Phrasal verbs

A phrasal verb is a verb plus a small word (a particle) such as ⟦up⟧, ⟦off⟧, ⟦out⟧ or ⟦after⟧. Together they often mean something new: ⟦give⟧ is not the same as ⟦give up⟧ (stop trying). Phrasal verbs are very common in spoken English, so learn them like new words, with an example.

Key facts

  • The particle changes the meaning: ⟦look after⟧ (take care of), ⟦look for⟧ (try to find), ⟦look up⟧ (check in a dictionary).
  • Common ones: ⟦get up⟧, ⟦wake up⟧, ⟦find out⟧, ⟦put off⟧, ⟦turn down⟧, ⟦carry on⟧, ⟦pick up⟧, ⟦run out of⟧, ⟦call off⟧.
  • Many can be split by the object: ⟦turn off the light⟧ or ⟦turn the light off⟧.
  • A pronoun always goes in the middle: ⟦turn it off⟧ (never ⟦turn off it⟧), ⟦pick me up⟧, ⟦throw them away⟧.
  • In formal writing, a single verb often replaces a phrasal verb: ⟦call off⟧ → ⟦cancel⟧, ⟦find out⟧ → ⟦discover⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

What does ⟦put off⟧ mean? ⟦They put off the match because of the rain.⟧

  1. The rain stopped the match happening at that time.
  2. So ⟦put off⟧ means ⟦postpone⟧ (move to later).

Answer: ⟦postpone⟧

Example 2

Complete: ⟦We've run ___ of milk.⟧

  1. ⟦run out of⟧ means to have none left.
  2. ⟦We've run out of milk.⟧

Answer: ⟦out⟧

Example 3

Put in order: ⟦off / turn / it / please⟧

  1. ⟦it⟧ is a pronoun, so it goes between ⟦turn⟧ and ⟦off⟧.
  2. ⟦Please turn it off.⟧

Answer: ⟦Please turn it off.⟧