Everyday English phrasal verbs
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a small word such as “up”, “on”, or “off” to make a new meaning. Common ones for morning routines, housework, and plans, with example sentences and learning tips.
By Aslıgül Aşkın,
Guide: Learning vocabulary. Main post: Why don't new words stick? Five ways to forget less
A phrasal verb is a verb joined with a small word such as “up”, “on”, “off”, or “out”, often with a new meaning: “get” means to receive, but “get up” means to rise from bed. They are very common in everyday speech, so learning the most frequent ones by topic makes understanding and speaking much easier.
Morning routine
wake up, get up, put on (clothes), turn off, go out. “I wake up at seven, but I get up at half past.” “Put on your coat; it's cold.” “Turn off the lights before you go out.”
Play this topicTrue or FalseLevel B1Home and daily jobs
pick up (lift something or collect someone), tidy up, look for, throw away, fill in (a form). “Can you pick up the kids at four?” “I'm looking for my phone.” “Please fill in this form.”
Plans and people
call back, put off (postpone), find out, get on with (have a good relationship with), look forward to. “I'll call you back later.” “We put off the meeting until Friday.” “I'm looking forward to the weekend.”
How to learn them
Learn phrasal verbs with an example sentence and a situation, not as a bare list. Each day, use three phrasal verbs in three sentences about your own day; a week later, rebuild the same sentences without looking at the translation.
To keep going, see How to practise everyday English speaking at home and Make or do? Two English verbs for “yapmak”.
Frequently asked questions
Can I guess a phrasal verb's meaning from its parts?
Sometimes (“sit down”), but often the meaning changes (“put off” = postpone). That is why learning them in example sentences matters.
Where does the object go: “turn off the light” or “turn the light off”?
Both are correct. If the object is a pronoun like “it”, it goes in the middle: “Turn it off.”
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