Phrasal Verbs
Native speakers of English tend to use phrasal verbs in everyday conversation.
NON-separable verbs : the preposition MUST follow the main verb.
Separable verbs : the preposition may or may not follow the main verb.
Remember that separable phrasal verbs using a pronoun as the object of the verb MUST be separated (I brought them up NOT I brought up them).
A | Ask out | Ask someone to go on a date |
B | Bring about | cause |
Bring up | 1) rear children 2) mention or introduce a topic | |
C | Call back | Return a telephone call |
Call in | Ask to come to an official place for a special reason | |
Call off | cancel | |
Call on | 1) visit 2) ask a student a question in class | |
Call up | Call on the telephone | |
Catch up (with) | Reach the same position or level as someone | |
Check in | Register at a hotel | |
Check into | investigate | |
Check out | 1) borrow a book from a library 2) investigate | |
Cheer up | Make (someone) feel happier | |
Clean up | Make clean and orderly | |
Come across | Find by chance | |
Cross out | Draw a line through | |
Cut out | Stop an annoying activity | |
D | Do over | repeat |
Drop by | Visit informally | |
Drop in (on) | Visit informally | |
Drop off | Leave something/someone somewhere | |
Drop out (of) | Stop going to school or class | |
F | Figure out | Find the answer by logic |
Fill out | Complete a form | |
Find out | Discover information | |
Get along (with) | To have a good relationship with | |
Get back (from) | 1) return from somewhere 2) receive again | |
Get in, get into | 1) enter a car 2) arrive | |
Get off | Leave any vehicle | |
Get on | Enter any vehicle | |
Get out of | 1) leave a car 2) avoid some unpleasant activity | |
Get over | Recover from an illness | |
Get through | finish | |
Get up | Arise from bed, a chair etc. | |
Give back | Return something to someone | |
Give up | Stop doing something | |
Go over | Review or check | |
Grow up | Become an adult | |
H | Hand in | Submit an assignment |
Hang up | 1) Stop a telephone conversation 2) put up clothes on a line or a hook | |
Have on | Wear | |
K | Keep out (of) | Not enter |
Keep up (with) | Stay at the same position or level | |
Kick out (of) | Force (someone) to leave | |
L | Look after | Take care of |
Look into | Investigate | |
Look out (for) | Be careful | |
Look over | Review or check | |
Look up | Look for information in a reference book | |
M | Make up | 1) invent 2) do past work |
N | Name after | Give a baby the name of someone else |
P | Pass away | Die |
Pass out | 1) distribute 2) lose consciousness | |
Pick out | Select | |
Pick up | 1) go to get someone 2) take in one’s hand | |
Point out | Call someone’s attention to | |
Put away | Remove to an appropriate place | |
Put back | Return to original position | |
Put off | Postpone | |
Put on | Dress | |
Put out | Extinguish a cigarette, fire | |
Put up with | Tolerate | |
R | Run into | Meet by chance |
Run across | Find by chance | |
Run out (of) | Finish a supply of something | |
S | Show up | Appear, come to |
Shut off | Stop a machine, equipment, light etc. | |
T | Take after | Resemble |
Take off | 1) remove clothing 2) leave on a trip 3) leave the ground (aeroplane) | |
Take out | 1) take someone on a date 2) remove | |
Take over | Take control | |
Take up | Begin a new activity | |
Tear down | Demolish, reduce to nothing | |
Tear up | Tear into many little pieces | |
Think over | Consider | |
Throw away | Discard; get rid of | |
Throw out | Discard; get rid of | |
Throw up | Vomit | |
Try on | Put on clothing to see if it fits | |
Turn down | Decrease volume | |
Turn in | 1) submit classwork 2) go to bed | |
Turn off | Stop a machine, equipment, light etc. | |
Turn on | Start a machine, equipment, light etc. | |
Turn out | Extinguish a light | |
Turn up | Increase volume or intensity |