Phrasal Verbs

A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb.

 Example:
I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. run + into = meet 

 He ran away when he was 15. run + away = leave home

Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.

Example:
He suddenly showed up. "show up" cannot take an object

 Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.

Example:
I made up the story. "story" is the object of "make up"

Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition.

Example:
I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car. 

She looked the phone number up.

 Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition.

 Example:
I ran into an old friend yesterday. 

They are looking into the problem.

 Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places.

   Example:
  I looked the number up in the phone book.

  I looked up the number in the phone book.

NOTE: Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places, you must put the object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.

Example:
I looked the number up in the phone book.

 I looked up the number in the phone book.

I looked it up in the phone book. correct 

I looked up it in the phone book. incorrect

Here is a short list of common phrasal verbs.

Separable

back up - cause to move back; support

blow off - ignore

break down – stop functioning, separate into component parts

break off - cancel

break up – separate, stop dating

bring about - cause to happen

bring off - accomplish 

bring on – cause

bring up – introduce a topic, raise a child

call off - cancel; order away

call up – telephone

call on – ask a student for an answer

carry on - continue 

carry out - fulfill; complete; accomplish

cheer up - cause to become cheerful

clean up - clean

close down - close permanently 

close up - close temporarily 

count in - include 

count out – exclude

cross out – eliminate

drink up – ingest quickly

drop off – leave someone or something someplace

figure out - interpret; understand

fill in / out - complete (a printed form) 

find out - discover 

fix up - repair; arrange in a suitable manner 

get across - cause to be understood 

give back - return 

give out - distribute; announce 

give up - surrender something

have on - be dressed in 

have over - entertain someone informally

hold off - delay; restrain

keep up - continue; keep the same pace 

leave out – omit

look up – search for in a reference book

make up – invent, create

move over - move to the side 

pass out - distribute 

pass up - not take advantage of

pick up - come to meet; learn casually

point out – indicate

put off - postpone 

put on - dress in; deceive or fool

set up - arrange 

show off - exhibit ostentatiously

take out – remove, ask for a loan

take over – take control

take up – to begin to practice a hobby

tear down - destroy 

tear up - tear into small pieces 

tell off - scold; reprimand 

think over - consider 

think through - consider from beginning to end 

throw away - discard 

try on - put on a garment to verify the fit 

try out - test 

turn down - refuse; lower the volume 

work out - solve 

write down – record

Non-separable

back out of - fail to keep a promise

break into - go into room forcibly; suddenly begin 

break out – to begin suddenly

care for - like; guard; supervise

carry on with - continue

catch up with - cover the distance 

check up on - examine; verify

come across - find accidentally

come by - find accidentally

count on - rely on

do away with - abolish

do with – be useful

do without - deprive oneself of

drop in at/on - visit casually 

drop out of - leave; quit

fill in for - substitute for

get away with - do without being caught 

get in - enter (a vehicle)

get off - descend from; leave

get on - enter (a vehicle); mount

get on with - proceed with

get over – recover, recuperate

get through with - terminate, finish

give in – submit to the will of the other

go around – sufficient quantity for everyone

go on - continue

go over – review, visit informally

go out – date someone

hang around - remain idly in the vicinity 

keep up with - maintain the pace of

look after - take care of

look down on - feel superior to

look for - search

look forward to - anticipate

make up for - compensate for

pick on - tease; bully

put up with – tolerate

stop by - visit informally

take after - resemble

talk back to - answer impolitely

talk over - discuss

turn into - become

watch out for - be careful for

Find out the correct :

1. She ought to give in/off/up smoking. It's bad for the health.

2. She felt a little chilly so she put on/off/out her sweater.

3. He understands animals because he was brought over/up/in on a farm

.

4. He lives in London but often goes over/along/down to Paris on business.

5. She lives in Scotland but often goes over/along/down to London on    

    business.

6. Bob is not very dependable; you can’t count up/off/on him.

7. The baby has red hair. He takes up/in/after his Irish mother.

8. "Come on, John, drink down/up/in or we'll miss the train."

9. The shop was losing money, so they had to shut it up/off/down.

10. They took in/off/out a mortgage to buy their new house.