Phrasal Verbs| Formation, Use
Phrasal verbs are a fundamental aspect of English language usage. They are formed by combining a verb with one or more prepositions or adverbs, resulting in unique meanings that may not be predictable based on the individual words. Understanding how Phrasal Verbs are formed and how they are used in context is essential for effective English communication. In this article, we will explore the formation patterns of phrasal verbs and their common uses, providing practical examples to enhance your language skills and improve your proficiency with Phrasal Verbs in English.
Formation of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs are formed by combining a verb with one or more prepositions or adverbs. The resulting combination often has a meaning that may not be predictable based on the meanings of its individual words. Following are the common ways in which phrasal verbs are formed by combining different Parts of Speech.
Verb + Preposition
In this formation, a verb is followed by a preposition to create a new meaning. For example;
Look Up
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Look up | To search for information in a reference source or online | He looked up the meaning of the word in the dictionary. |
| Look up to | To admire or respect someone | Sarah has always looked up to her older sister for guidance and inspiration. |
| Look up | To improve or become better | The economy is finally looking up after a period of recession. |
| Look up | To visit or meet someone after a long time | I am planning to look up my old friend when I visit my hometown next month. |
| Look up | To physically raise one’s gaze or direct attention upward | She looked up at the stars in awe on a clear night. |
Take Off
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Take off | To remove or peel something from a surface | She took off her coat and hung it in the closet. |
| Take off | To become successful or popular suddenly | The new movie took off and became a box office hit. |
| Take off | To leave or depart, especially by plane or other means of transportation | They’re planning to take off for their vacation next week. |
| Take off | To imitate or mimic someone or something | He can take off famous actors and comedians with his spot-on impressions. |
| Take off | To become suddenly angry or upset | My boss took off when he found out about the mistake in the report. |
Put Off
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Put off | To delay or postpone something | They decided to put off the meeting until next week due to scheduling conflicts. |
| Put off | To discourage or dissuade someone from doing something | The bad weather put off their plans to go camping over the weekend. |
| Put off | To offend or disgust someone | His rude behavior during the dinner put off everyone at the table. |
| Put off | To extinguish or turn off a light, fire, or other source of illumination | To extinguish or turn off a light, fire, or another source of illumination |
| Put off | To mislead or deceive someone | He tried to put off the police by giving them false information. |
Bring Up
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Bring Up | To raise or nurture a child or young person | She has dedicated herself to bringing up her three children as responsible individuals. |
| Bring Up | To mention or introduce a topic or subject during a conversation or discussion | He brought up the issue of climate change during the meeting. |
| Bring Up | To vomit or regurgitate | The bad food made him feel sick, and he had to bring it up. |
| Bring Up | To cause something to reach a higher level or standard | The new manager has been working hard to bring up the productivity levels in the department. |
| Bring Up | To bring something to a particular place or position | He brought up the box from the basement to the living room. |
Get Over
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Get Over | To recover from an illness, loss, or setback | It took her a long time to get over the death of her beloved pet. |
| Get Over | To overcome or move past a difficult situation or challenge | With hard work and determination, he was able to get over the financial crisis. |
| Get Over | To forgive or forget about a disagreement or conflict | After a heated argument, they decided to let it go and get over their differences. |
| Get Over | To traverse or cross to the other side of something | We need to get over the bridge before it gets dark. |
| Get Over | To understand or comprehend something | It took him some time to get over the complex concept explained in the lecture. |
Verb + Adverb
In this formation, a verb is followed by an adverb to create a new meaning. Following are some examples of phrasal verbs that are formed by combining verbs and adverbs.
Turn Down
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Turn Down | To reject or decline an offer, proposal, or invitation | He turned down the job offer because it required too much travel. |
| Turn Down | To decrease or reduce the volume, intensity, or brightness of something | Please turn down the TV, it’s too loud. |
| Turn Down | To refuse or deny a request or plea | The committee turned down their appeal for additional funding. |
| Turn Down | To fold or flatten something that was previously raised or unfolded | He turned down the corner of the page to mark his place in the book. |
| Turn Down | To show disinterest or lack of affection towards someone’s romantic advances | She turned down his proposal for a date as she was not interested. |
Break Down
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Break Down | To stop functioning or cease to work, often referring to mechanical or electronic devices | My car broke down on the way to work this morning, and I had to call for a tow. |
| Break Down | To divide or separate something into smaller parts or components | The project manager broke down the tasks into smaller assignments for the team. |
| Break Down | To fail emotionally or mentally, often resulting in tears, distress, or a loss of composure | She broke down in tears when she heard the sad news about her friend. |
| Break Down | To analyze or explain something in detail, often for better understanding | The professor broke down the complex concept into simpler terms for the students. |
| Break Down | To deteriorate or decay physically or chemically | The food started to break down due to the lack of refrigeration. |
Turn Up
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Turn Up | To increase the volume, intensity, or brightness of something | Can you turn up the music a little? I can’t hear it properly. |
| Turn Up | To appear unexpectedly or without prior notice | John turned up at the party unannounced and surprised everyone. |
| Turn Up | To be found or discovered, especially after being lost or misplaced | I was thrilled when my long-lost book turned up in the attic. |
| Turn Up | To arrive or show up for an event or appointment | Sarah promised to turn up at the meeting at 2 p.m. sharp. |
| Turn Up | To increase in quantity, size, or intensity | The heat turned up in the kitchen as they cooked a big meal. |
Make Up
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Make Up | To reconcile or resolve differences with someone after a disagreement or argument | After their fight, they decided to make up and apologize to each other. |
| Make Up | To create or invent something, such as a story, excuse, or lie | He made up an excuse for being late to the meeting. |
| Make Up | To compensate for something, especially a loss or deficiency | She worked extra hours to make up for the time she took off last week. |
| Make Up | To apply cosmetics or create a specific appearance, especially for a performance or special occasion | She spent an hour in front of the mirror making up her face for the party. |
| Make Up | To constitute or form something, such as a part of a whole or a group | Women make up a significant portion of the workforce in many industries. |
Come Across
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Come Across | To encounter or meet someone or something unexpectedly | I came across an old friend at the grocery store yesterday. |
| Come Across | To convey a particular impression or perception | She comes across as confident and assertive in her job interviews. |
| Come Across | To find or discover something by chance | While cleaning out the attic, I came across some old photographs from my childhood. |
| Come Across | To be understood or interpreted in a certain way | His words came across as rude and disrespectful to the audience. |
| Come Across | To communicate or express oneself in a certain manner | She came across as sincere and genuine in her speech at the charity event. |
Verb + Preposition + Adverb
Some phrasal verbs are formed by combining a verb with both a preposition and an adverb. Examples include
Look Forward To
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Look Forward To | to eagerly anticipate or await something with excitement | I am looking forward to my upcoming vacation to the beach. |
| Look Forward To | To be enthusiastic or eager about an event or situation in the future | Sarah is looking forward to her graduation ceremony next month. |
| Look Forward To | To anticipate or expect something in a positive way | We are all looking forward to the holiday season and spending time with family. |
| Look Forward To | To have a positive outlook or expectation towards something | He looks forward to every Monday because he enjoys his job so much. |
| Look Forward To | To express enthusiasm or anticipation about meeting or seeing someone | To have a positive outlook or expectation toward something |
Get Away With
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Get Away With | To escape punishment or avoid consequences for something, often something wrong or illegal | He cheated on the exam but managed to get away with it because the teacher didn’t notice. |
| Get Away With | To successfully do something without being caught or detected | The thief stole the purse and got away with it before anyone noticed. |
| Get Away With | To avoid blame or criticism for something | She made a mistake at work, but she got away with it because her boss didn’t find out. |
| Get Away With | To be permitted or allowed to do something without facing consequences | He usually gets away with arriving late to work because his boss is lenient. |
| Get Away With | To do something daring or unconventional without facing negative repercussions. | She dyed her hair pink, and surprisingly, she got away with it without any objections from her parents. |
Look Down On
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Look Down On | To hold a negative or superior view of someone or something | He looks down on people who don’t have a college degree, thinking they are less educated. |
| Look Down On | To regard someone or something with disdain or contempt | The snobbish neighbors always look down on our simple lifestyle. |
| Look Down On | To show a lack of respect or regard towards someone or something | She looks down on her colleagues who have less experience in the industry. |
| Look Down On | To consider someone or something as inferior or less valuable | The elitist society tends to look down on people from different cultural backgrounds. |
| Look Down On | To have a condescending or patronizing attitude towards someone or something | He often looks down on his younger siblings, thinking he is more mature and knowledgeable. |
Catch Up With
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Catch Up With | To reach the same level or status as someone or something after falling behind | After being on vacation, he had to catch up with his work emails and deadlines. |
| Catch Up With | To confront or face the consequences of something | His unhealthy lifestyle finally caught up with him, and he had to deal with health issues. |
| Catch Up With | To meet or socialize with someone after a period of time | I plan to catch up with my old friends from college this weekend. |
| Catch Up With | To physically reach and come into contact with someone or something. | She ran to catch up with the bus, but it had already left. |
| Catch Up With | To overtake or surpass someone or something. | The competitor caught up with the leader in the final lap of the race. |
It’s important to note that phrasal verbs can have different meanings depending on the preposition or adverb used, and their meanings are often idiomatic and context-dependent. To effectively use phrasal verbs, it’s crucial to understand their meanings and usage in context. Reading and listening to English materials, as well as practicing their usage in speaking and writing, can help improve your understanding and proficiency with phrasal verbs.
Use of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are used in various contexts, including in conversation, writing, and formal and informal settings. They are commonly used in everyday English and add nuance and versatility to the language. However, their idiomatic nature and varying meanings can make them challenging to learn and use correctly.
It is important to understand the meaning and usage of phrasal verbs in context to avoid misunderstandings and communicate effectively in English. Building a vocabulary of phrasal verbs and practicing their usage through reading, listening, and speaking can help improve English language skills and fluency.
Phrasal verbs are commonly used in English and consist of a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb. They often have idiomatic meanings that may not be predictable based on the meanings of their individual words. Here are some examples of phrasal verbs and their uses in sentences:
“Turn down” – to decrease or refuse an offer:
- He turned down the job offer because the salary was too low.
- The restaurant was fully booked, so we had to turn down the reservation.
“Look up” – to search for information:
- I need to look up the definition of this word in the dictionary.
- She looked up the address of the nearest coffee shop on her phone.
“Take off” – to remove or to become successful:
- He took off his jacket before entering the room.
- The new product has really taken off in the market.
“Put off” – to delay or postpone:
- We had to put off our picnic due to the rain.
- She keeps putting off her gym workout to the next day.
“Bring up” – to mention or raise a topic for discussion:
- She brought up the issue of environmental conservation during the meeting.
- He was hesitant to bring up the topic of his salary with his boss.
“Break down” – to stop functioning or to analyze in detail:
- The car broke down on the highway and had to be towed.
- The teacher broke down the complex concept into simpler terms for the students.
“Get over” – to recover from an illness or an emotional setback:
- It took him a while to get over his flu and feel better.
- She struggled to get over the loss of her beloved pet.
“Turn up” – to appear or to increase in volume or intensity:
- He unexpectedly turned up at the party after all.
- Please turn up the TV, I can’t hear the news properly.
“Look forward to” – to anticipate or be excited about something in the future:
- I’m really looking forward to our vacation next month.
- She looks forward to meeting her favorite author at the book signing event.
“Make up” – to invent or reconcile:
- He made up a story to explain his absence from work.
- They had a disagreement, but later they made up and became friends again.
These are just a few examples of the many phrasal verbs used in English. It’s important to understand their meanings and usage in context to communicate effectively in English.