Phrasal verbs in English

Mastering phrasal verbs is one of the most important secrets to speaking English fluently and naturally like native speakers.

A phrasal verb consists of a main verb added to a preposition or an adverb, which completely changes its original meaning into a new expression.

Memorizing these verbs may seem like a great challenge for learners due to their multiple meanings and different uses in various daily contexts.

This comprehensive guide aims to simplify the rules of phrasal verbs and divide them into clear grammatical categories to facilitate understanding them logically.

By studying practical examples and practicing the rules of separating verbs or keeping them connected, you will be able to enrich your vocabulary and avoid common mistakes easily.

phrasal verbs by main verb

Phrasal Verbs	Example
run over	hit with a vehicle / review
	He got into trouble at work.
	We need to get across the road.
	He got away with cheating.
	Stop talking and get down with it.
look down on	consider inferior
read back	read aloud again
	I got behind in work.

	She got rewarded for her effort.


pay into	put money into
draw out	extend / remove
bring up	mention / raise
cut across	go across
	He got away with lying.
pass by	go past
	He got behind in class.
go for	choose / attack

phrasal verbs by particle

Phrasal Verbs	English meaning	Example
care for	to look after someone, or to have affection for	She stayed home to care for her sick mother.
watch for	to look out for something carefully	Watch for ice on the road when you drive tonight.
rebel against	to violently oppose authority or rules	Teenagers often rebel against their parents' rules.
count on	to rely or depend on someone	You can always count on me for help.
cut off	to disconnect, or to interrupt someone speaking	The phone company cut off our internet because we didn't pay.
run in	to go inside quickly, or to arrest someone	I just need to run in to the store for some milk.
buy into	to believe in or support an idea or concept	I do not buy into that crazy conspiracy theory.
build up	to increase or accumulate over time	The pressure began to build up before the final exam.
come out of	to emerge from a place, or result from a situation	I hope some good news will come out of this meeting.
buckle under	to collapse or submit under extreme pressure	The bridge might buckle under the weight of the heavy trucks.
turn into	to become something completely different	The magical frog turned into a handsome prince.
tag along	to go somewhere with someone, often uninvited	I am going to the grocery store, do you want to tag along?
run on	to be powered by something	This new car runs on electricity instead of gas.
tell off	to scold someone angrily	The boss told him off for being late to work again.
add on	to include as an addition	They decided to add on a small fee for shipping.
wait around	to do nothing while waiting for something to happen	We waited around for an hour, but the bus never came.
drag on	to last longer than expected or necessary	The meeting dragged on for three hours.
fight against	to oppose or struggle against someone or something	We must unite to fight against injustice.
graduate from	to complete a degree at an educational institution	She graduated from medical school last year.
rain down on	to fall in large quantities (like objects or insults)	Arrows rained down on the attacking soldiers.

1. What are Phrasal Verbs and How Do They Work?

A phrasal verb is made of a Verb + a Particle. This extra part can be a preposition (like in, on, at, for) or an adverb (like up, down, away, back).
The biggest challenge is that the new meaning often has absolutely nothing to do with the original verb's meaning!

Example:
The verb Give alone means: To hand something to someone.
If we add "Up," it becomes Give up, which means: To quit or surrender.

The verb Look alone means: To direct one's eyes.
If we add "After," it becomes Look after, which means: To take care of someone or something.

2. Transitive vs. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

Just like regular verbs, phrasal verbs are divided into two categories based on whether or not they need an object.

1. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

These are verbs that do not need an object to complete their meaning. The action happens and ends with the subject.

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Wake up	To stop sleeping	I wake up at 7 AM.
Grow up	To become an adult	She grew up in London.
Break down	To stop working (machinery)	My car broke down yesterday.

2. Transitive Phrasal Verbs

These are verbs that must be followed by a direct object, otherwise the sentence makes no sense.

Example: If you say "Please turn on," the listener will ask: Turn on what? You must add an object.
Correct: Please turn on the TV.

3. Separable vs. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

This is the most important and confusing rule for learners. Transitive verbs (the ones that take an object) are further divided into two groups:

1. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

In this type, the verb and the particle stick together and can never be separated. The object must always come after them.

Look for (To search for something)
Correct: I am looking for my keys.
Incorrect: I am looking my keys for.

Run into (To meet someone by chance)
Correct: I ran into Ahmed at the mall.
Incorrect: I ran Ahmed into at the mall.

2. Separable Phrasal Verbs

Here, you can place the object (if it is a regular noun) either between the two parts of the verb, or after them. Both ways are completely correct.

Turn off (To stop a machine or light)
Correct 1 (After): Please turn off the light.
Correct 2 (Middle): Please turn the light off.

The Strict Pronoun Rule!

If the verb is separable, and the object is a pronoun (like it, them, him, her, me, us), it must mandatory go in the middle (between the verb and the particle). It can never be placed at the end.

Pick up (To collect someone/something)
Context: Talking about Ahmed (Him)
Correct: I will pick him up at 5 PM.
Incorrect: I will pick up him at 5 PM.

Try on (To test clothes for fit)
Context: Talking about a shirt (It)
Correct: You should try it on.
Incorrect: You should try on it.

4. Top Common Phrasal Verbs in Daily Conversations

Here is a list of essential phrasal verbs that you will hear constantly in everyday life:

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example	Separable?
Put off	To postpone	They put off the meeting until Friday.	Yes
Call off	To cancel	We had to call off the party.	Yes
Figure out	To solve or understand	I can't figure out this math problem.	Yes
Carry on	To continue	Please carry on with your work.	No
Take off	To remove clothes / To leave the ground (plane)	The plane will take off soon.	Yes (Clothes) / No (Planes)
Bring up	To mention a topic / To raise a child	Don't bring up that topic again.	Yes

5. Three-Part Phrasal Verbs

Some phrasal verbs consist of three parts (verb + particle/adverb + preposition). These verbs are always inseparable, meaning the object must always come at the very end.

Look forward to (To be excited about something in the future)
Example: I am looking forward to the weekend.

Run out of (To have none left)
Example: We have run out of sugar.

Get along with (To have a good relationship with someone)
Example: I get along with my boss very well.

Put up with (To tolerate or endure something annoying)
Example: I can't put up with this noise anymore!