat. - Gerundio:
She is taking off her coat.
take off puede significar quitarse la ropa, despegar un avión o tener un éxito repentino en los negocios. La clave siempre está en el contexto de la frase. Si hablas de zapatos, es quitarse; si hablas de una empresa, es tener éxito.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
| Verbo Frasal | Significado | Ejemplo (¿Separable?) | Tipo |
|---|---|---|---|
|
get up
|
Rise from bed
|
I `get up` early. (Inseparable)
|
Intransitive
|
|
turn on
|
Activate (device)
|
Please `turn on` the TV. (Separable)
|
Transitive
|
|
look for
|
Search for
|
She's `looking for` her keys. (Inseparable)
|
Transitive
|
|
give up
|
Stop trying / surrender
|
Don't `give up`! (Separable, sometimes intransitive)
|
Transitive/Intransitive
|
|
take off
|
Remove (clothing) / depart (plane)
|
He `took off` his jacket. (Separable)
|
Transitive/Intransitive
|
|
call off
|
Cancel
|
They `called off` the meeting. (Separable)
|
Transitive
|
|
put off
|
Postpone
|
Don't `put off` your homework. (Separable)
|
Transitive
|
|
break down
|
Stop working (machine) / lose control emotionally
|
My car `broke down`. (Intransitive)
|
Intransitive
|
Espectro de formalidad
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)
El Mundo de los Verbos Frasales
Ejemplos
- `get up` Levantarse de la cama
- `turn on` Activar
- `look for` Buscar
Tipos
- Separables El objeto puede ir entre el verbo y la partícula
- Inseparables El objeto debe ir después de la partícula
- Intransitivos Sin objeto
Roles de la Partícula
- Preposición e.g., `for`, `on`, `at`
- Adverbio e.g., `up`, `off`, `out`
Idea Clave
- Idiomático El significado no es predecible por sus partes
- Contexto Crucial para la comprensión
Verbos Frasales Separables vs. Inseparables
¿Es un Verbo Frasal Separable?
¿El verbo + partícula crea un nuevo significado idiomático?
¿El verbo frasal lleva un objeto?
¿El objeto es un pronombre (e.g., `it`, `them`)?
Verbos Frasales en la Vida Moderna
Tecnología y Digital
- • `turn on` the computer
- • `log in` to an account
- • `back up` your files
- • `scroll down`
Socializar
- • `hang out` with friends
- • `catch up` on news
- • `chill out`
- • `meet up`
Tareas Diarias
- • `get up` in the morning
- • `fill out` a form
- • `put away` clothes
- • `take out` the trash
Estudio y Trabajo
- • `look up` a word
- • `work out` a solution
- • `hand in` an assignment
- • `go over` notes
Ejemplos por nivel
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.
Fácil de confundir
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.
Errores comunes
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.
Patrones de oraciones
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.
Aprende con Contexto
pick up (entender) sus matices de forma natural. "You'll pick up English faster if you practice daily."¡Alerta con el Pronombre!
it, them), *siempre* debe ir entre el verbo y la partícula. Por ejemplo, turn it on, *nunca* turn on it. I need tohand inmy homework, so I willhand it intomorrow.
Crea Ayudas Visuales
stick out (destaquen) y sean más fáciles de recordar, especialmente para get up (levantarse) o turn off (apagar). This picture helps me remember to get up early.Abraza lo Casual
try them out (probarlos)! "Let's try out this new coffee shop."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.
Pronunciación
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.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
The 'Pronoun Sandwich': The pronoun is the meat, and the verb and particle are the bread. The meat always goes in the middle!
Asociación visual
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
Desafío
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').
Notas culturales
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).
Inicios de conversación
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?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
Can you please `turn ___` the lights when you leave?
turn off significa cambiar algo (como luces o un dispositivo) a un estado inoperativo. ¡Lo tienes!Find and fix the mistake:
I can't `look my keys for` anywhere.
Look for es un verbo frasal inseparable. El objeto 'my keys' debe ir después de todo el verbo frasal. ¡Ojo avizor!Choose the correct sentence:
Give up se usa típicamente como un verbo frasal inseparable con un gerundio (como 'smoking') o un sustantivo que se refiere a un hábito o actividad. Aunque 'give it up' es correcto con un pronombre, 'give smoking up' es menos común que 'give up smoking'. ¡Perfecto!Translate into English: 'Ella se levantó temprano para ir a trabajar.'
Answer starts with: ["S...
Get up significa levantarse de la cama. El pasado de get es got. ¡Bien hecho!Score: /4
Ejercicios de practica
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
Preguntas frecuentes (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
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