Phrasal verbs may be one of the most complicated components and subtleties of spoken English for non-native speakers .
For one, a single phrasal verb can have multiple meanings depending on the context. Also, a mistake as simple as using the wrong conjoining word can alter the entire intended meaning of the phrase.
Regardless, there are over 5,000 phrasal verbs used in English, making them a vital component of the language (we've compiled a list of the top 100 phrasal verbs to know , by the way). Mastering English phrasal verbs will increase your ability to express nuanced ideas, not to mention make it much easier to understand native speakers of English.
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What is a Phrasal Verb? We know that a verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. They can describe what a subject does, what happens to the subject, or the state of the subject.
In fact, they're vital to English—you can't structure a sentence without at least one verb. Common verbs in English include "to run," "to eat," "to talk," "to have," "to be," and so on.
Phrasal verbs are a subset of verbs that consist of more than one word (ignoring the initial "to" used in the verb's infinitive form). They are typically a combination of a main verb and a preposition or adverb (or both). This combination of words creates a meaning that is different from the original, lone verb.
For example:
Phrasal Verb Structure In the sentence: "She decided to take up yoga to improve her flexibility and reduce stress," the phrasal verb is "to take up."
To identify the phrasal verb in a sentence, you need to look for a verb that is followed by one or more particles (that is, prepositions or adverbs) that create a meaning different from the original verb alone.
As a reminder, a proposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Prepositions often indicate direction, location, time, or manner. For example, "at," "in," "without," "about," "to," and "from" are all common pronouns.
Adverbs, on the other hand, are words that modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire sentences. They provide additional information about how, when, where, to what extent, or under what conditions something happens. This group includes words like "very," "later," "beautifully," "almost," and "when."
Now, let’s get back to it. A phrasal verb typically follows one of the following structures:
Types of Phrasal Verbs Apart from the basic structure explained above, we can categorize phrasal verbs into different general types. These are separable and inseparable, as well as transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs.
Let’s examine each type.
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Separable Phrasal Verbs This type of phrasal verb can have the verb and its particle separated by other words, typically the object of the verb.
This means that the object can come between the verb and the particle, making these phrasal verbs more flexible in their placement within a sentence.
For example, with the phrasal verb "to turn on," we could say either "Please turn on the lights" or "Please turn the lights on." The phrasal verb functions even if we break up the individual words (with "the lights" in this example).
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs Inseparable phrasal verbs, as you may have deduced, are a type of phrasal verb where the verb and its particle must stay together and cannot be separated.
For example, if we want to express that "She looks after her younger brother," we cannot say "She looks her younger brother after." This is undeniably incorrect and will stand out to any English speaker who hears it.
Transitive Phrasal Verbs Transitive phrasal verbs are phrasal verbs that require an object to complete their meaning. The object can be a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun.
Without an object, the sentence with a transitive phrasal verb would be incomplete or lack clarity.
For example, to use the phrasal verb "to bring up," it must be followed by a direct object. In the sentence "She brought up an interesting point," the sentence wouldn't make sense without the object "an interesting point."
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs Unlike transitive phrasal verbs, intransitive phrasal verbs do not require an object to complete their meaning.
These verbs can stand alone in a sentence and still make sense without needing a noun or pronoun to receive the action.
For example, the phrasal verb "to calm down." While it can be joined with an object, for instance "He got up to calm down the baby," it can also exist on its own, such as "I need you to calm down."
Phrasal verbs and their different forms are an element of advanced English –that is, you won't encounter them in English 101. To perfect the pronunciation of the different phrasal verbs you encounter, take advantage of the BoldVoice app's practice features!
Common Phrasal Verbs and Their Usage The same base verb can be part of multiple different phrasal verbs. Here are some examples of common phrasal verbs you’re likely to encounter and use in everyday English:
Get
"To get up": To rise from bed. For example, "I get up at 6 AM every day. " "To get along": To have a good relationship. For example, "Do you get along with your colleagues?"
Make
"To make up": To invent or create. For example, "She made up an excuse for being late." "To make out": To understand or perceive. For instance, "I couldn't make out what he was saying."
Take
"To take off": To remove or to depart. For example, "Please take off your shoes." "To take up": To begin a new hobby or activity. For example, "He took up painting after retiring."
Look
"To look after": To take care of someone or something. For instance,"Can you look after my dog while I'm away?" "To look up": To search for information. For example,"You can look up the definition in a dictionary." Learning How to Use Phrasal Verbs Part of what makes phrasal verbs so tricky is the fact that there isn't really any cut-and-dry rule for English learners to follow.
Non-native English speakers often struggle to navigate the complex world of phrasal verbs, as they don't typically come intuitively to language learners. Perfecting these verbs takes time and effort.
Here are some tips to help you speed up your progress:
Contextual Learning Learning phrasal verbs in context is much more effective than memorizing lists of words.
Pay attention to how native speakers use phrasal verbs in conversations , movies, TV shows, and books. This will help you understand their meaning and proper natural usage.
Use BoldVoice to Practice Regularly Practice makes perfect, and it’s much easier with BoldVoice.
BoldVoice is an accent training app with a broad range of lessons for foreigners and native speakers alike looking to improve their English skills.
The app is beginner- and advanced-friendly, encompassing a spectrum of AI-powered phrasal verbs ESL exercises, like role-playing. BoldVoice also helps you curate a customized daily learning schedule with reminders so that you don’t skip your lessons when life gets busy.
On BoldVoice , you can learn to incorporate these phrasal verbs in your daily English when you practice with its advanced features.
Group Phrasal Verbs by Theme For more targeted learning, group phrasal verbs by theme to make them easier to remember.
For example, you could group phrasal verbs related to travel ("to set off," "to check in," "to take off"), emotions ("to cheer up," "to calm down," "to break down"), or work (“to clock in,” “to follow up,” “to team up”).
Use Flashcards and Journal These two phrasal verbs exercises can help you memorize and practice phrasal verbs. Write the phrasal verb on one side of your flashcards and its meaning and example sentence on the other.
If you can, also keep a journal where you write down new phrasal verbs, their meanings, and example sentences. Remember to review your journal and flashcards regularly to keep the verbs fresh in your mind, making it easier to incorporate them into your English conversations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Phrasal Verbs Incorrect Separation If you want to correctly use phrasal verbs, it is important to know when they are separable or inseparable. This singular mistake is one of the trickiest ones that tends to confuse learners.
For instance, “She turned off the lights” is correct, and “She turned the lights off” is also acceptable.
However, "She looked after the children" cannot be separated into "She looked the children after." It simply doesn't work.
While there is no exact rule to identify those that can be separated, continuous usage over time will help you master these nuances.
Wrong Preposition or Adverb Using the wrong preposition or adverb in a phrasal verb can change the meaning entirely, or result in a phrase that simply makes no sense.
For example, “to look up” (to search for information) is different from “to look after” (to take care of).
Misusing Phrasal Verbs Phrasal verbs are common in English, but overusing or misusing them can make your speech sound unnatural.
For example, “I’ll sort this out” may be too casual for formal presentations , whereas “I will resolve this issue” might be more suitable for the context.
You also want to try as much as possible to balance phrasal verbs with other vocabulary and expressions when you speak, as a native speaker would.
Use Phrasal Verbs with Confidence Phrasal verbs are complex, but essential in everyday English. When you master these unique verbs you communicate with nuance, improve general comprehension, and speak more naturally, like a native speaker.
Since their rules are not clearly defined, continuous practice and exposure in context are very essential. This is why BoldVoice is here to help you avoid common mistakes, simplify the learning process, and enhance your overall English proficiency.
Sign up to BoldVoice for a 7-day free trial to access advanced tools and explore how you can master phrasal verbs for speech fluency.
