B1–B2 English vocabulary and grammar
Common Phrasal Verbs: Meanings, Word Order and Exercises
Phrasal verbs combine a verb with one or more particles to create a new meaning. Learn them through useful situations and word-order patterns—not as an isolated alphabetic list—then search, hear and practise 36 expressions you can use in real conversations.
What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb contains a main verb and a particle—usually an adverb or preposition. The combination acts as one vocabulary unit, and its meaning may be literal, extended or completely idiomatic.
Literal direction
The particle keeps a physical meaning.
Please sit down.
She walked out.
Extended meaning
The physical image helps explain an abstract use.
Prices went up.
We cut down on waste.
Idiomatic meaning
The whole expression must be learned as a unit.
They called off the trip. = cancelled
Separable and inseparable phrasal verbs
Separable
A noun object can come after the particle or between the verb and particle.
turn down the music · turn the music down
A pronoun must go in the middle: turn it down, not turn down it.
Inseparable
The verb and particle stay together before the object.
look after the child · look after her
Do not say look the child after.
| Type | Pattern | Correct examples |
|---|---|---|
| Separable | verb + object + particle verb + particle + noun object |
Pick me up. Pick up the parcel. |
| Inseparable | verb + particle + object | Look after him. Run into an old friend. |
| Three-part | verb + particle + preposition + object | Come up with an idea. Keep up with the class. |
| No object | verb + particle | The plane took off. The children grew up. |
Use particle patterns as memory clues
Up: completion or increase
eat up, use up, grow up, set up
We used up all the paper.
Down: reduction or stopping
slow down, turn down, cut down on, shut down
Please turn down the volume.
Out: discovery or completion
find out, figure out, work out, fill out
I need to find out what happened.
Back: return
call back, give back, pay back, come back
I will call you back in ten minutes.
These patterns are clues, not fixed definitions. Take off can mean remove clothing, leave the ground or become successful. Always learn the expression inside a context.
Searchable common phrasal verbs list
Type a verb, particle, meaning or example. Use the Hear button if your browser supports speech.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example | Word order | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bring up | mention a topic | She brought up the budget during lunch. | separable | |
| call back | return a phone call | I will call you back after class. | separable | |
| call off | cancel | They called off the match because of rain. | separable | |
| carry on | continue | Please carry on with your work. | inseparable | |
| catch up | reach the same point or exchange news | Let us meet and catch up soon. | inseparable | |
| check in | register on arrival | We checked in online before the flight. | inseparable | |
| check out | leave a hotel or examine | We checked out at eleven. | inseparable | |
| come across | find by chance | I came across an old photograph. | inseparable | |
| come up with | produce an idea or solution | The team came up with a simpler plan. | inseparable, three-part | |
| cut down on | reduce | I am cutting down on sugar. | inseparable, three-part | |
| drop off | take someone or something to a place | Can you drop me off near the station? | separable | |
| figure out | understand or solve | We finally figured the problem out. | separable | |
| fill in | complete information or substitute | Please fill in this form. | separable | |
| find out | discover | I found out why the train was late. | separable | |
| get along with | have a good relationship with | She gets along with her colleagues. | inseparable, three-part | |
| get over | recover from | He quickly got over the illness. | inseparable | |
| give back | return something | Please give the key back tomorrow. | separable | |
| give up | stop trying or stop a habit | Do not give up after one mistake. | separable | |
| go over | review carefully | Let us go over the main points again. | inseparable | |
| grow up | develop from a child into an adult | She grew up near the coast. | inseparable | |
| hand in | submit | You must hand the assignment in today. | separable | |
| hold on | wait | Hold on while I check the number. | inseparable | |
| keep up with | stay at the same speed or level | It is hard to keep up with the news. | inseparable, three-part | |
| look after | take care of | Who looks after the children on Fridays? | inseparable | |
| look for | try to find | I am looking for my glasses. | inseparable | |
| look forward to | feel pleased about a future event | We look forward to meeting you. | inseparable, three-part | |
| look up | search for information | Look the word up in a learner dictionary. | separable | |
| pick up | collect or lift | I will pick you up at the airport. | separable | |
| put off | postpone | They put the meeting off until Monday. | separable | |
| run into | meet unexpectedly | I ran into an old friend downtown. | inseparable | |
| set up | arrange or establish | We set up a video call for Tuesday. | separable | |
| sort out | resolve or organise | The support team sorted the problem out. | separable | |
| take after | resemble a relative | Lina takes after her grandmother. | inseparable | |
| take off | remove or leave the ground | The plane took off on time. | separable or intransitive | |
| turn down | refuse or reduce volume | He turned down the job offer. | separable | |
| work out | solve or exercise successfully | We worked out the total cost. | separable or intransitive |
Choose natural register and avoid translation traps
Everyday alternative
Phrasal verbs are frequent in conversation and neutral informal writing.
put off = postpone
find out = discover
set up = establish
Formal alternative
A one-word verb can sound more formal, but it is not automatically better.
We postponed the meeting.
They established a committee.
One expression, several meanings
Context selects the meaning.
She picked up the bag. = lifted
She picked up Spanish. = learned informally
Grammar after the expression
The next form matters too.
I look forward to meeting you.
He gave up smoking.
Guided phrasal verbs practice
Choose an expression and correct the word order before opening the answer.
1. The flight was cancelled. → They ___ the flight.
called off. Call off means cancel and is separable: called the flight off is also possible.
2. Please return it tomorrow. → Please ___ tomorrow. (give back)
give it back. A pronoun object goes between a separable verb and particle.
3. I met Carla unexpectedly. → I ___ Carla.
ran into. This expression is inseparable.
4. We need to produce a solution. → We need to ___ a solution.
come up with. This three-part phrasal verb stays together before its object.
5. Correct: “I am looking forward to meet you.”
I am looking forward to meeting you. Here to is a preposition, so it is followed by an -ing form.
Final check
Phrasal verbs quiz
Check meaning, object position and natural use. Each answer explains the complete pattern.
Target: 9/12