B1 Prepositions 18 min read Medium

Everyday Action Pairs (Phrasal Verbs)

Master phrasal verbs to unlock natural, everyday English conversations and sound truly fluent.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a particle to create a new, specific meaning for daily actions.

  • Combine a common verb with a particle like 'up', 'on', or 'off' (e.g., 'wake up').
  • If the verb has an object pronoun (it, them), put it in the middle (e.g., 'pick it up').
  • The meaning is often idiomatic and different from the base verb alone (e.g., 'give up' vs 'give').
Verb 🏃 + Particle ⬆️ = New Action ✨

Overview

English speakers use word pairs every day. They help you sound natural.

Learning these word pairs helps you speak better English.

People use these in daily talk. They say 'put out' the fire.

Learning these word pairs makes your English sound real.

How This Grammar Works

Sometimes two words make a new meaning. 'Run out' means no more.
The words change meaning when you put them together.
Some need a thing after them. Some do not need one.
Sometimes you can put a word in the middle. Sometimes not.

Formation Pattern

1
There are three main ways to use these word pairs.
2
Group 1: Two words that always stay together.
3
The two words never move. The noun comes after them.
4
look at (meaning to direct one's gaze towards): Please look at the board.
5
listen to (meaning to give attention with your ears): I listen to music every day.
6
Example: 'Rely on'. You can rely on me.
7
Group 2: Two words that can sometimes separate.
8
These are common. They often show direction or a finished action.
9
turn on (separable, transitive - meaning to activate): Turn the TV on. / Turn on the TV. / Turn it on.
10
give up (separable, transitive - meaning to stop trying or surrender): Don't give up your dreams. / Don't give your dreams up. / Don't give it up.
11
Example: 'Wake up'. You do not need a noun.
12
Group 3: Three words that always stay together.
13
These use three words. Do not separate them. The noun comes last.
14
look forward to (meaning to anticipate with pleasure): I look forward to hearing from you.
15
get along with (meaning to have a good relationship with): He gets along with his colleagues.
16
Here is a list to help you:
17
| Type | Parts | Moveable? | Needs a noun? | Examples |
18
| :------------------------- | :----------- | :------------ | :----------- | :------------------------------------------ |
19
| Two words | 2 | No | Yes | look at, listen to |
20
| Two words | 2 | Sometimes | Sometimes | turn on, wake up |
21
| Three words | 3 | No | Yes | get along with |

When To Use It

These words help you sound natural. Use them when you talk.
They are the backbone of casual discourse.
  • Everyday Conversations: In casual chats with friends, family, or colleagues, phrasal verbs are ubiquitous. You might say, Let's hang out this weekend, instead of Let's spend time together. Or, I need to pick up some groceries, rather than I need to acquire some groceries. Their brevity and common usage make conversations flow more naturally.
  • Social Media and Texting: Online communication is generally informal and heavily relies on phrasal verbs. Phrases like I'll catch up later (meaning to meet or communicate later), Can't wait to chill out! (meaning to relax), or I need to figure out this problem (meaning to solve) are commonplace. Using them demonstrates an understanding of modern linguistic conventions.
  • Workplace Communication (Informal/Semi-formal): While highly formal documents might avoid them, many workplace emails and discussions benefit from phrasal verbs. I'll look into that issue (meaning investigate) is more common than I will investigate that issue. Similarly, Let's set up a meeting (meaning arrange) is frequently used. This choice signals an appropriate level of formality and rapport with colleagues.
  • Media Consumption: When watching TV shows, movies, listening to podcasts, or reading blogs, you will encounter phrasal verbs constantly. Understanding them is not merely about speaking; it is fundamental for comprehensive listening and reading. Without this understanding, much of the nuance and specific meaning conveyed in natural speech will be missed.

When Not To Use It

In very formal places, use one word instead. These are casual.
  • Formal Academic Writing: In university essays, research papers, or dissertations, conciseness, precision, and a formal tone are paramount. Here, single-word Latinate verbs are generally preferred over their phrasal verb counterparts. For example, instead of The study brought up several issues, you would write The study raised several issues. Similarly, put off would become postpone, and find out would be discover or ascertain.
  • Official Documents and Legal Texts: Legal contracts, formal reports, policy documents, and official correspondence demand unambiguous language. Phrasal verbs, with their often idiomatic and sometimes multiple meanings, can introduce potential for misinterpretation. Therefore, clear, explicit, single-word verbs are always the safer and more professional choice. For instance, establish is clearer than set up in a legal context, and terminate is preferred over end up.
  • Highly Technical or Scientific Communication: In fields requiring absolute precision and universal understanding, jargon and specific technical terms are used. Phrasal verbs, which can carry cultural or contextual nuances, are typically avoided in favour of internationally recognized technical vocabulary. Clarity is prioritized over idiomatic expression to prevent any ambiguity in conveying complex information.
  • When Ambiguity is Possible: Some phrasal verbs have multiple meanings (e.g., take off can mean to remove clothing, to depart quickly, or for an airplane to ascend). If there is any risk that your audience might misinterpret your meaning in a critical communication, opt for a clearer, single-word alternative. This ensures your message is conveyed exactly as intended, minimizing confusion.

Common Mistakes

These word pairs can be hard. Knowing the rules helps you.
  • Misunderstanding Idiomatic Meaning: The most prevalent error is assuming a phrasal verb's meaning can be deduced from its individual components. For example, break down does not literally mean to break in a down direction; it commonly means to stop functioning (e.g., My car broke down) or to become emotionally distressed (e.g., She broke down in tears). Always learn phrasal verbs as single lexical units with their specific meanings.
  • Incorrect Particle Choice: English has many particles, and selecting the wrong one can drastically alter or negate the intended meaning. Learners might use look for when they mean look after. Look for means to search for something (e.g., I'm looking for my keys), while look after means to take care of someone or something (e.g., Can you look after my dog?). Memorizing the correct particle for each verb is crucial.
  • Errors in Separability: Distinguishing between separable and inseparable phrasal verbs, particularly with pronouns, is a common source of error. When a separable phrasal verb has a pronoun as its object, the pronoun must be placed between the verb and the particle. For example, turn on the television is correct, and turn the television on is also correct. However, turn on it is incorrect; you must say turn it on. With inseparable phrasal verbs, the verb and particle can never be separated, regardless of whether the object is a noun or a pronoun (e.g., look after the children, look after them).
  • Overgeneralizing from Literal Prepositional Usage: Sometimes, learners confuse phrasal verbs with instances where a verb is simply followed by a preposition indicating direction or location. For example, He ran up the hill (up indicates direction) is different from He gave up his job (gave up is an idiomatic phrasal verb meaning resigned). The context and whether the particle fundamentally changes the verb's meaning are key indicators.
  • Overuse in Formal Contexts: As discussed, using phrasal verbs excessively in academic or professional formal writing can make your text seem too informal or even unprofessional. While set up is perfectly fine in a casual email, establish or configure would be more appropriate in a technical report. Always consider your audience and the purpose of your communication.

Common Collocations

Learn words that go together. This helps you remember them. Use common word pairs to speak well.
  • get up: Typically used with time or morning routine. I get up at 6 AM every weekday.
  • turn on / turn off: Frequently used with electronic devices and lights. Please turn on the light; it's dark. / Remember to turn off your phone during the movie.
  • pick up: Versatile, meaning to collect someone/something, to learn, or to buy. I'll pick you up from the airport. / She picked up Spanish very quickly. / Can you pick up some bread?
  • look for: Always refers to the act of searching. I'm looking for my lost keys.
  • find out: Means to discover information. Did you find out who won the game?
  • give up: To stop doing something, often a habit or an effort. He gave up smoking last year. / Don't give up trying!
  • hang out: To spend time relaxing, usually with friends. We often hang out at the cafe on Saturdays.
  • put on: To dress oneself, to gain weight, or to start playing music/a show. Put on your coat; it's cold. / He's put on some weight recently. / Let's put on some music.
  • take off: To remove clothing, or for an aircraft to depart. Please take off your shoes at the door. / The plane will take off in ten minutes.
  • call back: To return a phone call. I'll call you back in five minutes.
  • go out: To leave one's home to go to a social event. Are you going out tonight?
  • come in: To enter a place. Please come in and sit down.
  • run out of: To exhaust a supply. We've run out of coffee.
These word pairs help you make good sentences. They make your English sound natural.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Do not mix up these special word pairs. They look similar but have different meanings.
These word groups are a special part of English.
  1. 1Phrasal Verbs (e.g., turn on, look up)
  • Meaning: The verb and particle combine to create an idiomatic meaning, often completely different from the base verb or particle's literal sense. The particle is an integral part of the verb's meaning.
  • Particle Type: Can be a preposition or an adverb.
  • Separability: Many are separable (Verb + Object + Particle) when transitive, especially with pronouns (e.g., turn it on). Intransitive phrasal verbs are, by definition, inseparable as they have no object.
  • Stress: Often stressed on the particle (e.g., turn ON, give UP).
  • Example: He gave up smoking. (gave up means to quit; smoking is the object). The plane took off. (took off means departed; intransitive).
  1. 1Prepositional Verbs (e.g., rely on, believe in, wait for)
  • Meaning: The verb's meaning is typically preserved, but it requires a specific preposition to connect to its object. The preposition functions as part of a fixed verb-preposition pair that governs its object. The meaning is usually less idiomatic than a phrasal verb's.
  • Particle Type: Always a preposition.
  • Separability: Always inseparable. The object must follow the preposition (Verb + Preposition + Object). You cannot say rely me on.
  • Stress: Typically stressed on the verb (e.g., RELY on, BELIEVE in).
  • Example: You can rely on me. (rely needs on to connect to me). She waited for the bus.
  1. 1Verb + Prepositional Phrase (e.g., walk across the street, look at the sky)
  • Meaning: The verb retains its literal meaning, and the preposition introduces a prepositional phrase that provides additional information, typically about location, direction, or time. The preposition is not part of the verb's core lexical meaning but links the verb to a noun phrase acting as an adjunct.
  • Particle Type: Always a preposition, followed by a noun phrase.
  • Separability: The preposition and its object cannot be separated from each other, nor can the preposition be moved before the verb. The object of the preposition belongs to the prepositional phrase, not directly to the verb.
  • Stress: Typically stressed on the verb and/or the main noun in the prepositional phrase (e.g., WALK across the STREET).
  • Example: She walked across the street. (across the street is a prepositional phrase indicating direction). He looked at the painting. (at the painting specifies what he looked at).
Here is a comparative table:
| Group Type | Special Word Pair | Verb + Small Word | Action + Place |
| :------------------- | :----------------------------- | :------------------------------ | :--------------------------------------------- |
| Meaning | New meaning | Same meaning | Shows where or when |
| Small Word | Part of the action | Stays with the object | Gives extra info |
| Can Split? | Often yes | No | No |
| Loud Sound | On second word | On first word | On names |
| Example | He took off his coat. | She waited for her friend. | They walked across the bridge. |

Quick FAQ

Q

How is a special word pair different from regular actions?

Special word pairs create a new meaning. 'Give up' means 'stop.' Regular actions keep their meaning. 'Walk up' means you go up.

Q

How do I know when to split the two words?

Use 'it' or 'them' in the middle. Say 'turn it on.' Some pairs never split. Say 'look after them.' Check each pair first.

Q

Can I use three words together?

Yes. Some have three parts like 'get along with.' These words always stay together. Put the person at the end.

Q

Which word pairs should I learn first?

Learn 'get up,' 'turn on,' and 'look for.' These are very common. They will help you every day.

Q

Can I use one long word instead?

Sometimes. 'Put off' is the same as 'delay.' Long words are formal. Word pairs are better for talking.

Q

Why are these word groups hard to learn?

The meaning changes with the small word. 'Get up' and 'get by' are different. It takes time to learn them.

Q

Do I sound strange if I do not use them?

Yes. You will sound very formal. Most people use these pairs when talking. Use them to sound natural.

Conjugating Phrasal Verbs (Example: 'Wake up')

Tense Subject Verb Form Particle Example
Present Simple
I / You / We
wake
up
I wake up early.
Present Simple
He / She / It
wakes
up
She wakes up early.
Past Simple
All subjects
woke
up
They woke up late.
Present Continuous
I
am waking
up
I am waking up now.
Present Perfect
He / She
has woken
up
He has just woken up.
Future (will)
All subjects
will wake
up
We will wake up at six.

Contractions with Phrasal Verbs

Full Form Contraction Context
I am waking up
I'm waking up
Informal speech
Do not give up
Don't give up
Encouragement
He has turned it off
He's turned it off
Daily report

Meanings

Phrasal verbs are idiomatic expressions combining a verb and a preposition or adverb to describe routine physical actions or states.

1

Morning Routine

Actions related to starting the day and preparing oneself.

“I usually wake up before my alarm goes off.”

“It takes me ten minutes to get up after I open my eyes.”

2

Household Maintenance

Actions involving cleaning, organizing, or managing the home environment.

“Can you help me clean up the kitchen after dinner?”

“Don't forget to take out the trash tonight.”

3

Technology Interaction

Using electronic devices and appliances.

“Please turn off the lights when you leave the room.”

“I need to log in to my email to check the schedule.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Everyday Action Pairs (Phrasal Verbs)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative (Noun Object)
Verb + Noun + Particle
Turn the TV off.
Affirmative (Noun Object 2)
Verb + Particle + Noun
Turn off the TV.
Affirmative (Pronoun Object)
Verb + Pronoun + Particle
Turn it off. (Correct)
Negative (Pronoun Object)
Aux + not + Verb + Pronoun + Particle
Don't turn it off.
Question
Aux + Subject + Verb + Particle + Noun?
Did you turn off the TV?
Inseparable
Verb + Particle + Object
I'm looking for my keys.
Intransitive
Verb + Particle (No Object)
The car broke down.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Please divest yourself of your outer garments.

Please divest yourself of your outer garments. (Entering a home)

Neutral
Please take off your coat.

Please take off your coat. (Entering a home)

Informal
Kick your shoes off.

Kick your shoes off. (Entering a home)

Slang
Strip off!

Strip off! (Entering a home)

Daily Routine Phrasal Verbs

Daily Life

Morning

  • Wake up Stop sleeping
  • Get up Leave bed

Clothing

  • Put on Dress yourself
  • Take off Undress

Separable vs Inseparable

Separable (The Sandwich)
Pick it up Correct
Pick up it Incorrect
Inseparable (The Glue)
Look after her Correct
Look her after Incorrect

Where does the 'it' go?

1

Is the object a pronoun (it/them)?

YES
Put it in the middle: Verb + IT + Particle
NO
Is it a noun?
2

Is it a noun?

YES
Put it in the middle OR at the end.
NO
Check if the verb is intransitive.

Common Particles

⬆️

UP (Completing/Increasing)

  • • Clean up
  • • Drink up
  • • Turn up
📴

OFF (Stopping/Leaving)

  • • Turn off
  • • Take off
  • • Set off
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Examples by Level

1

I wake up at 8:00.

2

Please sit down.

3

Stand up, please.

4

Go away!

1

Turn off the light.

2

Put on your jacket.

3

Take off your shoes.

4

Try on these jeans.

1

I need to look for my keys.

2

Can you pick me up at five?

3

Don't give up on your dreams.

4

Fill out this form, please.

1

We need to carry out more research.

2

She brought up an interesting point.

3

I can't make out what he's saying.

4

The deal fell through at the last minute.

1

I won't put up with this behavior.

2

The government is phasing out the old currency.

3

He really played up his role in the project.

4

We need to knuckle down and finish this.

1

The evidence doesn't bear out his claims.

2

She has a knack for sussing out the truth.

3

The company was egged on by its competitors.

4

He's always harking back to the 'good old days'.

Easily Confused

Everyday Action Pairs (Phrasal Verbs) vs Wake up vs Get up

Learners think they are the same because they both happen in the morning.

Everyday Action Pairs (Phrasal Verbs) vs Turn on vs Open

Many languages use the same word for opening a door and turning on a light.

Everyday Action Pairs (Phrasal Verbs) vs Put on vs Wear

Both relate to clothes, but one is an action and one is a state.

Common Mistakes

✗

I wake at 7.

✓

I wake up at 7.

In daily English, 'wake' almost always needs 'up'.
✗

Sit you down.

✓

Sit down.

Don't put the subject between the verb and particle in a command.
✗

I get up me.

✓

I get up.

English phrasal verbs are not reflexive like in many other languages.
✗

Open the light.

✓

Turn on the light.

We use 'turn on' for electronics, not 'open'.
✗

Put on it.

✓

Put it on.

Pronouns must go in the middle of separable phrasal verbs.
✗

I took off my shoes and put on them.

✓

I took off my shoes and put them on.

Consistency with pronoun placement is key.
✗

He turned off the radio and then he turned on it.

✓

He turned off the radio and then he turned it on.

Again, the pronoun 'it' must be in the middle.
✗

I'm looking my keys for.

✓

I'm looking for my keys.

'Look for' is inseparable; the particle must stay with the verb.
✗

She looked her baby after.

✓

She looked after her baby.

'Look after' is an inseparable phrasal verb.
✗

I need to fill in it.

✓

I need to fill it in.

Even with 'fill in', the pronoun rule applies.
✗

I can't put up this noise with.

✓

I can't put up with this noise.

Three-part phrasal verbs have a fixed order: Verb + Particle + Preposition.

Sentence Patterns

I usually ___ at [time].

Can you please ___ the ___?

I need to ___ it ___ before I leave.

I'm really looking forward to ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend constant

I'm heading out now, see you soon!

Job Interview common

I'd like to point out my experience with CRM software.

Social Media very common

Check out my new vlog!

Travel/Hotels common

What time do we need to check out?

Food Delivery very common

The app says he's dropping off the food now.

Technical Support occasional

Try turning it off and on again.

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🎯

The Pronoun Rule

If you use 'it' or 'them', always put it in the middle. 'Pick it up' sounds natural; 'Pick up it' sounds like a mistake.
⚠️

Don't Over-Formalize

In spoken English, using 'extinguish' instead of 'put out' makes you sound stiff. Stick to phrasal verbs for daily talk.
💡

Learn in Pairs

Learn opposites together: turn on/off, put on/take off, get on/off. It doubles your vocabulary with half the effort.
💬

Listen for Stress

Native speakers stress the particle. If you say 'WAKE up' it sounds like a command; 'wake UP' sounds like a normal statement.

Smart Tips

Always place it between the verb and the particle.

Turn off it. → Turn it off.

Check if the meaning changes when you remove the second word.

I am looking at the map. (Literal) → I am looking for the map. (Phrasal - means searching)

Use 'turn' or 'switch' instead of 'open' or 'close'.

Open the computer. → Turn on the computer.

Use 'show up' instead of 'arrive'.

He arrived at the party late. → He showed up at the party late.

Pronunciation

wake UP, turn OFF, put ON

Particle Stress

In phrasal verbs, the stress usually falls on the particle, not the verb.

pick-it-up (pi-ki-tup), fill-it-out (fi-li-taut)

Linking

When a verb ends in a consonant and the particle starts with a vowel, they link together.

Rising on Particle

Did you turn it OFF? ↗️

Asking for confirmation of an action.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

The 'Pronoun Sandwich': The pronoun is the meat, and the verb and particle are the bread. The meat always goes in the middle!

Visual Association

Imagine a light switch. When you 'Turn ON' the light, you are adding energy (UP/ON). When you 'Turn OFF', you are removing it. Visualize the words physically moving the switch.

Rhyme

If it's a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', put it in the middle, don't wait for a gem!

Story

I woke UP, got UP, and put ON my clothes. I turned ON the radio and cleaned UP my room. Then I headed OUT to work.

Word Web

Wake upGet upPut onTake offTurn onTurn offPick upClean up

Challenge

Look around your room right now. Perform three actions (e.g., picking up a pen, turning on a lamp, putting on a hat) and say the phrasal verb out loud as you do it.

Cultural Notes

British speakers often use 'fill in' a form, while Americans prefer 'fill out'. Both are understood globally.

Americans frequently use 'figure out' to mean 'solve' or 'understand', whereas some other dialects might use 'work out'.

Australians often use 'reckon' with phrasal verbs, like 'I reckon we should head off' (I think we should leave).

Phrasal verbs are a Germanic feature of English. Old English used prefixes (like German does today), but over time, these prefixes moved after the verb to become independent particles.

Conversation Starters

“

What time do you usually wake up on weekends?

“

Have you ever given up a hobby? Why?

“

If you could turn off one noise in the world forever, what would it be?

“

How do you usually clean up after a big party?

Journal Prompts

Describe your morning routine from the moment you wake up until you leave the house.
Write about a time you had to look after someone or something (a pet, a sibling, a house).
Discuss a problem you recently figured out. How did you solve it?
Write a short story about a day where everything went wrong with technology.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Please turn it off.
Pronouns must go between the verb and the particle in separable phrasal verbs.
Fill in the missing particle.

I need to wake ___ at 6 AM tomorrow.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: up
'Wake up' is the standard phrasal verb for stopping sleep.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

I am looking my cat for.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: looking for my cat
'Look for' is inseparable; the particle 'for' must follow the verb directly.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Take off your shoes.
The standard order is Verb + Particle + Noun Object.
Match the phrasal verb to its meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: To dress yourself
'Put on' refers to the act of dressing.
Select the best phrasal verb for the context. Multiple Choice

The car ___ on the highway.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: broke down
'Broke down' means a machine or vehicle stopped working.
Complete the sentence with the correct pronoun placement.

If you find my keys, please ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pick them up
The pronoun 'them' must be in the middle.
Which phrasal verb means 'to investigate'? Multiple Choice

The police are ___ the crime.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: looking into
'Look into' means to investigate or examine.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Please turn it off.
Pronouns must go between the verb and the particle in separable phrasal verbs.
Fill in the missing particle.

I need to wake ___ at 6 AM tomorrow.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: up
'Wake up' is the standard phrasal verb for stopping sleep.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

I am looking my cat for.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: looking for my cat
'Look for' is inseparable; the particle 'for' must follow the verb directly.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

shoes / your / off / take

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Take off your shoes.
The standard order is Verb + Particle + Noun Object.
Match the phrasal verb to its meaning. Match Pairs

Match 'Put on' with its definition.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: To dress yourself
'Put on' refers to the act of dressing.
Select the best phrasal verb for the context. Multiple Choice

The car ___ on the highway.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: broke down
'Broke down' means a machine or vehicle stopped working.
Complete the sentence with the correct pronoun placement.

If you find my keys, please ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pick them up
The pronoun 'them' must be in the middle.
Which phrasal verb means 'to investigate'? Multiple Choice

The police are ___ the crime.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: looking into
'Look into' means to investigate or examine.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Choose the correct particle to complete the phrasal verb. Fill in the Blank

Don't `give ___` trying to learn English! You're doing great.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: up
Find and fix the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

I want to find out about the party.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I want to find out about the party. (No mistake)
Which sentence correctly uses the phrasal verb 'put on'? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Type the correct English sentence. Translation

Translate into English: 'Nos reunimos después del trabajo.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["We hang out after work.","We'll hang out after work."]
Put the words in order to form a correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She took off her coat.
Match each phrasal verb with its meaning. Match Pairs

Match the phrasal verbs with their definitions:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Choose the correct particle to complete the phrasal verb. Fill in the Blank

I'm trying to `figure ___` how to use this new app.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: out
Find and fix the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

My car broke down on the way to work it.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My car broke down on the way to work.
Which sentence uses the phrasal verb correctly? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The meeting was called off due to bad weather.
Type the correct English sentence. Translation

Translate into English: 'Tengo que levantarme temprano mañana.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["I have to get up early tomorrow.","I've got to get up early tomorrow."]
Put the words in order to form a correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Can you call me back later?
Match each phrasal verb with its meaning. Match Pairs

Match the phrasal verbs with their definitions:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Because they consist of a phrase (two or more words) that acts as a single verb with a single meaning.

You can, but you might sound too formal. For example, saying 'I shall extinguish the cigarette' sounds very strange compared to 'I'll put out the cigarette'.

Unfortunately, you have to learn them individually. However, most phrasal verbs that take an object are separable.

Native speakers will still understand you, but it will sound like a clear grammatical error. It's one of the most obvious 'learner' mistakes.

Yes! These are called 'phrasal-prepositional verbs', like `look forward to` or `get along with`. They are always inseparable.

They are very common in Germanic languages like Dutch and German, but rare in Romance languages like French or Italian.

No, 'go to' is just a verb followed by a preposition of direction. The meaning of 'go' doesn't change.

Group them by particle (all the 'up' verbs) or by topic (all the 'travel' verbs). Using them in context is much better than just reading lists.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish low

Verbos reflexivos o simples

English uses two words; Spanish usually uses one.

German high

Trennbare Verben

In German, the particle often goes to the very end of the clause.

French none

Verbes simples

French lacks the verb+particle structure entirely.

Japanese moderate

複合動詞 (Fukugō dōshi)

Japanese joins two verbs, while English joins a verb and a preposition/adverb.

Arabic partial

Verbs with prepositions

Arabic prepositions are fixed and don't allow the 'pronoun sandwich' structure.

Chinese moderate

Resultative Verb Compounds

Chinese particles usually indicate the result or direction of the action specifically.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Phrasal Verbs: The Secret Code (Meanings)
Next
English Phrasal Verbs: Small Words, Big Meanings (get up, turn on)

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