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What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is a verb followed by one or two small words (like up, in, out, on, etc.). These small words are called particle
.
Together, they create a new meaning, which may or may not be related to the verb and the particle themselves.
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For example, when you give someone a present, you offer or hand a present to someone. However, when you give up on people, there is no “giving” involved; it means you lose hope and stop supporting them.
Plain Verbs and Phrasal Verbs
Here are a few examples to show how phrasal verbs can have meanings that are very different from the main verb:
Verb: turn
to change direction (e.g., Turn left at the corner.)
Phrasal verb: turn on
to start something (e.g., Turn on the TV.)
As you can see, “turn on” is not about changing direction. It’s about starting a device or machine.
Verb: look
to see something with your eyes (e.g., Look at the sky.)
Phrasal verb: look after
means to take care of someone (e.g., I look after my little brother.)
“Look after” does not have much to do with using your eyes to look at something. It’s about helping or caring for someone.
Verb: bring
to move something to a different location with you (e.g., He brought his friend a souvenir.)
Phrasal verb: bring up
to raise a child (e.g., John brought up two great children.)
When you “bring up” a child, you are not moving anything to a different location.
Why Are Phrasal Verbs a Pain in the Neck?
Phrasal verbs can sometimes be difficult to learn for three reasons:
- You cannot always guess what they mean based on the verb and particle.
- A phrasal verb can have many, often unrelated meanings.
- You can try to memorize (very) long lists of phrasal verbs, but there are so many of them it would take you years of hard work to do so.
This leaves ELLs (English-language learners) annoyed and bewildered. It takes a lot of experience with the language.
My Thoughts
I have been teaching English for years, so I understand why phrasal verbs can be frustrating. Sometimes I notice them in movies or conversations, but that’s only because of my job. Most of the time, I don’t really focus on the exact words people use, as long as the message is clear.
Recently, I was talking to a friend and mentioned phrasal verbs. She didn’t even know what they were! That’s normal. Native speakers just understand them without thinking.
Don’t stress over phrasal verbs. As you use English, you will come across them frequently, so eventually more and more of them will start making sense naturally. Usually, you’ll understand what people mean from the situation. If not, you can always ask or look it up later.
Smart Ways to Learn Phrasal Verbs
Learn in Context
Focus on how phrasal verbs are used in real sentences, not just definitions. This applies to learning any vocabulary as you remember words that you see used in context better than words on lists.
Watch, Listen, Speak, Write
Pay attention to phrasal verbs in movies, shows, and podcasts—but do not obsess over them. Try to use them whenever you speak or write.
Use Flashcards
If you don’t mind memorizing vocabulary, flashcards can help. Create cards with the phrasal verb on one side; on the other side, include not only the meaning but also example sentences. Apps like Anki or Quizlet can be very helpful.
Look for Patterns
More often than not, the particle changes the meaning of the verb completely; however, the particles can sometimes offer clues to the meaning. For example, the particle “up” sometimes has the meaning of completion as in eat up (eat everything), use up (use something until there’s nothing left), or drink up (finish drinking).
This will not teach you every phrasal verb, but recognizing patterns will help you develop a feel for how the language works.
Relax and Let It Happen
Don’t stress over learning every phrasal verb right away. You will probably learn the most common ones and pick up more of them through exposure and use alone. Be patient and practice whenever you can.
Learning phrasal verbs is like drinking coffee: It’s bitter the first time you try it, but you soon come to love the flavor it brings into your life.
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