essay phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs in academic writing

As verbs consisting of two or three separate parts, often with idiomatic meanings, phrasal verbs can be challenging for non-native speakers. and yet in everyday speech, one should be able to use phrasal verbs such as pick up , look down , put out or hold off . but how common are they in academic writing, and how are they used read on to find out..

Phrasal verbs in academic writing vs other genres

A common feature of phrasal verbs is that they are colloquial: think belt out (sing very loudly), harp on (complain repeatedly about something), pig out (eat a lot of food), etc. They can be commonly replaced by single verbs, such as:

make up => constitute put forward => propose carry out => execute Our analysis of the Corpus of Contemporary American English shows that phrasal verbs are considerably more frequent in other genres than academic writing: up to 11 times more frequent in TV and movies subtitles, and close to 10 times more frequent in blogs/webpages and fiction. Since academic writing is anything but colloquial, this isn’t surprising. But the difference is striking.

What are the top phrasal verbs in academic writing?

Despite this, phrasal verbs shouldn’t be completely avoided in academic papers. Most phrasal verbs are neutral rather than informal, and it’s sometimes more appropriate to use a phrasal verb than a single verb. For example, carry out a study is much more frequently used than do a study or perform a study . The question is which phrasal verbs should you avoid, and which should you use? The following is a list of the top 10 phrasal verbs used in academic writing, extracted from our corpus analysis. You may have seen these in papers already, and considered them in your own writing.

• Point out ('The authors pointed out that solid evidence was lacking')
• Carry out ('All procedures were carried out according to the guidance')
• Go on ('A number of initiatives have been going on to tackle the problem')
• Make up ('Total exports made up 54% of the GDP')
• Set up ('A strategy was set up to train the software for automated analysis')
• Take on ('The legislation will take on an important role in shaping policies')
• Turn out ('This turned out to be due to errors in the distribution data')
• Bring about ('There were successful attempts to bring about societal change')
• Give up ('Countries pledged to give up chemical weapons')
• Find out ('A review was done to find out factors affecting disease outcome')

On the other hand, phrasal verbs you should avoid are those that are informal, or commonly replaced by single verbs in other papers. For example in medical papers investigating the effect of physical exercise, the verb exercise is used instead of the phrasal verb work out . So you should avoid using the latter.

Difference in phrasal verb usage between academic subjects

What’s interesting is that not only does phrasal verb usage vary across genres, but also across disciplines within the genre of academic writing. Compare the top 10 phrasal verbs used in humanities vs science and technology, in decreasing frequency order:

                             Humanities             Science/Technology

                                1. Point out                   1. Carry out

                                2. Go on                        2. Point out

                                3. Take on                    3. Set up

                               4. Set up                        4. Make up

                               5. Make up                    5. Turn out

                               6. Turn out                   6. Go on

                               7. Take up                     7. Pick up

                               8. Carry out                  8. Take on

                               9. End up                      9. Find out

                              10. Open up                  10. Come up

Our COCA analysis shows that while carry out is more than twice as frequent in Sci/Tech as in Humanities, the opposite is true for point out . Of course such results are best understood in context. But it’s likely that phrases such as carry out an experiment are more common in Sci/Tech papers, and point out an argument in a Humanities paper.

Mastering phrasal verbs in academic writing

Because phrasal verbs aren’t so common in academic writing, you should think carefully before using them - but not discard them completely . Pay close attention to when and how they’re used in the papers you read. First, always make sure that they aren’t informal in style. You can check this in an online dictionary, for example.

Second, consider the single-verb alternative(s) and decide which is better to use in the context of your subject area, and specific sentence. You can see which other authors choose by searching the web or Google Scholar. See if (and how) a phrasal verb is used in other papers, and compare with the use of the single-verb alternative(s) in context.

About the author Mélodie Garnier is an Applied Linguist at Writefull .

Writefull webinars Looking for more academic writing tips? Join our free webinars hosted by Writefull's linguists!

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10 Phrasal Verbs for Academic Writing in English

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134 comments.

Many many thanks Adam sir

the best teacher from all of them ;)

Hi Adam, I really appreciate your efforts to improve our english skills, but phrasal verbs and idioms frowned me upon! (Is it correct?)

Maybe you frown upon phrasal verbs, but they are part of the language :)

thank you and i appreciate all teachers who are helping us learning English,and i will try to improve my speaking English as soon as possible,and i need your support always.

[67] ho my god! These is so hard phrasal verbs. :(

Keep working at it Rodolfo ;)

oh sorry one more miss previous time was

oh sorry these phrasal verbs so hard,one time previous i did 54. and now 44,will succeed,

Keep trying Mohamed. It’ll come ;)

Thank you, teacher…..!!!

Thank you Adam, excellent lesson !

Hi teacher Adam! I dont understand about follow through on and carry out if both of them means to do something, to complete something… those are the same? (the quiz number 3…I did it wrong)

They are similar, bit sometimes you need to be careful about word placement. You can carry them out, but you can’t carry out them.

Does this help?

Yes! Thank you so much, Adam! I really like your classes. You’re a great teacher! :)

Hi teacher/ A great thank to You from the Roof of the world))) Do You have a lesson for elementary level?

Than you a lot sir adam

Thanks for the informative lesson Adam How can I remember these phrasal verbs? Also I hope if you mentioned some of informal phrasal verbs to avoid using it in IELTS

The best way is to read a lot and keep a notebook of these terms and review it often.

There are many informal ones to avoid, but I’ll try to make a video about some of these.

You’re the best teacher on engVid, do you know that?

thank you so much for all your help this class help a lot

I got 56/90, the lesson is quite difficult, some question i don’t get it special account for, I will more attemp in next time, anyway thank Adam

Keep trying Nguyen. It will get easier :)

Thank you!!

100/100 I’m so happy !

Thank u Adam

So helpful! Many thanks, Adam!

Thank you sir. I want know the order of words in sentence like time,date, place, event etc

Example: There will be a meeting at 11am on 31.03.2019 at hotel in Mumbai

Hi Nageswara,

Generally, go from small to big. Time or place can be changed in order.

Hey Nageswara, You had to mention place before time.So, your sentence transforms “There will be a meeting at the hotel in Mumbai at 11 am on 31/03/2019. It small mistake in the work order.

*It small mistake of word order.

I got 5/9. Thank you very much Adam for the useful lesson. Can I use ” take into account” or “take into consideration” instead of account for?

Yes, you can:

When packing clothes for a trip overseas it is important to take the weather into consideration.

It is important to account for the weather when packing clothes for a trip overseas

The second one seems a little overly formal for the situation though.

Hope this helps.

Thank you very much Adam for your reply.

Thank you so much Adam!!!

Hi, there seems to be a mistake in the last sentence of the text, just above the video.

The sentence goes like this: And if you are taking the IELTS or the TOEFL, then these will be certainly help you get a better score in the writing section of those exams.

Shouldn’t it be either ‘… these will certainly help you…’ or ‘… these will be certainly helping you…’?

Thanks for correcting me if I’m wrong. :)

I don’t do the transcripts, but yes, it is wrong if that’s what it says. It should be “…then these will certainly help you get a better score…” or “…then these will certainly be helpful in getting you a better score…”

Good eye, by the way.

Thank you, and have a nice weekend sir! :)

thank you mister Adam it was a nice lesson i just like it

very good but I didn’t anderastand cut back on

Hi Ehabali,

To cut back on means to do less, to reduce.

Cut back on sugar means consume less sugar.

It has been made easy so that i achieved 100% marks.Adam, you are a very skilled teacher. i thank you.

i am new to these lessons . please guide me how i go to the next lesson. i expected it to come my way automatically. thanks Adam.

Welcome Zafarimalik :)

If you subscribe to the channel and choose notifications you will know when a new video comes out.

dear Adam, I wanted to subscribe and click notifications . the procedure was so complicated for me at age 77 that i gave up, but i enjoy and find your lessons useful; therefore, i am not going to give up learning. thanks for your guidance.

Very cool…

interesting lesson, Tks

Hi Adam! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. I have a question for you. Is there any difference in meaning between: 1. WHO did you give your book TO? and WHOM did you give your book? 2. WHO did you buy that book FOR? and WHOM did you buy that book? 3. WHO did you talk WITH? and WHOM did you talk?

after watching ur questions,i have the same ones.

All the questions with WHOM need the preposition.

Technically, all of them should use WHOM, though most people don’t do this, even native speakers.

1. To WHOM did you give your book? — You is the subject. WHOM is the object of give.

For whom… With whom…

You’ve gotten my esteem!. Thanks so much Adam!. You’re awesome man!.

I’ve learned a lot in this class, I cannot really do without of english study.

very useful thank you

Congrats, very nice class

Thank you Adam I need more practice

I study English for more than 12 years , and till now I do not know speaking in English !!! what should I do Adam ?

Hi Tabarak,

Studying is not enough. You need to find people to practice with. Maybe join a class or find a group in your area that wants to improve their English.

Very useful!!

could you explain how to use verb and modifiers correctly or either any -one please once more for SAT

Not really sure what you mean here. There are many verb and modifier combinations. Which part of the SAT?

Great! Thank you very much, Adam!

Thanks everyone :)

Interesting and useful. Thank you Adam!

89. Thanks Adam.

Do you mind asking what is the basis/principle of adding the prefix “en” and “in”, et cetera? I can render the difference of the meaning and definition clearly, for example without limitation, the difference in the meaning between “folded” and “enfolded”, but I want to know the philosophy behind. – How can you explain/define a function for the complement and the complementizer and the differences between both? – What’s the basis or the principle of the ideal conjunction attempt? To mention a sample without forgetting others, like the word “refuse” I see “refusing” not “refusition”! It may cause heaviness in pronunciation, who knows! Sorry! I have a lot of questions here. Thank you! Appreciate your endeavor and work.

Hi Merelyblink,

I’d recommend a good linguistics book to answer these types of questions. You can also look for Fowler’s Modern English. It’s a classic. It might help.

Thank you very much teacher, those phrasal verbs are really helpful, I’ll keep using them in my essays.

Hi Adam, Can we use “revolve around” in a sentence in the integrated task of TOEFL like this: The reading and the lecture both “revolve around”… instead of saying: The reading and the lecture both are about … I want to know if it is informal or not.

Yes, that is a good expression and certainly formal enough :)

You are my favorite teacher here, thanks for your detailed explanations on every word. I plan to go to Canada sometime, is there any chance for me to meet you and buy you a drink? LOL

:) Thanks Zenham.

I actually live in S. Korea now.

I am preparing for bank exams in India Sir i want to improve vocubulary and phrasal verbs and idioms

Read a lot and keep a notebook for new vocab. Also, there are lots of online videos for vocab. Do a good search on this site and Youtube. You can also visit my other channel: youtube.com/writetotop where I do some vocab lessons.

Can I look into the problem to find out the solution and carry out a plan so we can follow through it?

Almost, KasiaJaa.

You can look at the problem to try to find solutions. Then, you can make a plan, carry it out, and hopefully follow through to your goal.

Hi Adam, love your teachings. I looked up for the phrasal verb – ‘account for’ in many dictionaries, but it seemed it doesn’t have the meaning of ‘consideration’. Only to find the meaning of explanation, proportion, responsibility, and destroy. Could you explain this to me? Moreover, please correct the grammar and fluency of this comment. Much obliged!

The four meanings you mention are correct, but keep in mind it all has to do with context.

NASA engineers need to account for the weather on a launch day when calculating their numbers.

It turns out this may be just an American usage: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/account%20for%20(something) #4

Hi Teacher, I can’t thank you enough for this helpful lesson. One question if you don’t mind, I think two answers of for is acceptable for question 2. Answer 1 and 4. Could you please share your comments about this.

The teacher accounted for something means gave as reason, but this is done after the fact, not before. The teacher wanted to make students read more, so he/she used candy as a bribe. Otherwise it would look like this: The teacher’s bribes accounted for her student’s rising interest in reading. (though ot a great sentence) Does this help?

I appreciate your help.

Hi sir, I’m new here. and at the first attempt that I did on the quiz I got 56, but after I read all phrasal verbs carefully in second time I got 89. Sir I will set in the TOEFL exam in November.

Please guide me sir I have to level up my English skills in four sections: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Thanks and best wishes for You dear Adam

Thank you, Adam, for your help it is helpful taking this lesson and quizes

Thank you Adam.

Many Thanks.

I definetely can say that I understand what you say completely. We are on same channel sir. Thank you for your great efforts to teach us english.

thanks for the great quiz

Thank you, Adam.

Many thanks with your help.

Adam sir,Thanks for your lesson.It’s really helpful.

hello ADAM, how are you ? hope you are in good health and perfect times really you’re an excellent teacher

thank you Adam!

Hi Adam I have my IELTS exam in couple of weeks. I have a question is there any email where I can send my writing answers so that you can tell my mistakes.

I got 78, thank you prof. Adam.

for the start, I don’t think it was that bad.

hurrah! Got 9 out of 9 before watching video.

Thank you Mr. Adam.

Got 8/9…

Excellent, thank you

Thank you Adam! Just one question:

Do “Frown upon” and “Frown on” mean the same?

Thanks again!

got 9 out of 9, really impresses me thanks adam for taught us new vocabulaty

hi adam, I enjoyed watching your tutorial,it helps a lot .thanks

Thank you sir. Adam. I am very grateful.

Hi Adam I appreciate your lessons in phrasal verbs and love them very much!!

thank you Adam you’re my favorite one

Hi Adam, your teaching is really practical, thank you.

Wonderful lesson.

8 correct out of 9. Thanks a lot for the comprehensible and useful lesson, dear Adam. Greetings from Germany.

thank you for knowledgeable video ,Iam improving my English in lockdown .

9/9! Thank you, Adam, for your straight-forward lessons. You are very easy to follow. Keep on with the good job!

Adam, I couldn´t do without your english lessons.

Adam, I found this lesson most difficult to know exactly. It’s because I tried to solve the given quiz but I scored 7 correct out of 9. This was my third time attempt. So I need more concentration to learn English and I was compelled to go through again. Anyway, thanks a lot for your hard working.

thank you!could you recommend some references for the phrasal verb?

oh i think this is easy but no D:

Hi Adam , i am really enjoying your lessons , i can easily understand your language its very clear that able to hear every single word , unlike some other native speakers. thanks a lot Sir. regards, Yasser Zunaim

[freun] ? are you Australian?

carry out a resarch but look into rates :( 8/9

Hi….I’d like to brush my speaking up. Is there anyone else who is interested in speaking to me on a regular basis? My whatsapp number is +8801812788727. Thank you. Rasho.

7/9! The phrasal verbs are my weakest part! I can’t remember these things.

9/9 How exciting!

I have a confusion in 3rd question. Does follow through on sound correct to you? Although I knew follow through is right option, yet I didn’t chose it because it was followed by on. Kindly clear my confusion Adam :) Besides it, I am a big fan of your Pedagogy from Pakistan :)

Thank you, Adam. Good lesson and explanation. I scored perfect on the quiz. I take into account of reading the sentence more than once, to see which choice will make sense.

Very helpful.

Wow, I’ve got a perfect score! Thanks Sir Adam

Adam thank you. Very educative.

Amazing lesson Adam,grettings from Venezuela

Thank you. I got 6 of 9.

Awesome phrasals, I’ll use several of them in my essay, thanks as allways.

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Which phrasal verbs can be used in academic English?

This is the third and final chapter about Phrasal Verbs . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.   

– Provide the most common phrasal verbs and their types

– Divide phrasal verbs into general and academic categories

– Discuss how to avoid phrasal verbs in academic writing

Chapter 1: What are English phrasal verbs?

Chapter 2: What are the different types of phrasal verb?

Chapter 3: Which phrasal verbs can be used in academic English?

Before you begin reading...

• video and audio texts
• knowledge checks and quizzes
• skills practices, tasks and assignments

This final chapter on phrasal verbs provides detailed lists of the most common constructions that may be used in both general and academic English.

1. General English Phrasal Verbs

The phrasal verbs which are used in general English tend to be more idiomatic   and less formal than their academic counterparts. Very common in speech, particularly between friends or out on the street, the following list provides you with the twenty most-used phrasal verbs, indicating also the variables of transitivity and separability that were discussed in Chapter 2.

Remember when using the following lists that ‘I’ = intransitive (that the phrase cannot take an object ), ‘T’ = transitive (the phrase takes an object) and S = separable (the object may come between the verb  and the particle). 

2. Academic English Phrasal Verbs

Many textbooks and tutors of academic English may warn students against using phrasal verbs at all, and while it is true that academics must be very cautious about using such words in their assignments , these constructions should not be avoided altogether. Although not nearly as commonly found in academic texts as in speech, phrasal verbs still reportedly appear in academic writing every 1,250 words. Generally, however, the type of phrasal verbs that are used in this context are more formal ones that lack in idiomaticity.

One reason that phrasal verbs may be less common in academic contexts is because, as we highlighted in Chapters 1 and 2, these constructions can sometimes have unclear meanings – and academic writing is about being as unambiguous as possible. Notice how the ten common academic phrasal verbs we’ve listed below are almost all transitive and inseparable and have fairly low levels of idiomaticity.

3. Avoiding Phrasal Verbs

Finally, if phrasal verbs are very common in speech and informal English but shouldn’t be commonly used in academic writing, then how can students learn to avoid them? The quick answer to this problem is to say that the best method for avoiding phrasal verbs that you’ve already learned is to instead investigate and use a synonym  for these words in your academic performances and writing. The most recommended and academic option is to use a one-word synonym for the particular phrasal verb you’ve selected (if one exists), such as in the examples below:

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Once you’ve completed all three chapters about phrasal verbs , you might also wish to download our beginner, intermediate and advanced worksheets to test your progress or print for your students. These professional PDF worksheets can be easily accessed for only a few Academic Marks .

Our phrasal verbs   reader (including all three chapters about this topic) can be accessed here at the click of a button.

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List of 28 Phrasal Verbs in Academic Writing

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80 Most Common Phrasal Verbs: Definitions and Examples

• Phrasal verbs are two or more words that together act as a completely new verb with a meaning separate from those of the original words.
• For example, pick up is a phrasal verb that means to grab or lift, which differs from the definitions of pick and up alone.
• You can conjugate phrasal verbs into every type of verb form.
• Phrasal verbs can be organized into two kinds of pairs: transitive and intransitive, separable and inseparable. A phrasal verb can belong to only one type within each pair.
• Most of the time, the words in a phrasal verb stay together.

Popular in spoken English, phrasal verbs can be quite confusing because their definitions aren’t always easy to guess—and there are thousands of them. For multilingual speakers, phrasal verbs can be challenging when learning English . In fact, many of the base verbs used to form phrasal verbs are used in multiple different phrasal verbs with distinct meanings, which can add to the confusion.

To help simplify this complicated subject, here is a guide to understanding English phrasal verbs, including a list of 80 of the most common ones with examples

Work smarter with Grammarly The AI writing assistant for anyone with work to do Get Grammarly

Table of contents

What is a phrasal verb, how to conjugate phrasal verbs, types of phrasal verbs, word order with phrasal verbs, 80 common phrasal verbs (with meanings and examples).

Phrasal verbs FAQs

A phrasal verb combines a normal verb with an adverb or a preposition , referred to as the particle of the phrasal verb, to create an entirely new verbal phrase—the phrasal verb. The meaning of a phrasal verb is usually unrelated to the meanings of the words that compose it, so think of a phrasal verb as an entirely new and independent word.

Let’s look at the phrasal verb get over as an example. The verb get alone means to acquire, and the preposition over alone usually refers to being higher than or going above something. However, put them together and the phrasal verb get over means to recover from or overcome something, a completely new definition that’s separate from the definitions of get and over .

You can use get over just like a normal verb, in any form or tense. Here are some quick examples:

Simple past tense :

I had the flu last week but got over it.

Infinitive :

He wrote a song to get over his grandmother’s death.

Getting over prejudice at work is never easy.

Past participle :

Having finally gotten over the breakup, they were ready to return their partner’s things.

Phrasal verbs can be conjugated into every type of verb form , so you can use them anywhere you could use a normal verb.

When a phrasal verb is used as the main verb of a sentence, you conjugate the verb part and leave the other word or words as they are. Simply use whatever form of the verb you would use if it were alone.

I get up at noon during the summer.

However, this morning I got up at sunrise.

I have gotten up early too many times this month.

Notice how only the word get changes, while the word up remains the same. Also, notice how get , an irregular verb , uses its irregular forms to fit whichever tense it needs.

In this way, you can use phrasal verbs in all the verb tenses so that you’re able to communicate anything you want. Conjugation is also important for maintaining verb tense consistency if you’re using phrasal verbs in a list with other verbs.

To better understand phrasal verbs, it helps to organize them into two kinds of pairs: transitive and intransitive, separable and inseparable . A phrasal verb can belong to only one type within each pair (and all separable phrasal verbs are transitive).

Transitive phrasal verbs

Transitive phrasal verbs use a direct object, just like normal transitive verbs .

Charlie couldn’t put up with the meowing cats any longer.

Intransitive phrasal verbs

Intransitive phrasal verbs do not use an object.

The regional director was late, so the sales team went ahead without her.

Separable phrasal verbs

With transitive phrasal verbs, you can sometimes put the direct object between the verb and the particle, as in “pick you up,” for example. There are, however, a few rules to follow with separable phrasal verbs , so pay attention to our next section, about word order.

He forgot to shut the lights off before he left.

Inseparable phrasal verbs

Inseparable phrasal verbs cannot be split up; the verb and the particle must stay together. All intransitive phrasal verbs are inseparable .

The wayward son carried on without his father.

Some transitive phrasal verbs are also inseparable.

They went over the contract meticulously before signing it.

For intransitive and inseparable transitive phrasal verbs, the verb and the particle must go next to each other and should never be split up.

Separable phrasal verbs follow different rules, however. For starters, separable phrasal verbs are always transitive, so they always have a direct object. You can put the direct object in the middle of separable phrasal verbs , between the verb and the particle:

Augustus never let Hazel down .

This remains true when the direct object is a noun phrase; you can put all the words of the noun phrase between the verb and the particle of a separable phrasal verb:

You never let any of your friends down .

With some separable phrasal verbs, putting the direct object between the verb and the particle is not just an option; it’s required. For example, let’s look at the phrasal verb get down .

The beginning of the mo vie “Up”  gets down everyone .

The beginning of the movie “Up” gets everyone down .

With other separable phrasal verbs, it doesn’t matter whether the direct object comes in the middle or at the end. Both options are acceptable. Unfortunately, there’s no method for determining which phrasal verbs are separable and which are not; you just have to memorize them and practice until they come naturally. Both of the following examples using the separable phrasal verb pick up are correct:

Pick the box up and carry it to the kitchen.

Pick up the box and carry it to the kitchen.

However, pronouns do follow a special rule when it comes to separable phrasal verbs: If the object is a pronoun, it must always be placed in the middle of a separable phrasal verb . Pronoun direct objects cannot go after the phrasal verb.

Pick up it and carry it to the kitchen.

Pick it up and carry it to the kitchen.

Remember that not all transitive phrasal verbs are separable . Transitive phrasal verbs can be either separable or inseparable, so be careful of where you put your object. For example, the transitive phrasal verbs get through , come between , and go against are all inseparable, so the direct object comes after them every time.

Nothing comes us between .

Nothing comes between us .

Here’s a tip: Want to make sure you’re using phrasal verbs correctly in your writing ? Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write.  

1 back [ x ] up

Definition: to support or defend someone

When the class was making fun of me, only the teacher backed me up .

2 break down

Definition: to stop working, especially in reference to machines

The ice cream machine at McDonald’s often breaks down .

3 call around

Definition: to contact multiple people

Roy called around to find a nearby mechanic.

4 call [ x ] off

Definition: to cancel a planned event

We called the party off . / We called off the party .

5 calm down

Definition: to relax after an energetic or irritated state

I need a few minutes to calm down after that match.

6 check [ x ] out

Definition: to examine a person or thing; when used in reference to a person, can connote looking at them with romantic or sexual interest

I’ll check the contract out . / I’ll check out the contract .

7 cheer [ x ] up

Definition: to make someone happy, especially if they were previously sad

Reading always cheers me up on a rainy day.

Definition: to be extremely successful in an endeavor such as business, sports, or gambling

Our hockey team cleaned up at the tournament and went home undefeated.

Definition: to stop engaging in questionable behavior, such as consuming drugs or alcohol

Her boss said she had to either clean up or find a new job.

9 clean [ x ] up

Definition: to tidy an area

John cleaned the living room up . / John cleaned up the living room .

10 come around

Definition: to change one’s opinion or see a new point of view

I never liked seafood but came around after trying fried calamari.

11 come between [ x ]

Definition: to interfere with a relationship between two people

After more than 50 years of partnership, nothing could come between them .

12 come down with [ x ]

Definition: to catch an illness

After traveling, Chandra came down with a cold .

13 come out of [ x ]

Definition: to happen as a consequence of another event

We missed a day of school, so at least some good came out of our boring class trip .

Definition: to arise as a topic of discussion or receive attention

Everyone talked about how much they enjoyed the movie, but the run time never came up in the conversation.

Definition: to approach

While I was walking along the fence, a cow came up and licked my face.

Definition: to present itself or occur, as in event or situation

Don’t worry about a problem until it comes up .

15 come up with [ x ]

Definition: to think of an idea, especially as the first person to do so, or to produce a solution

Sahar comes up with her best story ideas at night, so she writes them down before she forgets them.

16 count on [ x ]

Definition: to rely or depend on someone or something

If I’m ever making a mistake, I can count on my friends to warn me.

17 crack down on [ x ]

Definition: to attack or punish someone harshly; to penalize a behavior

Ever since last month’s accident, police have been cracking down on drunk driving .

18 dive into [ x ]

Definition: to eagerly begin a pursuit or activity

I’ll dive into that new TV show later tonight.

19 dress up

Definition: to put on nice clothes

Abed dressed up for the award ceremony.

Definition: to eventually reach some conclusion or destination

After thinking for a day, he ended up taking the job.

21 fall apart

Definition: to break into pieces

My new dress completely fell apart after just two washes.

Definition: to experience acute mental or emotional distress

He endured all kinds of harassment at work without flinching but fell apart when his cat got sick.

22 fill [ x ] up

Definition: to put into a container as much as it can contain

Bruce filled his water bottle up to the brim. / Bruce filled up his water bottle to the brim.

23 find out [ x ]

Definition: to discover or learn something

We didn’t find out the news until we got back from dinner.

24 get [ x ] across

Definition: to successfully communicate or explain something

The professor spoke for hours, but they didn’t get anything across to the students.

25 get ahead

Definition: to succeed or progress

You’ll never get ahead at this company unless you follow the rules.

26 get along with [ x ]

Definition: to be on harmonious terms with someone

My dog gets along with everyone as long as they’re not a cat.

27 get around

Definition: to travel from place to place

In this city, it’s impossible to get around without a car.

28 get around to [ x ]

Definition: to do something eventually

I’ll get around to that project after the playoffs.

29 get at [ x ]

Definition: to reach or gain access to something

I can’t quite get at this itch on my back.

Definition: to indicate or suggest something

These graphs are getting at the fact that we’ll be bankrupt by next week.

30 get away

Definition: to escape or depart

Lucio liked to go to the lake every weekend, just to get away .

31 get away with [ x ]

Definition: to commit a crime or misdeed without incurring any negative consequences

The boss’s nephew gets away with things that none of the other employees would.

32 get [ x ] back

Definition: to retrieve something

Rodger got his pencil back from Greta. / Rodger got back his pencil from Greta.

33 get back at [ x ]

Definition: to take revenge on someone

Laila promised herself that she would get back at whoever had started the rumor.

Definition: to survive or manage at a minimum level

When Sheila lost her job, the family got by with only their savings.

35 get down

Definition: to enjoy oneself without inhibitions, especially with music or dancing

Vicente may be formal at work, but he sure knows how to get down to hip-hop.

36 get [ x ] down

Definition: to depress or discourage someone

Kima always gets everyone down with her stories from the hospital.

Definition: to record something by taking notes

The president spoke quickly at the press conference, and reporters were struggling to get all his comments down . / The president spoke quickly at the press conference, and reporters were struggling to get down all his comments .

37 get down to [ x ]

Definition: to begin or start something, especially something basic or fundamental

Once everyone arrives, we’ll get down to picking teams .

38 get in on [ x ]

Definition: to join an activity

After the value of Bitcoin started going up, lots of people wanted to get in on cryptocurrency .

39 get into [ x ]

Definition: to discuss something thoroughly

I don’t want to get into our finances now; we’ll talk after our guests leave.

40 get [ x ] out of [ x ]

Definition: to take some benefit from a situation

Babysitting the Cohles was a nightmare, but at least Jabar got some money out of it .

41 get over [ x ]

Definition: to recover from or overcome something

Drinking a lot of water helps in getting over an illness .

42 get through [ x ]

Definition: to complete or endure an unpleasant experience

Alessandra can’t get through a morning without coffee.

43 get to [ x ]

Definition: to annoy or bother someone

People who don’t clean up after their dogs really get to me .

44 get together

Definition: to gather socially

The volleyball team is getting together for dinner after practice.

45 give [ x ] away

Definition: to donate something or give something for free

Mindy gave her prized doll collection away . / Mindy gave away her prized doll collection .

Definition: to accept defeat, quit, or surrender

Carin felt like giving up every time she saw the scoreboard.

47 give [ x ] up

Definition: to stop consuming or doing something, often a habit

Minh gave chocolate up because of his migraines. / Minh gave up chocolate because of his migraines.

48 go against [ x ]

Definition: to disobey, contradict, oppose, or fight something

A group of students went against the school dress code yesterday and wore ripped jeans.

49 go ahead

Definition: to proceed or move forward

Because of the snow, we can’t go ahead with the festival.

50 go along with [ x ]

Definition: to agree with or pretend to agree with

Even though Cedric hated weightlifting, he decided to go along with it because his coach suggested it.

51 go for [ x ]

Definition: to try to achieve something

Carlos trains so hard because he is going for an Olympic gold medal .

Definition: to continue

The workers will go on digging until they hit a water pipe.

53 go over [ x ]

Definition: to review or look at something

Marie wants to go   over the study guide one last time before the test.

54 hand in [ x ]

Definition: to submit something, especially an assignment

The teacher wants us to hand in our essays by email.

55 hold [ x ] back

Definition: to prevent someone from doing something

I wanted to become an architect, but my bad grades held me back .

56 keep [ x ] up

Definition: to continue doing something

Keep this pace up and you’ll set a new record!

57 leave [ x ] out

Definition: to omit something

Orna left the graph out of the presentation. / Orna left out the graph from the presentation.

58 let [ x ] down

Definition: to disappoint someone

Kamal let Marco down when he arrived late. / Kamal let down Marco when he arrived late.

59 let go of [ x ]

Definition: to release or free something

Don’t let go of the rope until I’m safe.

60 let [ x ] in

Definition: to allow something or someone to enter

Close the door or you’ll let the flies in ! / Close the door or you’ll let in the flies !

61 let [ x ] know

Definition: to tell someone something

Let me know as soon as Leslie texts back.

62 look after [ x ]

Definition: to take care of someone or something

Thank you for looking after me when I was sick.

63 look up to [ x ]

Definition: to admire or idolize someone

I looked up to this YouTuber until I read about their scandal.

64 mix up [ x ]

Definition: to confuse two or more things with one another

It’s easy to mix up Chris Pine and Chris Pratt .

65 pull [ x ] up

Definition: to retrieve or bring something nearer

Eugene pulled the document up on his computer. / Eugene pulled up the document on his computer.

66 put [ x ] on

Definition: to dress oneself in

I always put my backpack on before leaving the house. / I always put on my backpack before leaving the house.

67 put up with [ x ]

Definition: to tolerate or condone something

Somehow Paz could put up with Janice’s cynical attitude .

68 run out of [ x ]

Definition: to use all of or drain the supply of something

Isabella ran out of toilet paper at the worst possible time.

69 see to [ x ]

Definition: to make sure something is done

I’ll see to watering the plants while you’re gone.

70 set [ x ] up

Definition: to arrange or organize something

Since no one had invited me to join their study group, I set a group up myself. / Since no one had invited me to join their study group, I set up a group myself.

71 show off

Definition: to display abilities or accomplishments in order to impress others

Panya didn’t need to shoot so many three-pointers; she was just showing off .

72 shut [ x ] off

Definition: to turn off, especially a machine

Don’t forget to shut the water off after your shower. / Don’t forget to shut off the water after your shower.

73 take after [ x ]

Definition: to resemble someone, especially with regard to children resembling their parents

Li t akes after his father when it comes to politics.

74 take [ x ] out

Definition: to move something outside

Please take the garbage out before dinner. / Please take out the garbage before dinner.

75 think [ x ] over

Definition: to consider something

When his parents suggested selling his Pokémon cards, Yosef thought the idea over. / When his parents suggested selling his Pokémon cards, Yosef thought over the idea .

76 throw [ x ] away

Definition: to dispose of something

Could you throw that old burrito away ? / Could you throw away that old burrito ?

77 top [ x ] off

Definition: to refill something to the top; to complete something in a special or spectacular way

May I top your beverage off ? / May I top off your beverage ?

78 turn [ x ] down

Definition: to reject or say no to someone

My crush turned me down after I asked them out.

79 wait on [ x ]

Definition: to serve someone, especially at a restaurant

Billie eagerly waited on the table of new customers, hoping for a big tip.

80 wait out

Definition: to wait until an even or period is over

They decided to wait out the rain before going on a walk.

Phrasal verb FAQs

What are phrasal verbs.

Phrasal verbs are groups of words that combine a verb with an adverb or a preposition. Together, these words act as a single verb and take on a whole new meaning independent from the meanings of the individual words.

What are some examples of phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs are very common, and you hear them in spoken English all the time. Some popular examples include get out , calm down , give away , and put up with .

What are the four types of phrasal verbs?

There are four types of phrasal verbs, divided into two pairs: transitive and intransitive, separable and inseparable. A phrasal verb can belong to only one of each pair, and all separable phrasal verbs are transitive.

What’s the difference between phrasal verbs and idioms?

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more particles (such as prepositions or adverbs) that alters its meaning. For example, give up means to stop trying. In contrast, an idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning is not directly related to the individual words it contains. For instance, kick the bucket means to die, and the literal interpretation does not convey the intended meaning.

Real Exam English

Phrasal Verbs for Writing

This is a list of 10 great phrasal verbs that can be used in a variety of writing (and speaking) tasks. It is an extract from the Real Exam English podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1107956/episodes/8731956

So,  one of my C1 students, Amaya, asked me for a list of phrasal verbs that would be good to use in the different types of writing, essay, reports, emails or whatever. Her problem was that despite knowing and having studied many different phrasal verbs when it comes to the time to include one in a writing she can´t think of any.

So I´ve put together a list of 10 phrasal verbs that are really versatile and I thought it would be great idea to share this with you lovely listeners. So these phrasal verbs can be used in the writing or speaking parts of exams and can be used for a variety of topics too. I´ll explain the meaning of the phrasal verbs and give examples of where you might be able to use them in an exam.

Ok then so our first phrasal verb is look forward to. This means to feel happy about something that is going to happen, like I´m really looking forward to seeing my family again. Note that the verb that follows look forward to is seeing, which is in the gerund or ing form. It may seem a bit weird to have to followed by ING but the to belongs to the phrasal verb look forward to, rather than the verb that follows, seeing in our example. You can also follow look forward to with a noun, like I´m looking forward to a beer.

So where could you use this in an exam. Well definitely in a speaking exam, any time you are asked about the future, like what plans do you have for the weekend or for the summer you could use this. For example, this summer I´m going to travel around Australia in a campervan with a bunch of my mates, it´s been ages since we´ve seen each other so we´re really looking forward to it. In a writing exam this could be used in a letter, either informal or formal and in fact is a very typical way to sign off, like I am looking forward to receiving your reply. It could also be used in an article or in a review, like imagine you have written a review of a great experience in a restaurant or a hotel, in your conclusion you could say that you are looking forward to going back there to try more of their delicious food.

Ok next up is to cut down on , which means to reduce consumption of something. So everybody has something that they do too much of, like using their mobile phones, eating unhealthy foods, drinking too much coffee, or wine, some people work too many hours, others waste time playing computer games, some people can´t stop spending money on clothes, or maybe new gadgets, the list is endless. So if you have to speak, or write, about any of these things then you can say that you really need to cut down on the amount of whatever that you are doing. This phrasal verb can be used to write about a more serious topic too, like the environment, it is crucial that we cut down on the amount of fossil fuels that we use, or maybe about social media, cutting down on social media use is advisable for our mental health.

The next phrasal verb is to Look into , which means to investigate. This is a really handy one as it can be used in a variety of situations. Like in a report or a proposal you could say the company should look into the causes of the incident, or advising a friend about things to do in your area, you could say There is an amazing scuba diving course you can do over the course of a weekend, you should look into it as I think it´s something you will enjoy. Another place you might use this phrasal verb is if someone asks you about your plans for the future, you could answer well, I´d love to be an astronaut, so it´s something I´m going to look into a bit further before sending my CV to NASA.

Phrasal verb number four is Lead to , if an action leads to something, then it causes it to happen or exist. For instance, wearing sunscreen leads to a reduction in skin cancer. This is one of those phrasal verbs that is fine to use both in a formal situation. You can definitely use this in almost any essay, as well as reports and proposals. Like, were we to increase the number of teachers per student then this would lead to better behaviour in the classroom. (nice inverted conditional there too for all of you grammar junkies!) If you haven´t been using this phrasal verb before then make sure you learn it as it´s very versatile and will lead to more marks for you in the exam.

Ok, next we have Keep up with , which has a couple of meanings, one is to continue to be informed about something. It is common in speaking exams to be asked about keeping up with or keeping up to date with things like the news, technology, fashion, music, etc. I like to keep up with world events by following some journalists on twitter. The second meaning is to try to keep the same speed or pace as somebody or something. Like, you speak too quickly, I can´t keep up with what you are saying, or the company cannot keep up with the demands for it´s products which has led to a shortage.

Phrasal verb number six is Set up , which means to establish or start something. An example is, they set up a company when they left college, or I would like to set up a meeting with the boss to discuss my performance, or we went camping in the mountains and set up our tent in a spectacular valley. This phrasal verb is a favourite in Cambridge exams, in use of English tests, so if you´re doing a Cambridge test make sure you know this one.

Next is to point out, which means to draw attention to something. I have a student, Cristina, from Spain, who always includes the expression “I cannot help but point out” in her essays, every single time. And this is a great way to prepare for an exam, by using the same language over and over, imagine on the day of Cristina´s exam, she’s not going to have to think about what phrasal verbs to use, she just knows automatically that she will be able to use “I cannot help but point out”. I´ll share a tip I used myself when I was preparing for my Spanish exams. Every single day I sat down to study I wrote examples of all of the fancy grammar I wanted to use in the exam, different types of conditionals, reported speech, subjunctives, nice vocabulary, etc. That way when it came to the day of the exam I wasn´t wasting time trying to remember how to form the sentences, it just came naturally. It´s also very comforting for you before the exam that you know that regardless of the exam question they are going to ask you, you know what language you are going to include to impress them. So be like Cristina guys, I cannot help but point out that it´s a super way to prepare for an exam.

The next phrasal verb is to Run out , or run out of , which means to use up a resource until there is none left. For example, we have run out of milk so I am going to go to the shop to get some more. Or I couldn´t finish the reading and use of English test, I ran out of time. Or maybe in a report or proposal you could recommend that a company has sufficient stock to ensure that it doesn´t run out.

While some people may run out of ideas, others find it easy to come up with ideas. And that is our next phrasal verb, come up with, meaning to think of a plan or an idea. This is a really useful one, like it is imperative we come up with a plan to fight global warming, or we came up with a new dish using the leftovers from dinner, or the company is finding it difficult to come up with a new name for it´s brand of toilet paper.

Phrasal verb number nine is to put off, meaning to postpone. This is another one that appears in use of English or grammar exams a lot. It can also be used in a bunch of different scenarios, like I put off going on holidays so I could do my C1 exam, or we cannot put off the launch of the product any longer, or the opening of the new facility should be put off until there are sufficient resources.

And the last phrasal verb in the list is to end up , which means to finally be in a place or a situation. So imagine you are writing a review, we ended up eating 2 desserts each, as they were so delicious, or the film ended up with the couple falling in love and everybody living happily ever after. Or if talking about English, you could say I listened to the Real Exam English podcast and ended up learning loads of phrasal verbs, which lead to me passing my exam, woohoo!

Compártelo:

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Figuring Out Phrasal Verbs In Academic Writing

Can you work out what this article is going to talk about?

Any ideas…?

That’s right: phrasal verbs , the popular language item which confuses many English learners.

Why are phrasal verbs confusing?

Well, take a look at the question above – do you understand what “work out” means? It could mean “ to exercise ”, “ to end well ” or “ to think of a solution ”.

Which one do you think fits the sentence above? I’ll tell you the answer later.

By the end of the article, you’ll know what phrasal verbs are, which ones you can avoid, and which ones you can use in your academic writing.

[thrive_text_block color=”blue” headline=””][thrive_2step id=’1533′]If you just can’t wait for the good stuff, click here to download the free phrasal verb cheat sheet here![/thrive_2step] [/thrive_text_block]

What are Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs + adverbs/prepositions . They are ‘idiomatic phrases’, which means that they don’t always have a literal meaning.

So you either know them or you don’t.

They are also really common in spoken English – Check the first 10 seconds of this video :

[responsive_video type=’youtube’ hide_related=’1′ hide_logo=’1′ hide_controls=’0′ hide_title=’1′ hide_fullscreen=’1′ autoplay=’0′]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yljeMh-eFls[/responsive_video]

In the first 10 seconds the presenter, says ‘kick off’ and ‘got off’. These phrasal verbs don’t relate to their main verbs kick or got at all.

In fact, they both mean “to start (something)”

Kick off is used to start a game or meeting or event . (ex. “What time does the game kick off/start?”)

Get off can mean to start a journey (ex. “It’s getting late, so I need to get off soon.”)

And not only that, but according to this site , ‘get off’ has 11 different meanings!

This means two things for you, lucky English learner:

• It’s difficult to understand phrasal verbs when you hear them.
• It’s difficult to know which phrasal verb to use.

You can solve these two issues by doing one simple thing:

Learn phrasal verbs in context, not as individual language items.

Phrasal Verbs In Academic Writing

So, they’re common in speaking, but how about writing? Here’s a quick quiz:

• If yes , then you can use phrasal verbs.
• If yes , then look for alternatives.

I help students transition from writing IELTS style essays to academic essays. One of the things that I do is remove the informal language ,  such as phrasal verbs. That’s not to say that all phrasal verbs are bad, though.

To make it easy for you, here’s what we’ll do:

First we’ll look at 10 of the most common phrasal verbs that should avoid in your academic writing, and then we’ll look at 5 phrasal verbs that you can use in your academic writing. I know I said you should learn these in context, but this is a way of reverse learning…

[thrive_text_block color=”blue” headline=””][thrive_2step id=’1533′]Click here to download a free, easy-to-print copy of all the phrasal verbs here & more![/thrive_2step] [/thrive_text_block]

10 Phrasal Verbs To Avoid In Your Academic Writing

The good news is many phrasal verbs have a single verb counterpart. This means, you just need to know the replacement verb.

I’m going to show you 10 of the most commonly used phrasal verbs and how you can make them more academic.

Hand out/ Send out -> To Distribute

This mostly refers to anything that you give to people

Avoid : The questionnaires were handed out to each participant.

Correct : The questionnaires were distributed to each participant.

Come about -> To Happen

This is used show how something occurred.

Avoid : It is suggested that these riots came about because of financial disrupt.

Correct : It is suggested that these riots happened because of financial disrupt.

Deal with -> To Address

This shows how a problem is solved.

Avoid : This essay investigates how parents deal with the issue of difficult children.

Correct : This essay investigates how parents address the issue of difficult children

Fill in/ Fill out -> To Complete

This is refers to someone answering questions on a form.

Avoid : The participants filled out the questionnaires in a quiet room.

Correct : The participants completed the questionnaires in a quiet room.

Talk about -> To Discuss

This is used to introduce a topic.

Avoid : In the second chapter, the influence of social media will be talked about .

Correct : In the second chapter, the influence of social media will be discussed .

Leave out -> To Omit

This shows that not everything was included.

Avoid : Incomplete surveys were left out .

Correct : Incomplete surveys were omitted .

Carry out -> To Conduct

Use this to talk about how you did an experiment

Avoid : The interviews were carried out in a quiet classroom.

Correct : The interviews were conducted in a quiet classroom.

Come Out -> To Publish

This is used to show when something was published.

Avoid : The eight characteristics of intelligent people were discussed in an article which came out recently.

Correct : The eight characteristics of intelligent people were discussed in an article which was published  recently.

Take place -> To Occur

This shows that something happened.

Avoid : This took place at 11:04am on July 10th.

Correct : This occurred at 11:04am on July 10th.

Look at -> To Investigate

A very common phrasal verb; it shows the focus of an essay.

This essay looks at the causes of the Second World War.

This essay investigates the causes of the Second World War.

[thrive_text_block color=”blue” headline=””][thrive_2step id=’1533′]Want more phrasal verb fun? Download my free cheat sheet of 17 phrasal verbs you should avoid & how to avoid them.[/thrive_2step] [/thrive_text_block]

5 Phrasal Verbs Which Are Okay

Some phrasal verbs are actually a part of academic writing… Here are some of them:

Point towards

Use this when making a conclusion based on data.

Ex. The evidence points towards consistency as being an important factor in success.

Use this to show that you did something after something else.

Ex . Each telephone interviewee was followed up with an email survey.

Use this to show what something means or relates to.

Ex . Second language acquisition refers to the process of how people learn foreign languages.

Expand on / build on 

Use this to show how one piece of research improves another piece.

Ex . This study expands on the work of John Smith.

Use this to show the aim or scope of your work.

Ex. This essay will focus on the use of English in business.

[thrive_text_block color=”blue” headline=””][thrive_2step id=’1533′]Click here to get all of today’s phrasal verbs in a nice, easy-to-print package[/thrive_2step] [/thrive_text_block]

Final Words

Everyone wants to sound more fluent, but don’t forget about the context of what you’re writing.

In most cases, using single word verbs, or more academic verbs, will be better in academic writing than phrasal verbs.

Two things for you today:

1 – Share this post (click here!)

2 – Make it easy to avoid phrasal verbs (or use the correct ones) with my free Phrasal Verb cheat sheet below.

Ps . The answer is: “ to think of a solution ”

Share this:

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2 thoughts on “Figuring Out Phrasal Verbs In Academic Writing”

i didnt get the movie of phrasal verb properly sam.which phrasal verb did henrry use

Hi Imtiaz, thanks for the comment. I only focused on the first 10 seconds of the video! James Cordon actually says two different phrasal verbs in that time.

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Parts Of Speech

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs: Comprehensive List and Usage

17 min read

Published on: Jul 12, 2024

Last updated on: Aug 7, 2024

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Have you ever noticed how English verbs can change meaning when paired with small words like "up," "down," or "on"? These combinations are called phrasal verbs in English, and they add depth to everyday language.

Phrasal verbs consist of a main verb combined with one or more particles (those small words). They often give verbs new meanings that you can't guess just from the words by themselves. 

For example, " look after " means to take care of someone or something, like looking after a little brother or grandmother, etc.

In this guide, we'll explore how these phrasal verbs function and provide clear examples to help you understand their usage. 

What is a Phrasal Verb?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles—such as prepositions or adverbs —that together form a single semantic unit.

These particles can drastically change the meaning of the main verb, creating expressions that often convey idiomatic meanings not immediately obvious from the individual words alone.

For instance , take the phrasal verb with get i.e. “get over.” Individually, "get" and "over" are straightforward words, but together they mean to recover from something emotional or physical, such as "She struggled to get over her fear of flying."

Phrasal verbs, when used in sentences, function similarly to other verbs for conjugation and placement. However, they follow specific grammatical rules regarding word order. You can conjugate phrasal verbs into every verb form, allowing their use in any context where a regular verb would fit.

Phrasal Verbs Examples

Here are examples of phrasal verbs with the specified verbs:

1. Phrasal verbs with "take"

• Take off: "He took off his jacket before entering the house." / "The plane took off on time."
• Take on: "She took on extra work to help her team."
• Take up: "He took up painting in his spare time."

2. Phrasal verbs with "up"

• Come up: "A problem came up during the meeting."
• Fill up: "Can you fill up my glass with water?"
• Pick up: "She picked up the book from the table." / "His grades are picking up this semester."

3. Phrasal verbs with "put"

• Put off: "They put off the meeting until next week."
• Put up   with: "She can't put up with his constant complaining anymore."
• Put on: "She put on her coat before leaving."

4. “Look” phrasal verbs

• Look after: "She looks after her little brother after school."
• Look forward to: "They look forward to their vacation next month."
• Look out: " Look out! There's a car coming."

5. “Turn” phrasal verbs

• Turn down: "Can you turn down the music? It's too loud."
• Turn up: "It's hard to hear you; could you turn up your microphone?"
• Turn off: "Don't forget to turn off the lights when you leave."

6. "Make" phrasal verbs

• Makeup: "She made up an elaborate excuse for being late."
• Makeover: "They made over the old house into a modern living space."
• Make off with: "The thieves made off with valuable jewelry from the store."

How to Conjugate Phrasal Verbs

Conjugating phrasal verbs follows similar rules as conjugating regular verbs in English, but they involve the main verb and its accompanying particle(s). 

Here's how it works:

• Infinitive Form: Phrasal verbs have an infinitive form that consists of the main verb and particle(s), such as "to pick up" or "to look after."
• "He looks after the house when his parents are away."
• "He looked after the house while his parents were away."
• "He is looking after the house while his parents are away."
• "He was looking after the house while his parents were away last weekend."
• "He is going to look after the house next weekend."
• "Looking after the house is his responsibility next weekend."

Types of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can be categorized into several types based on their structure and usage. Here are the main types:

1. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

These phrasal verbs do not take an object after them. 

• For example : "He suddenly showed up."

2. Transitive Phrasal Verbs

These phrasal verbs require an object after them. For example:

• For example: "He put off the meeting."

3. Separable Phrasal Verbs

These phrasal verbs can have their object placed between the verb and the particle or after the particle. 

• For example: "She turned the lights off."

4. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

These phrasal verbs do not allow their object to be placed between the verb and the particle. The object must always come after the particle. 

• For example : "They ran into an old friend."

Word Order Rules with Phrasal Verbs

Understanding how to correctly order words when using phrasal verbs is essential for clear and effective communication in English. 

Here’s a breakdown of the rules:

Inseparable and Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

For inseparable and intransitive verbs , the verb and the particle must stay together and should never be split:

“She always looks after her little sister.”

Separable Phrasal Verbs

1. Separable phrasal verbs are always transitive , meaning they require a direct object. The direct object can be placed between the verb and the particle:

"I will never let you down."

2. With some separable phrasal verbs, placing the direct object between the verb and the particle is mandatory:

"The beginning of the Marvel movies get  everyone down."

3. For other separable phrasal verbs, the direct object can come either in the middle or at the end:

"Pick up the pen and sign the document."

Pronouns with Separable Phrasal Verbs

When using pronouns as direct objects with separable phrasal verbs, the pronoun must always be placed between the verb and the particle:

"Pick it up and carry it to the kitchen."

Inseparable Transitive Phrasal Verbs

Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable, meaning the direct object always comes after the particle:

"We looked into the issue and found a solution."

List of 50 Phrasal Verbs with Meaning

Here's a list of 50 phrasal verbs along with their meanings:

1. Break down: to stop working (machinery), or to fail (plans or negotiations).

Example: "The car broke down on the highway."

2. Call off: to cancel something that was planned.

Example: "They called off the picnic due to bad weather."

3. Come across: to find or meet by chance.

Example: "I came across an old friend at the supermarket."

4. Cut off: to disconnect or stop the supply of something.

Example: "The storm cut off electricity to the entire town."

5. Do away with: to abolish or get rid of something.

Example: "They decided to do away with the old policy."

6. Figure out: to understand or solve a problem or mystery.

Example: "It took me a while to figure out how to use the new software."

7. Get along with : to have a good relationship with someone.

Example: "She gets along well with her colleagues."

8. Go through : to experience or endure a difficult or challenging period.

Example: "He's going through a tough time right now."

9. Hold on: to wait or pause.

Example: "Hold on a moment; I'll be right back."

10. Keep up with: to stay informed about or maintain the same pace as something.

Example: "It's hard to keep up with all the changes in technology."

11. Let down: to disappoint someone by failing to meet their expectations.

Example: "She felt let down by her friends' lack of support."

12. Look into: to investigate or examine something.

Example: "They promised to look into the matter."

13. Make up for : to compensate for a mistake or deficiency.

Example: "He tried to make up for being late by bringing flowers."

14. Pass away: to die.

Example: "Her grandfather passed away peacefully in his sleep."

15. Point out: to draw attention to something or someone.

Example: "She pointed out the mistake in the report."

16. Run into: to meet unexpectedly.

Example: "I ran into an old classmate at the mall."

17. Set up: to establish or arrange something.

Example: "They set up a new business in town."

18. Sort out: to organize or resolve a problem.

Example: "We need to sort out these issues before moving forward."

19. Stand by: to be ready or available to help or support someone.

Example: "She promised to stand by her friend through thick and thin."

20. Take after: to resemble a family member in appearance or behavior.

Example: "He takes after his father in terms of musical talent."

21. Turn into: to transform or change into something different.

Example: "The caterpillar turned into a butterfly."

22. Wake up: to stop sleeping and become awake.

Example: "I wake up early every morning to exercise."

23. Work out: to exercise or solve a problem successfully.

Example: "She works out at the gym three times a week."

24. Ask around: to ask several people for information or help.

Example: "I asked around but nobody had seen my keys."

25. Back up: to support someone or something.

Example: "He backed up his arguments with solid evidence."

26. Blow up: to explode or to become very angry.

Example: "The fireworks blew up in a spectacular display."

27. Bring up: to raise a topic or subject in conversation.

Example: "She brought up an interesting point during the meeting."

28. Call back: to return a phone call.

Example: "I'll call you back as soon as I finish this task."

29. Carry on: to continue doing something.

Example: "Despite the challenges, they carried on with their plans."

30. Check-in: to register one's arrival (at a hotel, airport, etc.).

Example: "We need to check in at the hotel before 3 PM."

31. Drop off: to deliver someone or something to a destination.

Example: "Can you drop off this package at the post office?"

32. Find out: to discover or learn something.

Example: "She finally found out the truth about her ancestry."

33. Give away: to give something to someone for free.

Example: "They gave away free samples of their new product."

34. Hand in: to submit something formally.

Example: "Make sure to hand in your assignments by Friday."

35. Keep on: to continue doing something.

Example: "Despite the setbacks, they kept on working."

36. Let in: to allow someone to enter a place.

Example: "He forgot his keys and had to be let in through the back door."

37. Look up: to admire or respect someone.

Example: "She has always looked up to her older sister."

38. Move on: to progress or continue with one's life.

Example: "After the breakup, he decided it was time to move on."

39. Pull over: to move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop.

Example: "The police officer asked him to pull over for speeding."

40. Put away: to tidy up or store something in its proper place.

Example: "Please put away your toys before dinner."

41. Run out of: to exhaust the supply of something.

Example: "We ran out of milk, so I need to go to the store."

42. Settle down: to become calm or stable; to establish a permanent residence.

Example: "After traveling for years, he decided to settle down in a small town."

43. Show up: to appear or arrive, especially unexpectedly or late.

Example: "He didn't show up for the meeting yesterday."

44. Try on: to put on clothing to see if it fits or looks good.

Example: "I need to try on these jeans before buying them."

45. Turn out: to result in a particular way.

Example: "The event turned out to be a huge success."

46. Come up with: to think of or produce an idea or plan.

Example: "She came up with a brilliant solution to the problem."

47. Go over: to review or examine carefully.

Example: "Let's go over the details of the proposal one more time."

48. Pull through: to recover from a serious illness or difficult situation.

Example: "Thanks to the doctor's efforts, he managed to pull through."

49. Back out: to withdraw from a commitment or promise.

Example: "He backed out of the agreement at the last minute."

50. Zip up: to fasten clothing with a zipper.

Example: "She zipped up her jacket as it started to rain."

In conclusion , phrasal verbs are an integral part of the English language, whether inseparable or separable, transitive or intransitive. By mastering phrasal verbs, you not only enhance your language skills but also deepen your understanding of how words can convey precise meanings in various contexts. 

For error-free content creation and to refine your use of phrasal verbs, we recommend using our grammar checker . And if you're looking for AI that can help you write essays , explore the capabilities of MyEssayWriter.ai! 

Continue Learning

If you want to learn more about academic writing, grammar, and related concepts, check out these blogs. 

Caleb S. (Mass Literature and Linguistics)

Caleb S. is an accomplished author with over five years of experience and a Master's degree from Oxford University. He excels in various writing forms, including articles, press releases, blog posts, and whitepapers. As a valued author at MyEssayWriter.ai, Caleb assists students and professionals by providing practical tips on research, citation, sentence structure, and style enhancement.

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