Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are a core part of sounding natural in English. Mastering them will help you understand native speakers and express yourself more clearly, as they often convey nuanced meanings that single words cannot.

How to make it

1. Identify the verb and the particle(s) that form the phrasal verb.
2. Understand that the combined meaning is often different from the individual words.
3. Determine if the phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.
4. If separable, decide if the object goes between the verb and particle, or after the particle. Remember, if the object is a pronoun, it must go between them.
5. If inseparable, keep the verb and particle(s) together.

Watch out for

• Literal interpretation: Don't assume the meaning of a phrasal verb is just the sum of its parts. The meaning is often idiomatic and needs to be learned as a unit.
• Incorrect placement of pronouns: When a separable phrasal verb has a pronoun as its object, the pronoun always goes between the verb and the particle. Forgetting this can sound very unnatural.
• Treating all phrasal verbs as separable: Many phrasal verbs are inseparable, meaning the verb and particle must always stay together. There's no easy rule, so pay attention to which ones are which.

Words to try

• turn down (a request)
• look into (a problem)
• give up (a habit)
• call off (an event)
• put on (clothes)
• take off (an airplane)
• come across (something by chance)
• run out of (supplies)

The whole catalog

One verb usually has a whole family of phrasal verbs, and the difference between them is the particle. A couple breaks up; a car breaks down. Browse all the phrasal verbs to see each family compared side by side — every meaning, sentences to record, and the stress pattern that makes them sound native.

• Phrasal verbs with BREAK — up, down, in, out, off, away
• Phrasal verbs with GET — the busiest verb in English
• What the particle UP really means — completion, not direction

💡 Phrasal verbs can be tricky, but consistent exposure and practice will make them feel much more natural over time!