What Is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb = verb + particle (preposition or adverb). The combination often has a meaning different from the individual words.
Example: give up (to stop trying) ≠ give + up separately
Phrasal Verbs with UP
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| give up | stop trying | Don't give up — you can do it! |
| wake up | stop sleeping | I wake up at 7 every morning. |
| tidy up | make neat | Please tidy up your room. |
| fill up | make completely full | Fill up the glass with water. |
| grow up | become an adult | He grew up in London. |
Phrasal Verbs with DOWN
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sit down | take a seat | Please sit down. |
| write down | record on paper | Write down the answer. |
| break down | stop working (machine) | The car broke down on the motorway. |
| calm down | become less upset | Calm down and breathe. |
| let down | disappoint | She felt let down by her friend. |
Phrasal Verbs with OUT
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| find out | discover | Did you find out the answer? |
| run out of | have none left | We've run out of milk. |
| work out | solve / exercise | Can you work out this sum? |
| turn out | result / end up | It turned out to be a great day. |
| carry out | perform / complete | Scientists carried out experiments. |
Phrasal Verbs with ON / OFF
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| turn on | start a device | Turn on the light. |
| turn off | stop a device | Turn off the TV. |
| put on | wear something | Put on your coat — it's cold. |
| take off | remove (clothes) / depart (plane) | The plane takes off at noon. |
| go on | continue / happen | What is going on? |
Separable phrasal verbs allow a noun object in the middle: Turn the TV off.
Inseparable phrasal verbs must stay together: Look after the dog. ✅ NOT Look the dog after. ❌
Real world: daily conversation
"I woke up late today and ran out of time for breakfast. I quickly put on my coat and turned off all the lights before leaving. On the bus I found out that school was cancelled — it had turned out to be a public holiday!"
Real world: at the mechanic's
Customer: "My car broke down on the way to work." Mechanic: "Let me check it out. When did this happen?" Customer: "I filled up with petrol last night. It started up fine this morning, but then just gave up on the motorway."
Practice Problems
What does 'run out of' mean? Use it in a sentence.
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Fill in: Don't ___ — keep trying! (stop trying)
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What phrasal verb means 'discover information'?