Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language, particularly in conversational and informal contexts. They consist of a verb combined with one or more particles, usually prepositions or adverbs, which change the meaning of the original verb. Understanding and using phrasal verbs can significantly enhance your English proficiency. Here, we delve into 30 common phrasal verbs that are useful for intermediate learners.
1. Break down
This phrasal verb means to stop functioning. For example, "My car broke down on the way to work."
2. Bring up
To mention or introduce a topic in conversation. For instance, "She brought up an interesting point during the meeting."
3. Call off
To cancel something. For example, "They called off the concert due to bad weather."
4. Carry on
To continue doing something. For example, "Despite the interruption, she carried on with her presentation."
5. Come across
To find or meet by chance. For example, "I came across an old friend while shopping yesterday."
6. Come up with
To think of an idea or plan. For instance, "He came up with a brilliant solution to the problem."
7. Drop off
To leave someone or something at a particular place. For example, "I need to drop off the kids at school."
8. End up
To finally be in a particular place or situation. For example, "We ended up staying at a hotel for the night."
9. Find out
To discover or learn something. For instance, "I found out that the meeting was postponed."
10. Get along
To have a good relationship. For example, "She gets along well with her coworkers."
11. Get over
To recover from something. For instance, "It took her a while to get over the flu."
12. Give up
To stop trying or surrender. For example, "He gave up smoking last year."
13. Go on
To continue. For example, "Please go on with your story."
14. Hold on
To wait or pause. For instance, "Hold on a moment, I'll be right back."
15. Look after
To take care of someone or something. For example, "She looks after her younger brother on weekends."
16. Look forward to
To anticipate with pleasure. For instance, "I am looking forward to the holidays."
17. Look up
To search for information. For example, "I need to look up the address online."
18. Make up
To invent something, often a story or excuse. For example, "She made up an excuse for being late."
19. Pick up
To collect someone or something. For instance, "Can you pick up some groceries on your way home?"
20. Put off
To postpone or delay. For example, "They decided to put off the meeting until next week."
21. Run into
To meet someone unexpectedly. For instance, "I ran into an old friend at the mall."
22. Run out of
To have no more of something. For example, "We've run out of milk, so I'll go buy some."
23. Set up
To arrange or establish something. For instance, "They set up the conference room for the meeting."
24. Show up
To appear or arrive. For example, "He showed up late to the party."
25. Take after
To resemble a family member. For instance, "She takes after her mother in looks and personality."
26. Take off
To remove something, often clothing, or for a plane to leave the ground. For example, "Please take off your shoes before entering" or "The plane takes off at 9 AM."
27. Turn down
To refuse or reject something. For example, "She turned down the job offer because it wasn't what she wanted."
28. Turn on/off
To start or stop a device. For instance, "Can you turn off the lights when you leave the room?"
29. Work out
To exercise or find a solution. For example, "I work out at the gym every morning" or "We need to work out the details of the plan."
30. Write down
To record information on paper. For example, "Please write down the instructions so you don't forget."
Mastering these phrasal verbs will not only improve your comprehension but also enable you to express yourself more naturally in English. Practice using them in sentences, and you'll find that they become an integral part of your communication toolkit. Remember, context is key when using phrasal verbs, as many can have multiple meanings depending on how they are used. Happy learning!
