Subjects
Grades
Phrasal Verbs
Concept sheet | English Language Arts
Grade
5-6
| Secondary
1-5
Table of contents
- Top of page
- Phrasal Verb Uses
- Phrasal Verb Forms
- Phrasal Verb Meanings
- Phrasal Verbs Exercise
- Separable & Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
- Finding the Right Phrasal Verb
- Common Phrasal Verbs
- Phrasal Verbs for Movement
- Phrasal Verbs for Problems & Solutions
- Phrasal Verbs for Using & Handling Objects
- Phrasal Verbs for Tasks
- Phrasal Verbs for Interactions
- See Also
Phrasal Verb Uses
Phrasal verbs are short phrases used as expressions. These familiar expressions replace more formal formulations.
Using phrasal verbs makes the message automatically more natural.
Phrasal Verb Forms
Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb with 1 or 2 additional words.
The added words can be:
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an adverb
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an adverb and a preposition
Phrasal Verb Meanings
Combining the same verb with different words will affect the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Some verbs are used in many phrasal verb combinations. They create expressions with different meanings.
It is the case for the verbs to get and to go.
Phrasal Verbs with to Get
Phrasal Verbs with to Go
Phrasal Verbs with Different Meanings
Some phrasal verbs can take on a different meaning depending on the context.
Buster blew up a balloon.
The balloon blew up.
Buster blew up.
Phrasal Verbs Exercise
Separable & Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Some phrasal verbs are separable: they can be split up by other words. Others are inseparable, and cannot be split up.
Separable Phrasal Verbs
Separable phrasal verb:
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keep the same meaning when they are split up.
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can be split up, but do not have to: it is a choice.
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Inseparable phrasal verb:
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make no sense if they are split up.
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must always be kept together.
Finding the Right Phrasal Verb
How to find the right phrasal verb when there are thousands of possibilities?
Phrasal verbs are usually organized in 1 of these 4 ways.
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Organized by Verbs
This way lists phrasal verbs according to the verb present in them.
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Helpful when: |
Examples |
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to take |
to go |
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the expression is familiar to you. |
take in |
go away |
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a verb by itself has a similar meaning as the expression. |
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Organized by Particle
This way lists phrasal verbs according to particles added to the verb.
Generally the particles added are prepositions or adverbs.
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Helpful when: |
Examples |
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in |
away |
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the particle influences the meaning of the expression. |
go in |
run away |
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looking for synonyms. |
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Organized by Meaning or Theme
This way lists phrasal verbs according to their meaning.
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Helpful when: |
Examples |
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for cleaning |
for separating |
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looking to replace a verb. |
clean up |
break up |
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looking for synonyms for other phrasal verbs. |
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Organized in Alphabetical Order
This way lists phrasal verbs according to the alphabet, from A to Z.
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Helpful when: |
Examples |
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looking for the meaning of a phrasal verb. |
ask for |
note down |
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searching by verb used in the expression. |
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Common Phrasal Verbs
Here are some examples of common phrasal verbs, with their meaning.