Learn how phrasal verbs work, explore common combinations, and practise with interactive exercises.
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles (an adverb, a preposition, or both) that together create a meaning different from the individual words. Words like up, out, on, off, in, down, away, over, through, and back are all common particles.
She picked up the phone.
I need to look into this problem.
He gave up smoking last year.
We ran out of milk.
Why are they difficult?
Phrasal verbs are one of the trickiest parts of English because the particle often completely changes the meaning of the verb. Look means to use your eyes, but look after means to take care of, look up means to search for information, and look down on means to consider inferior. The same verb can pair with many different particles, each producing a different meaning, and there is no reliable pattern to predict what the combination will mean.
Additionally, many phrasal verbs have both a literal meaning and an idiomatic meaning, and learners often need context to tell them apart.
Types of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs can be grouped by whether they take an object and by the number of particles they contain.
Intransitive
No object is needed.
The plane took off on time.
Transitive
An object is required.
Please turn off the lights.
Two-Part
Verb + one particle.
She brought up an interesting point.
Three-Part
Verb + adverb + preposition.
I look forward to meeting you.
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Some phrasal verbs can be both transitive and intransitive with different meanings. For example: break down can mean "stop working" (intransitive) or "analyse into parts" (transitive).
Separable vs Inseparable
This is one of the most important distinctions to master. With separable phrasal verbs, the object can go between the verb and the particle or after the particle. With inseparable phrasal verbs, the object must always come after the particle.
Separable
She turned the music down. ✓
She turned down the music. ✓
Pronoun rule: When the object is a pronoun (me, it, him, them, etc.), it must go between the verb and the particle. You cannot place it after the particle.
She turned it down. ✓
She turned down it. ✗
Inseparable
She looks after her grandmother. ✓
She looks her grandmother after. ✗
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There is no simple rule to know which phrasal verbs are separable and which are inseparable — you need to learn them case by case. A good learner's dictionary will always tell you.
Three-Part Phrasal Verbs
These consist of a verb plus an adverb plus a preposition. They are always inseparable — the three parts must stay together, and the object comes after all of them.
I look forward to your reply.
We need to cut down on expenses.
He came up with a brilliant idea.
She looks up to her older sister.
Common three-part phrasal verbs
put up withget on withlook forward tocome up withrun out oflook up tolook down oncut down onget away withkeep up withmake up forget along with
Literal vs Idiomatic Meaning
Some phrasal verbs can be understood from the individual words — these have a literal meaning. Others have an idiomatic meaning that cannot be guessed from the parts.
Literal
Meaning is predictable from the words.
She stood up from her chair.
He walked out of the room.
Idiomatic
Meaning cannot be guessed.
She stood up for her rights. (= defended)
He walked out on his family. (= abandoned)
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Context is key. The sentence "He turned up at the party" doesn't mean he physically rotated upward — it means he arrived. Always read the full sentence before deciding the meaning.
Phrasal Verbs & Formality
Phrasal verbs are generally more informal than their single-word equivalents. In formal writing and academic contexts, it is often preferable to use the Latin- or Greek-origin synonym instead.
find out → discover / ascertain
put off → postpone / defer
bring up → raise / mention
make up → constitute / fabricate
set up → establish
carry out → conduct / perform
However, in spoken English and everyday writing, phrasal verbs sound more natural than their formal equivalents. Saying "I need to find out" is much more natural in conversation than "I need to ascertain."
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For exams like Cambridge C1/C2 and IELTS, show you know both. Use a formal synonym in your essay, and a phrasal verb in the speaking test to sound natural.
Multiple Meanings
Many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning. The correct interpretation depends entirely on context.
Take off
The plane took off at noon. (= left the ground)
She took off her coat. (= removed)
His career really took off after the film. (= became successful)
Make up
She made up a story. (= invented)
They argued but made up quickly. (= reconciled)
Women make up 60% of the workforce. (= constitute)
Put on
He put on his jacket. (= dressed in)
She put on a brave face. (= pretended)
I've put on weight. (= gained)
Common Mistakes & Tips
1. Forgetting the pronoun rule
Turn off it. ✗
Turn it off. ✓
With separable phrasal verbs, pronoun objects must go between the verb and the particle.
2. Confusing similar phrasal verbs
look for = search for something
look after = take care of
look up = search for information
look into = investigate
3. Using the wrong particle
I'm looking forward for the trip. ✗
I'm looking forward to the trip. ✓
4. Using a phrasal verb in the wrong register
Avoid phrasal verbs in formal academic essays where a single-word synonym exists. For example, use investigate rather than look into in a research paper.
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Best strategy: Learn phrasal verbs in context, not from isolated lists. Read widely, note examples in real sentences, and practise using them in your own writing and speech.
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Open Cloze
Read each passage and fill in the missing particles to complete the phrasal verbs. 8 gaps per text. Your progress is saved on this device.
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Gap Fill
Fill in the missing phrasal verb. Use the definition as a hint and make sure your answer is correctly conjugated. 6 sentences per set. Your progress is saved on this device.
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Matching
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