Advanced Phrasal Verbs helps you communicate about abstract processes, relationships and professional communication. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can use less transparent phrasal verbs in complex everyday and professional contexts.
- Recognise and build the form: multi-word verbs with idiomatic meanings and register constraints.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Advanced Phrasal Verbs for abstract processes, relationships and professional communication. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
The committee will look into the proposal next week.
'Look into' means investigate a matter carefully.
She came across an interesting article while researching.
'Come across' means find or meet something unexpectedly.
We need to come up with a better solution.
'Come up with' means produce an idea or solution.
multi-word verbs with idiomatic meanings and register constraintsKeep 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.
- 'Look into' means investigate a matter carefully.
- 'Come across' means find or meet something unexpectedly.
- 'Come up with' means produce an idea or solution.
- 'Put off' means postpone an event.
- 'Put up with' means tolerate an unpleasant situation.
Common mistakes
Not:The committee will look after the proposal next week.
Use:The committee will look into the proposal next week.
'Look into' means investigate a matter carefully.
Not:She came up with an interesting article while researching.
Use:She came across an interesting article while researching.
'Come across' means find or meet something unexpectedly.
Not:We need to come across a better solution.
Use:We need to come up with a better solution.
'Come up with' means produce an idea or solution.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
The launch was ____ because of a technical problem.
put off
'Put off' means postpone an event.
I can't ____ that level of noise any longer.
put up with
'Put up with' means tolerate an unpleasant situation.
The negotiations ____ after both sides compromised.
worked out
'Work out' can mean develop successfully or reach a solution.