Phrasal Verb Basics
A2 · ElementaryPhrasal VerbsWake up, give up, look up — phrasal verbs pair a verb with a small word like up, down, or out to create a new meaning.
What you'll learn
- A phrasal verb combines a verb with one or more particles (small words like up, down, out, off, on, away)
- The particle is not a normal preposition of place — together with the verb, it creates a new, sometimes unpredictable meaning
- Some phrasal verbs keep a literal meaning (sit down = sit in a lower position); many others become idiomatic (give up = stop trying, not 'give something upward')
- Phrasal verbs are extremely common in everyday spoken English, even though many have a more formal one-word equivalent
What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle — a small word like up, down, out, off, on, away, or in — that together create a single unit of meaning. It looks like two separate words, but it often behaves and means something like one word.
Literal vs. idiomatic meaning
Some phrasal verbs keep a meaning close to their separate words — this is the literal use. Many others take on a completely new, idiomatic meaning that can't be guessed just from the verb and the particle separately.
One verb, many particles, many meanings
The same base verb can combine with different particles to create completely different phrasal verbs. This is one reason phrasal verbs take time to learn — each combination is really its own separate piece of vocabulary.
Real English
Watch out
wake pairs with the particle up, not on — each phrasal verb has its own fixed particle, so it has to be learned as a whole unit.
Don't translate the particle word-for-word from another language — give up is its own fixed combination meaning 'stop trying'.
Real life — Making plans
"What time should we meet up tomorrow?"
"How about we set off around nine, so we don't hold everyone up?"
"Sounds good. I'll look up the bus times tonight."
"Great — let's catch up properly once we get there."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct particle
What time do you usually wake ___ ?
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct particle
Can you turn ___ the music? It's too loud.
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct particle
I need to give ___ smoking this year.
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct particle
Please fill ___ this form before you leave.
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct meaning
What does 'give up' mean?
Exercise 6 · Choose the correct sentence
Which sentence uses 'look up' with its idiomatic meaning?
Exercise 7 · Choose the correct answer
A phrasal verb is made of a verb plus:
Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the correct sentence.
Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence
Fill in the missing particle: The meeting was called ___ because of the weather. (cancelled)
Exercise 10 · Complete the sentence
Fill in the missing particle: Please sit ___ and make yourself comfortable.
Exercise 11 · Put the words in the correct order
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
What time did you get ___ this morning?
You learned
- A phrasal verb combines a verb with a particle (up, down, out, off, on, away) to create a single unit of meaning.
- Some phrasal verbs keep a literal meaning; many others become fully idiomatic and unpredictable.
- The same verb can combine with different particles to make completely different phrasal verbs.
- Phrasal verbs are extremely common in everyday spoken English, even where a formal one-word equivalent exists.
Related grammar lessons
Separable vs Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Learn the difference between separable phrasal verbs (turn off the light / turn the light off) and inseparable ones (look after the kids, never look the kids after) — and the one rule that's never optional.
Phrasal Verb Grammar
Go deeper into how phrasal verbs work grammatically — three-word phrasal-prepositional verbs like put up with and look forward to, and how a phrasal verb's particle differs from an ordinary preposition.
Transitive vs Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
Learn which phrasal verbs need an object (turn off the lights) and which never take one (the car broke down) — a separate question from whether a phrasal verb is separable.
Particles and Meaning
Discover the recurring shades of meaning behind common phrasal verb particles — up often means 'completely', out often means 'discovering', and on often means 'continuing'.