Can you use phrasal verbs? English #StudyTip
6th August 2017
Phrasal verbs are very common in spoken English. Most phrasal verbs have a verb (sit, stand, get etc.) and a particle (up, on, off etc.) Sometimes, the meaning of the two parts is easy to understand. Sometimes the two parts form a new meaning. And be careful: some have more than one meaning! Check our new #StudyTIp and learn some popular phrasal verbs.
Phrasal verb | Example | Meaning |
give up something | I have to give up smoking. | Stop doing something |
Get on (well) with someone | Sara is lovely, we get on well with each other. | Have a good relationship |
Take off | The plane couldn’t take off. | Leave the ground and start flying |
Grow up | When I grow up, I want to be a teacher. | Change from a child to an adult |
Find out something | I must find out the times of the trains to London. | Find a fact or piece of information you need/ want |
Go out | Let’s go out this evening. | Leave your home to do social activities, e.g. cinema, disco, etc. |
Some phrasal verbs don’t need an object
Phrasal verbs | Example | Meaning |
Go up | The prices of petrol will go up. | Increase, become more |
Go back | She wants to go back to Cardiff. | Return to a place |
Wake up | I always wake up at 8 a.m. | Stop sleeping |
Other phrases verbs need an object. It can go before or after the particle.
Take off your jacket. (remove)
Take your jacket off.
Can you turn on the light? (make something start working)
Can you turn the light on?
When the object is a pronoun (e.g. it, them) it must go before the particle.
Take it off.
Can you turn it on?
Do you know more phrasal verbs? Let us know in the comments below.
For more Study Tips, you can read our Study Tips posts.
Accreditation, Membership & Exam Centre
