If you want to speak English naturally like native speakers, learning phrasal verbs is a must. But don’t worry – this guide is for beginners, and we’ll keep it super simple.
A phrasal verb is just a verb followed by a small word like up, off, on, in, etc. These small words change the meaning of the verb.
For example:
🔹 Wake up = to stop sleeping
🔹 Look after = to take care of someone
See? The main verb (wake, look) joins with another word to make a new meaning. These are very common in daily conversations, so if you want to sound more natural in English, you need to know them.
This post will explain what phrasal verbs are, how to use them, give you examples, and even share some smart tips to remember them easily. Let’s get started!
What Makes a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is made when a verb is joined with a preposition or an adverb – and together, they create a new meaning.
👉 Formula:
Verb + Preposition / Adverb = Phrasal Verb
Let’s look at some easy examples:
- Turn on = to switch on something
Example: Please turn on the fan. - Give up = to stop trying
Example: Don’t give up, keep practicing English!
Even though the main verb (turn, give) is simple, when you add words like on or up, the meaning changes completely. That’s what makes phrasal verbs fun — and a little tricky at first!
💡 Tip: You can note these phrasal verbs in a small notebook or use sticky notes while studying. To keep your space neat, using a desk organizer or book holder can really help!
Don’t worry if it feels confusing now. In the next part, we’ll explain why phrasal verbs are important and how they can make your English sound more natural.
🔗 Explore More English Grammar Topics:
Why Phrasal Verbs Are Hard but Important
Let’s be honest — phrasal verbs can feel confusing at first. One small verb like “get” or “take” can have many different meanings depending on the word that follows it.
For example:
- Get in = enter a car
- Get out = leave a place
- Get over = recover from something
- Get along = have a good relationship
All of these start with “get”, but each one means something different!
That’s why many English learners find phrasal verbs difficult in the beginning. It’s not always easy to guess the meaning just by looking at the words.
But here’s the good news:
✅ Native speakers use phrasal verbs all the time in casual and real conversations.
✅ If you want to speak English naturally, learning them is super helpful.
✅ You don’t need to learn hundreds in one day — just 5–10 a day is enough!
💡 Bonus Tip: While studying, having a comfortable study chair or a laptop table can make your learning time much more relaxed and focused.
Now that you know why phrasal verbs matter, let’s look at some of the most common phrasal verbs you can start using today!
List of 30 Common Phrasal Verbs with Meanings
Here are some of the most useful phrasal verbs you’ll hear in daily English conversations. Learn these first and try to use them in your own sentences!
🔹 Get up – to rise from bed
🔹 Look for – to search
🔹 Put on – to wear clothes
🔹 Take off – to remove clothes
🔹 Turn on – to switch something on
🔹 Turn off – to switch something off
🔹 Give up – to stop trying
🔹 Go out – to leave the house
🔹 Come in – to enter
🔹 Sit down – to take a seat
🔹 Stand up – to rise to your feet
🔹 Pick up – to lift something
🔹 Drop off – to deliver someone or something
🔹 Call back – to return a phone call
🔹 Find out – to discover
🔹 Run out – to have nothing left
🔹 Look after – to take care of
🔹 Hold on – to wait
🔹 Give back – to return something
🔹 Check out – to look at or examine
🔹 Come back – to return
🔹 Take out – to remove
🔹 Put away – to tidy up or store
🔹 Get in – to enter
🔹 Get out – to leave or exit
🔹 Look out – to be careful or watchful
🔹 Break down – to stop working (like a car or machine)
🔹 Set up – to arrange or organize something
🔹 Take care of – to look after
🔹 Write down – to make a note
📝 Tip: Make flashcards or write these on sticky notes. Stick them near your study desk or mirror. And if you want to keep your books or notes well-arranged, using a reading stand or book holder is super useful.
Daily Use Sentences with Phrasal Verbs
Here are some real-life examples of how to use phrasal verbs in everyday English. Try saying them out loud or using them in your daily conversations!
Get up – I get up at 6 AM.
Look for – She is looking for her phone.
Put on – He put on his jacket.
Take off – Please take off your shoes.
Turn on – Can you turn on the light?
Turn off – Don’t forget to turn off the fan.
Give up – I won’t give up so easily.
Go out – We go out every Sunday.
Come in – Please come in and sit.
Sit down – She asked me to sit down.
Stand up – Everyone stood up when the teacher entered.
Pick up – I will pick up the kids at 5.
Drop off – He dropped off the package.
Call back – I’ll call you back later.
Find out – I need to find out the truth.
Run out – We ran out of sugar.
Look after – She looks after her little brother.
Hold on – Hold on, I’m coming!
Give back – Please give back my pen.
Check out – Let’s check out that new shop.
Come back – I will come back soon.
Take out – Take out the trash, please.
Put away – Put away your clothes neatly.
Get in – He got in the car quickly.
Get out – She got out of the taxi.
Look out – Look out! A car is coming.
Break down – My car broke down last night.
Set up – They set up the chairs for the meeting.
Take care of – I will take care of everything.
Write down – Please write down your name.
📚 Want to speak more confidently? You can also use Spoken English Books for Beginners and English Conversation Practice Books to improve faster. These are great tools for building your vocabulary and understanding how phrasal verbs work in real life.
Tips to Remember Phrasal Verbs Easily
Learning phrasal verbs doesn’t have to be boring or hard. With the right method, you can remember them easily and even enjoy the process! 💪
Here are some smart and simple tips to help you:
🔹 Learn 5 new phrasal verbs each day
Don’t try to learn too many at once. Just focus on 5 per day. Write them down, say them aloud, and use them in your own short sentences.
📝 Example:
- Get up – I get up at 7.
- Look after – I look after my sister.
🔹 Practice in real life
Try to use phrasal verbs when speaking with friends, in class, or even when talking to yourself! The more you use them, the faster you’ll remember.
🎧 Bonus tip: Use a smart speaker like Alexa to practice by asking simple questions in English.
🔹 Make flashcards or sticky notes
Write each phrasal verb and its meaning on a flashcard or sticky note. Stick them on your study table, wall, or mirror. Seeing them every day helps your brain remember.
👉 To keep your space clean and organized, use a desk organizer or study lamp for better focus.
🔹 Watch English shows or YouTube
TV shows, YouTube videos, and English podcasts are full of phrasal verbs. Try to notice how they are used in real conversations. This helps you learn the meaning and pronunciation naturally.
🎧 Use noise-cancelling headphones to block distractions and focus better while listening.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When learning phrasal verbs, beginners often make small mistakes. That’s okay — mistakes help you learn. But here are a few common mistakes you should try to avoid:
🔹 ❌ Don’t translate word by word
A phrasal verb doesn’t always mean what the individual words mean. If you translate each word one by one, you may end up with the wrong meaning.
For example:
- “Take off” doesn’t mean just “take” and “off.” It means “to remove something,” usually clothes or accessories.
🔹 ✅ Understand the full meaning
Always learn phrasal verbs as a full phrase — not just the verb or the small word.
👉 Example mistake:
❌ I take off my ring and go.
✅ I take off the ring before washing hands.
The correct sentence sounds more natural and clear.
🔹 Be careful with the object placement
Some phrasal verbs can be separated, but not all.
- ✔ Turn off the light
- ✔ Turn the light off
Both are okay! But with some phrasal verbs, separating the words may sound strange. So listen and copy native speakers when in doubt.
💡 Tip: Record your own voice using a microphone and play it back. It helps you catch and fix mistakes.
Remember, practice and patience are your best friends. Don’t worry about mistakes – just keep improving every day!
Bonus: Grouped Phrasal Verbs (by Verb)
Here’s a little trick to help you remember phrasal verbs faster – group them by the main verb. When you see how one verb can form many phrasal verbs, it becomes easier to connect and remember them.
Let’s look at two popular verbs: Get and Take
🔹 Phrasal Verbs with “Get”
- Get up – to rise from bed
I get up at 7 AM. - Get in – to enter a place or vehicle
She got in the car quickly. - Get out – to leave or exit
Please get out of the room. - Get back – to return
I’ll get back to work soon.
📝 These are commonly used in daily conversations. Try learning them together – it makes remembering easier!
🔹 Phrasal Verbs with “Take”
- Take off – to remove (clothes or accessories)
He took off his shoes. - Take out – to remove from somewhere
Take out the trash, please. - Take over – to take control of something
She will take over the project.
🧠 Tip: Write each group on a separate flashcard or notebook page. Visual learning is powerful!
🎯 Bonus: Use a book holder to keep your notes in front of you while practicing. It keeps your hands free and your posture better!
Helpful Tools for Learning Phrasal Verbs
Learning phrasal verbs becomes easier when you have the right tools. 📚📌 A peaceful study setup and the right learning materials can make a big difference — especially for beginners who are just starting out.
Here are some helpful tools you can try:
📘 Spoken English Book for Beginners
This book is a great start if you’re learning English from scratch. It uses easy language, real-life examples, and helps you practice basic grammar and phrasal verbs naturally.
👉 Get the book here
📗 English Conversation Practice
Want to improve your speaking with real dialogues? This book gives you simple, useful conversations where you’ll see many phrasal verbs in action. Perfect for daily speaking practice.
👉 Check it out on Amazon
💡 Study Lamp for Night Practice
Whether you study early in the morning or late at night, good lighting helps you stay focused without straining your eyes.
👉 View this study lamp
🪑 Comfortable Study Chair
If you sit and study for long hours, a comfortable chair is a must! It supports your posture and helps you stay focused longer without getting tired.
👉 See this ergonomic chair
Using helpful books and tools makes your study time more effective and enjoyable. Think of it as a small investment in your English journey!
Phrasal Verbs Starting with A
- Act up – to behave badly
👉 The child is acting up in class. - Add up – to make sense
👉 Her story doesn’t add up. - Ask out – to invite someone on a date
👉 He asked her out last night. - Ask around – to ask many people the same question
👉 I asked around but no one has seen my bag. - Ask for – to request something
👉 She asked for help with her homework. - Aim at – to target something or someone
👉 This campaign is aimed at young people. - Act out – to express feelings through actions
👉 The child acted out his anger by screaming. - Add in – to include something
👉 Don’t forget to add in the salt. - Add on – to include as an extra
👉 They added on two more days to the trip. - Agree with – to have the same opinion
👉 I totally agree with you. - Allow for – to consider or make space for something
👉 You should allow for traffic delays. - Account for – to explain something
👉 Can you account for your absence? - Act on – to take action based on advice or information
👉 The police acted on the tip they received. - Act like – to behave in a certain way
👉 Stop acting like a child! - Answer back – to reply rudely
👉 Don’t answer back to your teacher. - Apply for – to request officially
👉 She applied for a new job. - Ask in – to invite someone inside
👉 He asked me in for coffee. - Ask over – to invite to your house
👉 We’ve asked them over for dinner. - Act as – to do the job of
👉 He will act as manager while she’s away. - Ask about – to inquire or ask questions
👉 He asked about your health. - Add together – to calculate the total
👉 If you add together all the expenses, it’s too much. - Act for – to represent someone legally or officially
👉 The lawyer acted for the client in court. - Ask after – to inquire about someone’s well-being
👉 She asked after your parents. - Act upon – to follow advice or instruction
👉 You must act upon the doctor’s advice. - Add up to – to total
👉 These numbers add up to 100. - Argue out – to resolve by discussion
👉 They argued out the issue peacefully. - Angle for – to try to get something indirectly
👉 He’s angling for a promotion. - Ask for it – to invite trouble
👉 Don’t tease the dog—you’re asking for it. - Answer for – to take responsibility
👉 You’ll have to answer for your actions. - Allow in – to let someone enter
👉 They allowed us in after checking our ID.
💡 Study Tip: Write 5 of these each day on flashcards and revise them before bed. Use a study lamp and comfortable chair to make your practice more enjoyable!
Phrasal Verbs Starting with B
- Back up – to support or save something
👉 Please back up your files. - Break down – to stop working
👉 My bike broke down on the way. - Bring up – to mention a topic
👉 Don’t bring up politics now. - Blow up – to explode or get very angry
👉 The tire blew up suddenly. - Break up – to end a relationship
👉 They broke up last year. - Bring out – to release or publish
👉 The company brought out a new phone. - Brush up on – to improve skills
👉 I need to brush up on my grammar. - Break into – to enter by force
👉 Thieves broke into the house. - Back off – to move away or stop pressuring
👉 He backed off when I got angry. - Boil over – to become uncontrollable (emotion or liquid)
👉 Her anger boiled over. - Burn out – to become very tired or sick from overwork
👉 She burned out after working nonstop. - Break out – to escape or start suddenly
👉 A fire broke out last night. - Be into – to be interested in something
👉 I’m into music and art. - Be over – to be finished
👉 The movie is over now. - Be up to – to be doing something (usually secret)
👉 What are you up to? - Blow out – to extinguish
👉 Please blow out the candles. - Back out – to withdraw from an agreement
👉 He backed out at the last minute. - Bring back – to return something or cause memory
👉 This song brings back memories. - Break away – to escape or separate
👉 One player broke away from the team. - Be off – to leave or be incorrect
👉 I’m off to work. / Your answer is off. - Blow away – to impress or move something with force
👉 That movie blew me away. - Bottom out – to reach the lowest point
👉 Sales bottomed out last month. - Bring down – to reduce or upset
👉 The bad news brought down the mood. - Be out of – to not have something
👉 We are out of milk. - Be through with – to be finished with something
👉 I’m through with that job. - Back down – to withdraw or surrender
👉 He backed down during the argument. - Be taken aback – to be surprised
👉 I was taken aback by his reaction. - Build up – to increase gradually
👉 Traffic builds up in the evening. - Book in – to register for a place
👉 We booked in at the hotel. - Break off – to end suddenly
👉 She broke off the engagement.
📝 Pro Tip: Keep a small notebook just for phrasal verbs. You can use a book holder or reading stand to keep your notes in front while practicing.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with C
- Call off – to cancel something
👉 They called off the meeting. - Check in – to register at a hotel or airport
👉 We checked in at 3 PM. - Come in – to enter
👉 Please come in and have a seat. - Check out – to leave a hotel OR to look at something
👉 We’ll check out tomorrow.
👉 Check out this video! - Catch up – to reach the same level
👉 I need to catch up on my homework. - Carry on – to continue
👉 Let’s carry on with the lesson. - Come up with – to think of an idea
👉 She came up with a great plan. - Cut off – to stop or disconnect suddenly
👉 The power was cut off last night. - Calm down – to relax or become less angry
👉 Please calm down and speak slowly. - Come across – to find by chance
👉 I came across some old photos. - Check on – to see if everything is okay
👉 Can you check on the baby? - Call back – to return a phone call
👉 I’ll call you back later. - Come back – to return
👉 He came back from school. - Count on – to rely on someone
👉 You can count on me. - Cut down on – to reduce something
👉 I’m trying to cut down on sugar. - Clean up – to make something clean
👉 Let’s clean up the room. - Come out – to be published or revealed
👉 Her new book comes out next week. - Carry out – to perform or complete a task
👉 The team carried out the plan well. - Catch on – to understand or become popular
👉 The trend is catching on fast. - Come along – to join or accompany
👉 Do you want to come along with us? - Cry out – to shout loudly
👉 He cried out in pain. - Call out – to say something loudly OR challenge someone
👉 She called out his name.
👉 He was called out for lying. - Cut out – to stop doing something
👉 You should cut out junk food. - Come over – to visit someone
👉 Why don’t you come over tonight? - Check over – to examine carefully
👉 Please check over this form. - Call on – to visit or ask someone to speak
👉 The teacher called on me to answer. - Clear up – to explain or become better (weather/health)
👉 The doctor cleared up my doubts.
👉 The sky cleared up after the rain. - Cling to – to hold tightly
👉 The child clung to her mother. - Cut back – to reduce expenses or use
👉 We need to cut back on spending. - Come through – to survive or succeed
👉 She came through the surgery well.
💡 Study Tip: Use a laptop table to turn any corner of your home into a comfy study spot. It’s perfect for reading, writing, and watching English videos too!
Phrasal Verbs Starting with D
- Die out – to become extinct
👉 Dinosaurs died out millions of years ago. - Dress up – to wear nice or formal clothes
👉 We need to dress up for the wedding. - Drop by – to visit someone for a short time
👉 Can I drop by your house later? - Drop out – to quit school or a course
👉 He dropped out of college last year. - Do over – to do something again
👉 I made a mistake. I’ll do it over. - Do up – to fasten or tie something
👉 Do up your buttons, it’s cold outside. - Deal with – to handle a situation or problem
👉 I’ll deal with it tomorrow. - Drag on – to last longer than expected
👉 The meeting dragged on for hours. - Dry up – to become dry
👉 The river dried up in summer. - Double up – to share something (like a room)
👉 We had to double up during the trip. - Drop off – to deliver someone or something
👉 I’ll drop you off at school. - Draw up – to prepare a document or plan
👉 The lawyer drew up the contract. - Do without – to manage without something
👉 I can’t do without my morning tea! - Dig into – to start eating eagerly OR explore deeply
👉 Let’s dig into this delicious meal.
👉 The police are digging into the case. - Dress down – to wear casual clothes
👉 On Fridays, we can dress down at work. - Dash off – to leave quickly
👉 She dashed off after the call. - Drop back – to move behind in position
👉 He dropped back in the race. - Do in – to exhaust or kill (slang)
👉 That long run really did me in. - Draw back – to move away in fear or surprise
👉 She drew back when she saw the spider. - Die down – to become less strong or loud
👉 The noise finally died down.
📝 Tip: Listening to native speakers helps a lot! Try using Bluetooth speakers or smart speakers like Alexa to listen to English every day — it’s a fun way to learn phrasal verbs in real conversation.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with E
- Eat out – to eat at a restaurant
👉 We usually eat out on weekends. - End up – to finally be in a place or situation
👉 He ended up working in Canada. - Ease off – to become less severe or intense
👉 The rain is finally easing off. - Explain away – to make excuses
👉 She tried to explain away her mistake. - Eye up – to look at something or someone with interest
👉 He eyed up the new phone in the shop. - Even out – to become balanced
👉 Things will even out after a few days. - Engage in – to take part in something
👉 Students engaged in group discussion. - Ease into – to slowly start something new
👉 She eased into her new job. - End off – to finish something
👉 Let’s end off with a fun activity. - Eat up – to finish all your food
👉 Please eat up your vegetables. - Enter into – to start a formal discussion or agreement
👉 They entered into a contract. - Edge out – to defeat or push someone out slightly
👉 He edged out the top competitor. - Ease out – to gradually remove or push someone out
👉 They eased him out of the company. - Egg on – to encourage someone (usually to do something wrong)
👉 His friends egged him on to skip school. - Expand on – to give more details
👉 Can you expand on that point? - Eke out – to manage with little resources
👉 They eked out a living by farming. - End off with – to finish using something
👉 We’ll end off with a short quiz. - Ease up – to relax or become less strict
👉 The teacher eased up after the exam. - Empty out – to remove everything from inside
👉 Please empty out the drawer. - Eat away – to slowly destroy something
👉 The rust ate away the metal.
📘 Pro Tip: Learning becomes easier when you read along and listen. Use a reading stand to keep your English books upright while watching YouTube lessons or practicing aloud.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with F
- Fall apart – to break into pieces or become emotionally upset
👉 Her old book fell apart.
👉 He fell apart after the news. - Figure out – to understand or solve something
👉 I can’t figure out this math problem. - Fill in – to complete a form
👉 Please fill in this form. - Find out – to discover or learn something
👉 I just found out the truth! - Fall down – to collapse or drop to the ground
👉 He fell down the stairs. - Follow up – to check back or continue later
👉 I’ll follow up with you next week. - Freak out – to become very upset or scared
👉 Don’t freak out, everything’s okay! - Fill out – to complete all parts of a form
👉 You must fill out the application. - Fall behind – to be late or slower than others
👉 She fell behind in class. - Face up to – to accept and deal with something difficult
👉 It’s time to face up to the truth. - Figure on – to plan or expect something
👉 We didn’t figure on so many guests. - Fix up – to repair or improve something
👉 We’re fixing up the old house. - Fall for – to fall in love or be tricked
👉 She fell for his lies.
👉 He fell for her smile. - Fill up – to make full
👉 Fill up the tank before leaving. - Fall out – to stop being friends after a fight
👉 They fell out over money. - Fend off – to defend yourself from something
👉 He tried to fend off the attacker. - Fish for – to try to get something indirectly
👉 She’s fishing for compliments again. - Follow through – to finish what you started
👉 You must follow through with your goals. - Fall through – to fail or not happen as planned
👉 The deal fell through at the last moment. - Find against – to decide someone is wrong in court
👉 The judge found against the company.
🎯 Study Tip: Create short stories using 3–4 phrasal verbs together. It helps improve both memory and fluency. Use a comfortable study chair and study lamp to make your study sessions more relaxing and focused.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with G
- Get up – to rise from bed
👉 I get up at 6 AM every day. - Give up – to stop trying
👉 Don’t give up, keep practicing! - Go on – to continue
👉 Please go on with your story. - Get in – to enter a car, room, or building
👉 He got in the car quickly. - Go out – to leave the house for fun
👉 We’re going out for dinner. - Give away – to donate or give something for free
👉 She gave away her old clothes. - Get out – to leave or escape
👉 Get out of the room now! - Go back – to return to a place
👉 I want to go back to my hometown. - Get along – to have a good relationship
👉 They get along very well. - Give in – to stop resisting; surrender
👉 She finally gave in to the idea. - Go through – to experience something difficult
👉 He went through a tough time. - Get over – to recover from something
👉 She got over her cold. - Go up – to rise or increase
👉 Prices have gone up again. - Get back – to return
👉 I’ll get back to you soon. - Give out – to stop working or be exhausted
👉 My phone battery gave out. - Go off – to explode or make noise (alarm, bomb)
👉 The alarm went off at 6 AM. - Get ahead – to make progress
👉 She’s working hard to get ahead. - Go along with – to agree or support
👉 I’ll go along with your plan. - Get by – to manage with what you have
👉 We can get by with one salary. - Give back – to return something
👉 Please give back my book.
📚 Learning Tip: Practice by writing short dialogues using 2–3 phrasal verbs. You can even record your voice using a microphone to hear how you sound — great for building confidence in spoken English!
Phrasal Verbs Starting with H
- Hand in – to submit something (like homework)
👉 I handed in my assignment today. - Hang out – to spend time relaxing
👉 We hang out at the café every evening. - Hold on – to wait or stay on the line
👉 Hold on a second, I’m coming. - Hang up – to end a phone call
👉 She hung up the phone angrily. - Help out – to assist someone
👉 Can you help out with the dishes? - Hit back – to reply or fight back
👉 The player hit back after the foul. - Hold back – to stop yourself from showing emotion or doing something
👉 She tried to hold back her tears. - Hook up – to connect something OR meet romantically
👉 I’ll hook up the speaker now.
👉 They hooked up last summer. - Heat up – to make something warmer
👉 I’ll heat up the food for you. - Hold up – to delay
👉 The traffic held up the bus. - Hurry up – to go faster
👉 Hurry up, or we’ll be late! - Hang on – to wait or hold tightly
👉 Hang on, I’m not ready yet. - Head out – to leave or go somewhere
👉 We’re heading out now. - Hit on – to flirt with someone
👉 He was hitting on her at the party. - Hand out – to distribute
👉 The teacher handed out the test papers. - Hear from – to receive communication from someone
👉 I haven’t heard from her in weeks. - Hush up – to be quiet or keep something secret
👉 They tried to hush up the news. - Hold out – to last or survive
👉 I don’t know how long we can hold out. - Hand over – to give something formally
👉 Please hand over your phone. - Hanker after – to strongly want something
👉 He’s always hankering after a better life.
💡 Study Tip: Create a wall chart of phrasal verbs. Stick it near your desk and use a desk organizer to keep your notes, flashcards, and pens ready for practice.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with I
- Iron out – to fix small problems
👉 Let’s iron out the issues before we begin. - Invite over – to ask someone to come to your home
👉 We’ve invited over some friends tonight. - Invest in – to put time, money, or effort into something
👉 She invested in a good English course. - Insist on – to demand something strongly
👉 He insisted on paying the bill. - Inform on – to tell authorities about someone
👉 He was arrested after his friend informed on him. - Increase by – to grow or go up (by a certain amount)
👉 Prices have increased by 10%. - Improve on – to make something better
👉 You can improve on your writing with practice. - Inquire about – to ask for information
👉 She inquired about the job opening. - Insure against – to protect something financially
👉 We insured against fire damage. - Interfere with – to get in the way of something
👉 Loud music interferes with my studies. - Issue from – to come out of something
👉 Smoke issued from the chimney. - Identify with – to feel connected to someone or something
👉 I identify with people who struggle to learn English. - Itch for – to want something badly
👉 He’s itching for a new phone. - Indulge in – to enjoy something too much
👉 She indulges in chocolate every night. - Isolate from – to keep apart
👉 He was isolated from the rest of the group. - Interact with – to communicate with
👉 Students interact with their teacher every day. - Inject into – to add something to improve it
👉 We injected energy into the project. - Invite in – to ask someone to enter
👉 She invited me in for tea. - Involve in – to include or engage in
👉 I was involved in the school play. - Impress on – to stress the importance of something
👉 He impressed on me the need for daily practice.
🧠 Learning Tip: Use earphones or headphones for listening practice. It helps focus and improves your listening skills. Try these 👉 Earphones or Noise-Cancelling Headphones for better results.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with J
- Jack up – to raise or increase suddenly (usually prices)
👉 They jacked up the rent last month. - Jam up – to block or get stuck
👉 Traffic is jammed up on the main road. - Jazz up – to make something more exciting or lively
👉 Let’s jazz up this room with lights! - Join in – to participate or take part
👉 Please join in the game with us. - Jot down – to write something quickly
👉 I jotted down her phone number. - Jump in – to enter quickly (conversation or situation)
👉 He jumped in to help right away. - Jump at – to accept something eagerly
👉 She jumped at the job offer. - Jump on – to criticize quickly or suddenly
👉 Don’t jump on me for one small mistake! - Juice up – to add energy or power (informal)
👉 He juiced up the laptop before work. - Joke around – to act playfully or not seriously
👉 Stop joking around and focus. - Juggle with – to try to manage many things at once
👉 She’s juggling with work and studies. - Jam in – to fit things into a small space
👉 We jammed in all our clothes in one bag. - Join up – to become part of a group or team
👉 He joined up with the army last year. - Jump over – to leap across something
👉 The dog jumped over the fence. - Jack in – to quit or give up (British informal)
👉 He jacked in his job last week. - Jet off – to fly or travel somewhere quickly
👉 They jetted off to London. - Jerk around – to waste someone’s time or treat badly
👉 Don’t jerk me around, tell the truth. - Jump out at – to be very noticeable
👉 That red dress really jumps out at you. - Jot out – to write quickly or sketch
👉 He jotted out a quick plan. - Jump to – to reach a quick decision
👉 Don’t jump to conclusions!
💡 Study Tip: Use a smart speaker like Alexa to practice phrasal verbs by asking it to define or use them in a sentence. You can even make a habit of learning one new phrasal verb daily.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with K
- Keep up – to maintain the same pace or level
👉 You’re walking fast! I can’t keep up! - Keep on – to continue doing something
👉 He kept on talking during the movie. - Kick off – to begin something (event, game, etc.)
👉 The meeting will kick off at 10 AM. - Knock down – to hit and make something fall
👉 The wind knocked down the tree. - Keep away – to stay at a distance
👉 Keep away from the fire. - Kick out – to force someone to leave
👉 He was kicked out of the class. - Keep back – to stay behind or reserve something
👉 Please keep back from the edge. - Knock out – to make someone unconscious
👉 The boxer knocked out his opponent. - Keep in – to not allow someone to go out
👉 The teacher kept the student in after class. - Knuckle down – to start working seriously
👉 It’s time to knuckle down and study. - Keep off – to not step on or eat something
👉 Keep off the grass, please. - Kick in – to start having an effect
👉 The medicine kicked in after 10 minutes. - Knock off – to stop working (also reduce price)
👉 Let’s knock off early today.
👉 Can you knock off ₹100? - Keep to – to stick to something (like a rule or plan)
👉 Please keep to the topic. - Keep out – to not enter
👉 Danger! Keep out! - Kick back – to relax
👉 After work, I just want to kick back and rest. - Keep down – to not vomit or to control something
👉 I couldn’t keep down the food. - Knock together – to build quickly
👉 He knocked together a table with old wood. - Knock back – to drink quickly OR reject
👉 He knocked back two coffees.
👉 She knocked back my offer. - Keep out of – to avoid being involved
👉 It’s their problem. Let’s keep out of it.
📚 Learning Tip: Use Spoken English Books for Beginners and English Conversation Practice Books alongside these phrasal verbs to build real-life examples and improve your speaking fluency faster.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with L
- Look after – to take care of someone or something
👉 She looks after her baby brother. - Look for – to search
👉 I’m looking for my keys. - Look forward to – to feel excited about something
👉 I look forward to the weekend. - Let down – to disappoint someone
👉 Don’t let me down this time. - Log in – to sign in to a computer or website
👉 You need to log in to check your email. - Log out – to sign out of a system
👉 Don’t forget to log out after using the computer. - Lay off – to stop employing someone
👉 The company laid off ten workers. - Let in – to allow someone to enter
👉 Please let him in. - Look into – to investigate or check
👉 I’ll look into the problem tomorrow. - Look out – to be careful or aware
👉 Look out! There’s a car coming! - Lie down – to rest on a bed or sofa
👉 I need to lie down for a while. - Let out – to allow to go out OR make a sound
👉 She let out a scream. - Light up – to become bright or happy
👉 His face lit up with joy. - Look up – to search for information (usually in a book or online)
👉 I’ll look up the meaning of that word. - Leave out – to skip or not include something
👉 Don’t leave out any details. - Live up to – to meet expectations
👉 The movie didn’t live up to the hype. - Line up – to stand or arrange in a row
👉 The students lined up for lunch. - Lash out – to suddenly become angry or violent
👉 He lashed out at his friend. - Let go of – to release or stop holding
👉 Let go of the rope! - Load up – to fill with things (usually a vehicle or bag)
👉 They loaded up the car with food.
💡 Study Tip: While reading or listening, try to pause and say the phrasal verb aloud. Using a Bluetooth speaker or headphones helps you listen clearly and repeat for better pronunciation.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with M
- Make up – to invent a story OR to become friends again
👉 She made up an excuse.
👉 They made up after the fight. - Move on – to continue after something ends
👉 It’s time to move on from the past. - Mix up – to confuse two things or people
👉 I mixed up the dates! - Mark down – to reduce the price
👉 The shoes were marked down 50%. - Make out – to understand or see clearly
👉 I couldn’t make out what he said. - Move in – to start living in a new place
👉 They moved in last week. - Move out – to leave your home or apartment
👉 We’re moving out next month. - Make for – to go in the direction of
👉 We made for the nearest hotel. - Mess up – to make a mistake or create a mess
👉 I really messed up my exam. - Miss out – to not get a chance to do something
👉 You’ll miss out if you don’t come! - Make over – to change or improve appearance
👉 She made over her bedroom. - Meet up – to get together with someone
👉 Let’s meet up after work. - Make into – to change something into something else
👉 They made the garage into a room. - Mash up – to crush or mix together
👉 Mash up the bananas for the cake. - Move along – to continue moving
👉 The police told the crowd to move along. - Make off with – to steal something and run away
👉 Someone made off with my bag! - Mess around – to waste time or behave playfully
👉 Stop messing around and focus. - Make do with – to manage with less than you want
👉 We had to make do with rice and eggs. - Mark up – to increase the price
👉 They marked up the products before the sale. - Measure up – to be good enough
👉 He didn’t measure up to expectations.
🪑 Study Tip: Stay comfortable while learning! Use a comfortable study chair and a study lamp for longer, focused practice sessions—perfect while revising phrasal verbs!
Phrasal Verbs Starting with N
- Nod off – to fall asleep, especially by accident
👉 I nodded off during the movie. - Nail down – to confirm or finalize something
👉 Let’s nail down the meeting time. - Note down – to write something quickly for reference
👉 Note down my phone number. - Name after – to give someone the same name as another person
👉 He was named after his grandfather. - Narrow down – to reduce a list or options
👉 We narrowed down the choices to three. - Nip out – to go somewhere quickly and return soon
👉 I’m just nipping out to the shop. - Nose around – to search or look around secretly
👉 She was nosing around in my drawer! - Nudge into – to gently push someone into doing something
👉 He nudged me into joining the club. - Notch up – to achieve or score something
👉 She notched up another win. - Narrow off – to become thinner or smaller at the end
👉 The road narrows off after the bridge. - Nag at – to bother or annoy repeatedly
👉 The mistake kept nagging at me. - Nip in – to enter quickly and briefly
👉 He nipped in to buy a bottle of water. - Number off – to count people in order
👉 The coach asked us to number off. - Nail up – to fix something using nails
👉 They nailed up wooden boards on the wall. - Narrow in on – to focus closely on something
👉 The police narrowed in on a suspect. - Nestle up – to snuggle closely for warmth or comfort
👉 The cat nestled up beside me. - Nudge up – to increase slightly
👉 Prices have nudged up this week. - Nod to – to give a quick nod as a signal or greeting
👉 She nodded to him politely. - Nose out – to win by a small amount
👉 He nosed out the competition by one point. - Name off – to read out names from a list
👉 The teacher named off the students present.
🎧 Study Tip: Listening to English audio helps memorize phrasal verbs easily. Use headphones or a Bluetooth speaker to stay focused while you learn.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with O
- Opt for – to choose something
👉 I opted for the blue dress. - Own up – to admit a mistake
👉 He owned up to breaking the vase. - Open up – to start talking honestly
👉 She finally opened up about her problems. - Opt out – to choose not to take part
👉 He opted out of the group project. - Object to – to express dislike or disagreement
👉 They objected to the new rules. - Occur to – to come to mind
👉 It suddenly occurred to me that I forgot my keys. - Order in – to request food delivery at home
👉 Let’s order in tonight. - Open out – to become wider or larger
👉 The path opens out into a big garden. - Overlook on – to have a view over something
👉 My room overlooks on the lake. - Operate on – to perform surgery
👉 The doctors operated on his leg. - Outgrow – to become too big or mature for something
👉 She outgrew her baby clothes quickly. - Overcome by – to be strongly affected by something
👉 He was overcome by emotion. - Opt in – to choose to join something
👉 You need to opt in for email updates. - Open onto – to lead directly to another space
👉 The door opens onto the balcony. - Outnumber – to be more in number
👉 The fans outnumbered the police. - Overdo it – to do too much of something
👉 Don’t overdo it at the gym. - Own up to – to confess fully
👉 He owned up to his mistake in front of everyone. - Overhear – to hear something by accident
👉 I overheard them talking about me. - Open out to – to share feelings or ideas with someone
👉 He never opens out to anyone. - Outrun – to run faster than someone or something
👉 She outran the other kids in the race.
📘 Pro Tip: While learning phrasal verbs, keeping a small notebook or using sticky notes helps a lot. You can even use a book holder or reading stand to keep your hands free while studying or practicing aloud.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with P
- Pick up – to collect or learn
👉 I’ll pick you up at 5 PM.
👉 She picked up some new words quickly. - Put on – to wear clothes or makeup
👉 He put on his jacket. - Pass out – to faint or lose consciousness
👉 She passed out from the heat. - Point out – to show or explain something clearly
👉 He pointed out the mistake. - Pull over – to stop a vehicle by the side of the road
👉 The police told him to pull over. - Put off – to delay or postpone
👉 Don’t put off your homework! - Pay back – to return borrowed money
👉 I’ll pay you back next week. - Plug in – to connect an electrical device
👉 Please plug in the charger. - Pull out – to withdraw or remove
👉 The company pulled out of the deal. - Pass on – to give something to someone else
👉 Please pass on the message. - Put out – to stop something from burning
👉 The fireman put out the fire. - Pick out – to choose
👉 Can you pick out a nice gift? - Push through – to make something happen even if it’s difficult
👉 We’ll push through the changes. - Pull up – to stop a vehicle
👉 The car pulled up in front of the house. - Put away – to return something to its place
👉 Please put away your books. - Pass by – to go past something or someone
👉 I passed by your house yesterday. - Pick on – to bully or treat someone badly
👉 The kids always pick on him. - Pair up – to form a pair
👉 Let’s pair up for the project. - Pay off – to finish paying a debt or loan
👉 I finally paid off my car. - Put up with – to tolerate or accept
👉 I can’t put up with the noise anymore.
📚 Study Boost: Keep your notes neat and organized with a desk organizer. Use it to sort your flashcards, sticky notes, or printed phrasal verbs list for daily review.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with Q
- Queue up – to stand in line
👉 We queued up for movie tickets. - Quiet down – to become quieter or make less noise
👉 Please quiet down, the baby is sleeping. - Quit on – to stop working or functioning
👉 My laptop quit on me during the meeting. - Quarrel with – to argue with someone
👉 She quarreled with her friend yesterday. - Quick up (rare, informal) – to do something faster
👉 Can you quick up your steps? - Queue for – to wait in line for something
👉 People queued for hours to buy the new phone. - Quote back – to repeat someone’s exact words
👉 He quoted back what I said last week. - Quiet down for – to calm for a person or reason
👉 The class quieted down for the teacher. - Quicken up – to speed up an action
👉 We need to quicken up the process. - Quit out of – to exit a program or app
👉 Don’t forget to quit out of the browser.
🎧 Bonus Tip: For learning rare phrasal verbs like these, try reading online articles or watching English videos using a Bluetooth speaker for clear audio. Listening helps build natural usage.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with R
- Run out (of) – to have no more left
👉 We ran out of milk. - Rule out – to eliminate or reject an option
👉 We can rule out that idea. - Rip off – to cheat someone, especially with money
👉 That shop ripped me off! - Reach out – to contact someone
👉 I’ll reach out to her by email. - Run into – to meet someone by chance
👉 I ran into an old friend today. - Read over – to read something carefully
👉 Please read over your answers. - Run over – to hit with a vehicle
👉 A car ran over a cat. - Roll out – to launch or introduce (product/service)
👉 They’ll roll out the new app next month. - Rely on – to depend on someone or something
👉 You can rely on me. - Run after – to chase or follow
👉 The dog ran after the cat. - Rub out – to erase (something written)
👉 Rub out the wrong answer. - Reel in – to attract or pull in
👉 The ad reeled in many customers. - Ride out – to survive or stay safe during a hard time
👉 We rode out the storm at home. - Rack up – to collect or gain (points, money, etc.)
👉 He racked up a lot of bills. - Run by – to tell or check something with someone
👉 Can I run this idea by you? - Ring up – to make a phone call
👉 I’ll ring up the doctor. - Root for – to support someone or something
👉 I’m rooting for your team! - Roll up – to arrive (informal)
👉 He rolled up late to the meeting. - Read into – to think too much about something
👉 Don’t read into his silence. - Run off – to leave quickly or secretly
👉 She ran off without saying goodbye.
🪑 Helpful Tip: For better focus during learning time, use a comfortable study chair or keep your materials organized with a reading stand. These small tools really help in long study sessions!
Phrasal Verbs Starting with S
- Set up – to arrange or start something
👉 They set up a new shop last week. - Show up – to arrive or appear
👉 He didn’t show up for the meeting. - Shut down – to stop working or close
👉 The factory was shut down. - Speak up – to talk louder or express your opinion
👉 Please speak up, I can’t hear you. - Stand up – to rise to your feet
👉 Everyone stood up when the teacher entered. - Sit down – to take a seat
👉 Please sit down and relax. - Sort out – to solve a problem or organize something
👉 I need to sort out my desk. - Step down – to leave a job or position
👉 The manager stepped down last month. - Stick to – to continue doing something without changing
👉 You must stick to your plan. - Stand out – to be noticeable or different
👉 Her dress really stood out. - Sign up – to register or join
👉 I signed up for an English course. - Slow down – to reduce speed
👉 Please slow down, you’re talking too fast. - Set off – to begin a journey
👉 We set off early in the morning. - Show off – to try to impress others
👉 He loves to show off his new phone. - Send back – to return something
👉 I’ll send back the wrong item. - Start over – to begin again
👉 Let’s start over from the top. - Settle down – to become calm or start a stable life
👉 It’s time to settle down. - Stay up – to not go to bed
👉 I stayed up till midnight. - Sign in – to log into a system or place
👉 You need to sign in before using the app. - Speak out – to express your opinion strongly
👉 She spoke out against injustice.
💡 Study Tip: Keep your phrasal verb notes handy with a laptop table so you can study comfortably in bed or on the sofa. Use sticky notes or flashcards and review 5 verbs daily!
Phrasal Verbs Starting with T
- Take off – to remove (clothes) or to fly (plane)
👉 Please take off your shoes.
👉 The plane took off at 9 AM. - Turn on – to start a machine or light
👉 Can you turn on the fan? - Turn off – to stop a machine or light
👉 Don’t forget to turn off the lights. - Try on – to put on clothes to see if they fit
👉 I want to try on this shirt. - Throw away – to get rid of something
👉 Don’t throw away that book! - Take out – to remove or bring something out
👉 Please take out the trash. - Talk about – to discuss
👉 Let’s talk about your plans. - Turn up – to arrive OR increase volume
👉 He turned up late.
👉 Turn up the music! - Turn down – to reject or reduce volume
👉 She turned down the offer.
👉 Turn down the TV, please. - Take care of – to look after
👉 I’ll take care of the baby. - Talk to – to speak with someone
👉 I need to talk to the teacher. - Think over – to consider carefully
👉 I’ll think over your idea. - Take in – to understand or absorb information
👉 That’s a lot to take in at once. - Team up – to work together with someone
👉 Let’s team up for the project. - Talk back – to reply rudely
👉 Don’t talk back to your parents. - Take back – to return something
👉 I need to take back these shoes. - Take over – to take control of something
👉 She will take over the company. - Tell off – to scold or criticize
👉 The teacher told off the noisy students. - Think about – to consider or reflect
👉 I’m thinking about joining the class. - Throw up – to vomit
👉 He felt sick and threw up.
🛠️ Learning Tip: Use flashcards or a study lamp during nighttime revision. Keep a list of phrasal verbs nearby using a book holder so your hands stay free while studying or practicing aloud.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with U
- Use up – to finish or consume completely
👉 We used up all the sugar. - Uphold by – to support or maintain (a law, rule, or belief)
👉 The judge upheld the decision made earlier. - Urge on – to encourage someone to continue
👉 The crowd urged on the runners. - Utter out – to speak or say something clearly (formal)
👉 He uttered out a few words before leaving. - Unplug from – to disconnect from power or a system
👉 Please unplug the TV from the socket. - Use for – to use something for a specific purpose
👉 This spoon is used for soup. - Update on – to give the latest information about something
👉 Can you update me on the project? - Usher in – to begin or start something new
👉 The new year ushered in many changes. - Urge upon – to strongly suggest something to someone
👉 I urged upon him the need to study. - Unroll out – to open something that was rolled
👉 She unrolled the mat for yoga. - Unpack from – to take things out of a bag or box
👉 I just unpacked my clothes from the suitcase. - Use against – to use something in a negative way
👉 They used his words against him. - Untie up – to remove a knot or something tied
👉 Please untie the rope. - Unwind from – to relax after stress or work
👉 I watch movies to unwind from a long day. - Uncover by – to discover or reveal something hidden
👉 The police uncovered the truth by investigating. - Unleash on – to release or let go with force or emotion
👉 He unleashed his anger on his teammates. - Use in – to include or apply within something
👉 This word is often used in formal writing. - Unhook from – to detach from something
👉 She unhooked the necklace from her neck. - Urge out – to push someone to leave or act quickly
👉 They urged out the guests after the event. - Uncover from – to remove a covering from something
👉 He uncovered the dish from the table.
📚 Tip for Practice: To review these phrasal verbs daily, keep a desk organizer with flashcards or printouts by your study table. It helps you stay organized and makes quick practice easier!
Phrasal Verbs Starting with V
- Vote for – to choose someone/something in an election
👉 I will vote for the best candidate. - Vouch for – to confirm or support the truth of something
👉 I can vouch for his honesty. - Vanish into – to disappear into something
👉 The thief vanished into the crowd. - Vary from – to change slightly from one to another
👉 Prices vary from city to city. - Volunteer for – to offer to do something by choice
👉 She volunteered for the clean-up drive. - Veer off – to suddenly change direction
👉 The car veered off the road. - Venture out – to go out into a risky or new situation
👉 We ventured out in the storm. - Vote down – to reject something by voting
👉 The members voted down the new rule. - Vibe with – to feel a connection or comfort with someone or something (informal)
👉 I really vibe with this music. - Vanish from – to disappear from a place
👉 Her keys vanished from the table. - Vow to – to promise strongly
👉 He vowed to never lie again. - Vary with – to change depending on something else
👉 The result varies with the method used. - Venture into – to try doing something new or difficult
👉 She ventured into business last year. - Vibrate with – to shake or move with energy or emotion
👉 His voice vibrated with anger. - Vacuum up – to clean using a vacuum
👉 She vacuumed up the dust quickly. - Vanish away – to completely disappear
👉 The fog vanished away by noon. - Voice out – to express an opinion openly
👉 Don’t be afraid to voice out your thoughts. - Vary by – to change based on something
👉 Costs vary by location. - Vamp up – to improve or make something more exciting (informal)
👉 They vamped up the old website. - Vouch on – to give personal assurance or guarantee
👉 I can’t vouch on that product.
📌 Study Tip: Keep track of the phrasal verbs you’ve learned by writing them in a journal or using a reading stand to keep your notes upright while you practice speaking or writing.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with W
- Wake up – to stop sleeping
👉 I wake up at 6 AM every day. - Work out – to exercise OR solve a problem
👉 I work out at the gym.
👉 We worked out the answer. - Wait for – to stay until someone/something arrives
👉 I’m waiting for the bus. - Walk out – to leave suddenly (often in protest)
👉 She walked out during the meeting. - Watch out – to be careful
👉 Watch out! There’s water on the floor. - Warm up – to prepare your body for exercise
👉 Always warm up before running. - Wear out – to become old or damaged by use
👉 These shoes are worn out. - Wipe out – to destroy completely or fall badly
👉 The storm wiped out the village.
👉 He wiped out while skating. - Write down – to take notes
👉 Please write down your homework. - Work on – to try to improve something
👉 I’m working on my English skills. - Work through – to deal with something step-by-step
👉 Let’s work through this problem together. - Walk in – to enter without knocking
👉 She just walked in without asking. - Walk away – to leave a bad situation
👉 He walked away from the argument. - Wind down – to relax after stress or work
👉 I like to wind down with music. - Wash up – to clean your hands or dishes
👉 Go wash up before dinner. - Wish for – to hope or want something
👉 I wish for a better future. - Work up to – to gradually prepare for something big
👉 I’m working up to running 5 km. - Write up – to prepare a final version of something
👉 I’ll write up the report tonight. - Walk off – to leave a situation quickly
👉 He walked off without saying anything. - Wake up to – to realize something clearly
👉 She finally woke up to the truth.
📚 Study Tip: Practice saying these aloud using a microphone for speaking practice. You can also record your voice and play it back using a smart speaker like Alexa to test your fluency!
Phrasal Verbs Starting with Y
- Yell out – to shout something loudly
👉 She yelled out his name in the crowd. - Yawn at – to show boredom or lack of interest
👉 He yawned at the boring movie. - Yield to – to give in or agree to something
👉 She finally yielded to the pressure. - Yearn for – to strongly want or miss something
👉 I yearn for peace and quiet. - Yank out – to pull something suddenly and forcefully
👉 He yanked out the USB drive. - Yap on – to talk continuously in an annoying way (informal)
👉 He kept yapping on about his weekend.
📌 Pro Tip for You: Since this list is short, it’s the perfect time to review your flashcards or create a mini poster with your favorite phrasal verbs! Use tools like a laptop table to keep your study setup cozy and distraction-free.
Phrasal Verbs Starting with Z
- Zoom in (on) – to focus closely on something (literally or figuratively)
👉 The camera zoomed in on her face.
👉 Let’s zoom in on that topic. - Zoom out – to move the view away to see a bigger area
👉 Zoom out to see the full image. - Zone out – to stop paying attention; daydream (informal)
👉 I zoned out during the long meeting. - Zero in (on) – to focus your attention on one thing
👉 The police zeroed in on the suspect. - Zip up – to close something with a zipper
👉 Please zip up your jacket. - Zoom along – to move very fast
👉 The car zoomed along the highway. - Zip around – to move quickly from place to place (informal)
👉 He zipped around the kitchen, cooking everything.
🎯 Final Tip: Congratulations on reaching the end of the A–Z phrasal verb list! 🎉
Now, try revising 10 phrasal verbs daily and say them aloud. Use a noise-cancelling headphone or Bluetooth speaker to listen to native examples on YouTube or podcasts — it really helps!
FAQs About Phrasal Verbs
🔹 1. What is the best way to learn phrasal verbs?
👉 The best way is to learn 5 new phrasal verbs every day and use them in your own sentences.
Try to speak them out loud or write short examples.
You can also watch English videos or use apps to see how native speakers use them.
📘 Tip: Use a good Spoken English Book for Beginners that explains phrasal verbs with examples and practice.
🔹 2. How many phrasal verbs are there in English?
👉 There are over 10,000 phrasal verbs in English!
But don’t worry — you don’t need to learn all.
Start with the most common 200–300, and use them often. That’s enough for daily conversations.
🔖 You can also keep a notebook or flashcards on a reading stand for daily practice.
🔹 3. Are phrasal verbs used in formal English?
👉 Some phrasal verbs are okay in formal English (like “carry out”, “bring up”), but many are more common in spoken or informal English.
In formal writing, people often use single-word verbs instead.
For example:
- “Put off” (informal) → “Postpone” (formal)
- “Find out” → “Discover”
🎧 You can listen to formal and informal uses using smart speakers like Alexa — just ask it to play English dialogues or audiobooks!
Conclusion – Start Small, Practice Daily
Learning phrasal verbs may feel hard at first, but remember — you don’t have to learn everything in one day. Just start small. Learn 5 phrasal verbs every day, and use them in real life.
👉 Practice is the real key. Speak them out loud, write short sentences, and listen to how native speakers use them. Even if you make mistakes, it’s okay — that’s how you learn!
🎯 You don’t need to be perfect, just keep improving! One small step every day will make you better and more confident.
📘 Need help? A good English Conversation Practice Book or a quiet space with a study lamp can make your learning more comfortable.
💬 Did you enjoy this guide?
Leave a comment below and tell us:
👉 Which phrasal verb is your favorite?
👉 Or which one you want help with?
We’re here to help you speak English with confidence — one day at a time. 🌟
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