Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are the combinations native speakers use constantly — and what advanced learners avoid because they feel unpredictable. They are not. Learn them by category and in context, and they become second nature.
How they work
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a preposition or adverb (particle) that creates a new meaning different from the original verb.
Same base verb, three completely different meanings — the particle changes everything.
Separable vs. Inseparable
Separable — the object can go in the middle
Turn it off. ✓
Turn off the light. ✓
Inseparable — object always comes after
Look after the children. ✓
Look the children after. ✗
Movement & Direction
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| go back | return | I need to go back to the office. |
| come in | enter | Come in, the door is open. |
| move on | continue to the next thing | Let's move on to the next point. |
| get out | leave | We got out of there as fast as possible. |
| run away | escape | He ran away from his problems. |
Starting & Stopping
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| set up | arrange / establish | She set up her own company. |
| start over | begin again | We had to start over from the beginning. |
| give up | stop trying | Don't give up — you're almost there. |
| carry on | continue | Carry on — I'm listening. |
| cut off | stop abruptly | He was cut off in the middle of his sentence. |
| put off | postpone | She put off the meeting until Friday. |
Understanding & Finding Out
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| figure out | understand / solve | I finally figured out the problem. |
| find out | discover information | Did you find out what happened? |
| look into | investigate | We are looking into the issue. |
| work out | solve / understand | It took me a while to work it out. |
| come across | encounter unexpectedly | I came across an interesting article. |
Relationships & Interaction
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| get along (with) | have a good relationship | We get along really well. |
| look up to | admire | I really look up to her. |
| look after | take care of | Can you look after my dog this weekend? |
| bring up | mention / raise a child | She brought up an important point. |
| fall out (with) | argue and stop being friends | They fell out over money. |
| make up | reconcile | They argued but made up the next day. |
Everyday Actions
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pick up | learn / collect | I picked up a lot from that class. |
| turn up | arrive / appear | He turned up an hour late. |
| turn down | refuse / reduce volume | She turned down the offer. |
| show up | appear / arrive | He always shows up on time. |
| hold on | wait | Hold on, I'll be right back. |
| run out of | have none left | We ran out of time. |
record_voice_over Why this helps your speaking
Avoiding phrasal verbs makes your English sound textbook-formal and slightly unnatural. Native speakers use them constantly, often without thinking. When you use "give up" instead of "abandon the attempt", you sound like someone who has actually lived in the language. Pick 5 phrasal verbs this week, write one sentence for each, and then try to use them in your next SpeakPath session.
Put this into practice — speak with an AI that corrects you in real time.
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