Phrasal Verb Activities
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
There’s no secret method to learning phrasal verbs- just practice! Our phrasal verb activities provide targeted practice, helping you understand how these expressions work in different contexts.
When used together, these words create a meaning that is often different from the original verb. They’re very common in spoken and informal English, and they indicate action. Phrasal verbs can be literal, where the meaning is straightforward, or figurative, where the meaning is less obvious. This dual nature is why they can be confusing for learners. Because their meanings are not always intuitive, it’s often necessary to learn phrasal verbs by heart.
Here are two examples of phrasal verbs:
- Turn on: To switch on a device or machine, such as a light or TV.
- Take off: To remove something, such as clothing or accessories, or to begin flying (for airplanes or similar vehicles).
Separable Phrasal Verbs
In some phrasal verbs, the verb and the preposition/adverb can be separated. The object can go between them or after them.
However, if we replace the noun with a pronoun, we must place the pronoun between the verb and the preposition.
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Some phrasal verbs cannot be separated. The object must come after the phrasal verb as a whole, or the sentence won’t sound correct.
Below is a list of 30 common phrasal verbs, categorised by whether they are separable or inseparable, along with their meanings. The only way to master these is through repetition, so be sure to take some time to read through them and try using them in your everyday conversations.
| Separable Phrasal Verbs | Inseparable Phrasal Verbs |
| pick up (to lift something or someone; to collect) | look after (to take care of someone or something) |
| turn off (to stop a device/machine) | run into (to meet unexpectedly) |
| call off (to cancel something) | come across (to find by chance) |
| bring up (to mention a topic; to raise a child) | get along (to have a good relationship) |
| take off (to remove; for a plane to leave the ground) | go on (to continue; to happen) |
| put off (to delay or postpone) | deal with (to handle or manage a situation) |
| set up (to arrange/establish something) | take after (to resemble a family member) |
| drop off (to deliver/leave something or someone) | look down (to regard someone with disrespect/disapproval) |
| give up (to stop trying) | break down (to stop functioning; to become very upset) |
| turn on (to start a device or machine) | get by (to manage with what you have) |
| pick out (to choose or select) | come up (to appear or arise) |
| wake up (to open one’s eyes after sleeping) | hang out (to spend time socially) |
| hold up (to delay) | run out (to use up completely) |
| look up (to search for information) | pass away (to die) |
| work out (to exercise; to solve a problem) | show up (to arrive or appear) |
Video 1: An Introduction to Phrasal Verbs
Video 2: 9 Phrasal Verbs for Beginners
Video 3: 9 Phrasal Everyday Verbs
More Phrasal Verbs Practice
- Worksheet #1 (fillable form version)
- Worksheet #2 (fillable form version)
- Worksheet #3 (fillable form version)
Phrasal Verbs Quizzes
Ready to put what you’ve learned about active and passive voice into practice? Take the two phrasal verb quizzes.
Phrasal verbs are a great way to make your English sound more natural and expressive. To truly master them, they need to be learned by heart and practiced regularly. So keep practicing, experiment with different sentences, and explore how these versatile verbs can enhance your language skills! Looking for another topic to study? Check out the following:
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