Phrasal Verbs Basics helps you communicate about everyday actions and common informal meanings. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can understand and use common everyday phrasal verbs.
- Recognise and build the form: verb + particle; separable and inseparable combinations.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Phrasal Verbs Basics for everyday actions and common informal meanings. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
Please turn off the lights before you leave.
'Turn off' means stop a light or machine from operating.
I need to look up this word in a dictionary.
'Look up' means search for information in a reference source.
Can you look after my cat this weekend?
'Look after' means take care of someone or something.
verb + particle; separable and inseparable combinationsKeep this pattern visible while you study the examples. Then cover it and rebuild one example from memory.
Key rules to notice
These rules explain why the form is correct. Focus on the subject, auxiliary, verb form, word order and time or meaning clues.
- 'Turn off' means stop a light or machine from operating.
- 'Look up' means search for information in a reference source.
- 'Look after' means take care of someone or something.
- 'Run out of' means have none left.
- 'Give up' means stop doing a habitual activity.
Common mistakes
Not:Please turn on the lights before you leave.
Use:Please turn off the lights before you leave.
'Turn off' means stop a light or machine from operating.
Not:I need to look after this word in a dictionary.
Use:I need to look up this word in a dictionary.
'Look up' means search for information in a reference source.
Not:Can you look up my cat this weekend?
Use:Can you look after my cat this weekend?
'Look after' means take care of someone or something.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
We have ____ milk, so I will buy some.
run out of
'Run out of' means have none left.
She ____ smoking last year.
gave up
'Give up' means stop doing a habitual activity.
What time did you ____ this morning?
get up
'Get up' means leave your bed after sleeping.