Phrasal verbs combine a main verb with one or more particles to create a distinct meaning. Some are easy to understand from their parts, while others have idiomatic meanings that must be learned as complete expressions.
Start with What Are Phrasal Verbs? for the main types, word-order rules, and examples. You can then explore separable and inseparable forms, three-word phrasal verbs, and detailed lists built around verbs such as get, take, put, come, and go.
You may go over a report, go through a difficult period, or go ahead with a plan. Each expression begins with go, but the added particle or preposition changes its meaning and grammar pattern. Unlike many phrasal verbs with put,…
You may come across an old photograph, come up with a solution, or come down with a cold. Each expression begins with come, but the following particle or preposition creates a different meaning and grammar pattern. Some phrasal verbs with…
You may put away your clothes, put forward a proposal, or put up with a delay. Each expression begins with put, but the added particle or preposition changes both its meaning and grammar pattern. Many two-word phrasal verbs with put…
You may look forward to a holiday, put up with a delay, or talk someone out of making a rushed decision. Each expression contains three main words, but the noun or pronoun does not always appear in the same position.…
You may turn off the light or turn the light off, but you must look after the child, not look the child after. The object changes position because turn off is separable in this meaning, while look after is inseparable.…
The verb look usually means to direct your eyes towards something. Add a short word, however, and the meaning changes. You might look into a problem or look over a document before sending it. These combinations are common in conversations,…
A plane may take off, a child may take after a parent, and a new manager may take over a department. Each expression begins with the verb take, but its meaning and grammar pattern change according to the particle, preposition,…
Delays are a part of everyday life, whether it’s rescheduling meetings, postponing events, or putting tasks on hold. In English, there are several phrasal verbs for postponing that help express these situations naturally. Using the right expressions makes communication smoother…
Get up, get over, get across, and get away with all begin with the verb get, but they express very different ideas. Some take no object, some must stay together, and others allow an object between the verb and particle.…
The phrasal verb give in is often used when someone stops resisting or finally agrees to something after holding out for a while. It’s a subtle but powerful expression in English that can show compromise, pressure, or emotional surrender. Whether…
The phrasal verb give up is a common expression in English that often signals a decision to stop doing something. Whether it’s quitting a habit, ending an effort, or letting go of a goal, give up captures that moment of…
You may put on a coat before going outside, put on some music while cooking, or put on a play at school. Although the words remain the same, the meaning changes according to the object and context. Put on has…