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 |
