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🟢 Basic (1-15) 🟡 Intermediate (16-35) 🔴 Advanced (36-50) 🎯 Interactive Quiz

🎯 How to use this guide: Each phrasal verb is hidden behind a "Guess the meaning" button. Try to guess the meaning first, then click to reveal the answer and see detailed examples!

Phrasal verbs combine a verb + preposition/adverb to create completely new meanings. They're essential for natural English communication.

🟢 Basic Phrasal Verbs (1-15)

Essential phrasal verbs for everyday use - Perfect for beginners!

1. Look up

Beginner Separable
🤔 Can you guess what "look up" means?
Meaning: To search for information (in a dictionary, online, etc.)
Examples:
"I need to look up this word in the dictionary."
"Can you look it up online?"
"She looked up the restaurant's address."
When to use: When searching for information or checking references.
💡 Tip: This is separable - "Look it up" or "Look up the word" (both correct!)

2. Turn on/off

Beginner Separable
🤔 What does "turn on/off" mean?
Meaning: To start/stop the operation of a device or machine.
Examples:
"Please turn on the lights."
"Don't forget to turn off the computer."
"Turn it on - the show is starting!"
When to use: With electronic devices, machines, or appliances.
💡 Tip: Very common in daily life! Also used metaphorically: "turn on the charm"

3. Pick up

Beginner Separable
🤔 "Pick up" has multiple meanings. Can you guess them?
Meanings: 1) To lift something, 2) Collect someone/something, 3) Learn informally, 4) Get better
Examples:
"Pick up that book from the floor." (lift)
"I'll pick you up at 6 PM." (collect)
"I picked up Spanish quickly." (learn)
"Business is picking up." (improving)
When to use: This versatile phrasal verb is used in many contexts!
💡 Tip: Context is key! The meaning changes based on what follows "pick up"

4. Put off

Beginner Separable
🤔 What does "put off" mean?
Meaning: To postpone or delay something.
Examples:
"Don't put off your homework until the last minute."
"We had to put off the meeting."
"Stop putting it off - just do it!"
When to use: When delaying tasks, appointments, or decisions.
💡 Tip: Often used when giving advice about procrastination!

5. Get up

Beginner Inseparable
🤔 What does "get up" mean?
Meaning: To rise from bed; to stand up.
Examples:
"I get up at 7 AM every day."
"Please get up and give your seat to the elderly lady."
"What time did you get up this morning?"
When to use: Daily routines and describing physical movement.
💡 Tip: Very common in conversations about daily schedules!

6. Give up

Beginner Separable
🤔 What does "give up" mean?
Meaning: To stop trying; to quit; to surrender.
Examples:
"Don't give up on your dreams!"
"I gave up smoking last year."
"She never gives up easily."
When to use: When talking about quitting habits or stopping efforts.
💡 Tip: Often used in motivational contexts!

7. Take off

Beginner Separable
🤔 "Take off" has several meanings. Can you guess them?
Meanings: 1) Remove clothing, 2) Leave quickly, 3) Airplane departure, 4) Become successful
Examples:
"Take off your shoes before entering." (remove)
"The plane will take off at 3 PM." (depart)
"His business really took off last year." (became successful)
"Let's take off early today." (leave)
When to use: Multiple contexts - clothing, transportation, business success.
💡 Tip: One of the most versatile phrasal verbs in English!

8. Come back

Beginner Inseparable
🤔 What does "come back" mean?
Meaning: To return; to make a comeback.
Examples:
"Please come back soon!"
"The team came back from a 3-0 deficit to win."
"Old fashion trends always come back."
When to use: Physical return or making a comeback in sports/life.
💡 Tip: Can be literal (physical return) or figurative (comeback)!

9. Go out

Beginner Inseparable
🤔 What does "go out" mean?
Meanings: 1) Leave home for entertainment, 2) Date someone, 3) Light goes off
Examples:
"Let's go out for dinner tonight." (entertainment)
"They've been going out for two years." (dating)
"The lights went out during the storm." (stopped working)
When to use: Social activities, relationships, or when things stop working.
💡 Tip: Very common in social conversations!

10. Sit down

Beginner Inseparable
🤔 What does "sit down" mean?
Meaning: To take a seat; to be seated.
Examples:
"Please sit down and make yourself comfortable."
"I need to sit down - my feet hurt."
"Let's sit down and discuss this."
When to use: Inviting someone to sit or describing the action of sitting.
💡 Tip: Often used in polite invitations and instructions!

11. Stand up

Beginner Inseparable
🤔 What does "stand up" mean?
Meaning: To rise to a standing position; to defend someone.
Examples:
"Please stand up when the judge enters."
"She always stands up for her friends."
"Stand up straight!"
When to use: Physical movement or defending someone's rights.
💡 Tip: "Stand up for" means to defend or support someone!

12. Put on

Beginner Separable
🤔 What does "put on" mean?
Meanings: 1) Wear clothing, 2) Apply makeup, 3) Pretend, 4) Organize an event
Examples:
"Put on your jacket - it's cold outside." (wear)
"She put on her makeup before the party." (apply)
"Don't put on an act - be yourself." (pretend)
"They're putting on a concert next week." (organizing)
When to use: Clothing, makeup, behavior, or organizing events.
💡 Tip: Opposite of "take off" for clothing!

13. Wake up

Beginner Separable
🤔 What does "wake up" mean?
Meaning: To stop sleeping; to become alert to something.
Examples:
"I wake up at 6 AM every morning."
"Please wake me up at 7 o'clock."
"He needs to wake up to reality." (become aware)
When to use: Literal awakening from sleep or metaphorical awareness.
💡 Tip: Can be used literally or metaphorically!

14. Clean up

Beginner Separable
🤔 What does "clean up" mean?
Meaning: To tidy or organize; to remove dirt or mess.
Examples:
"Please clean up your room."
"Let's clean up after the party."
"The company needs to clean up its image."
When to use: Physical cleaning or improving reputation/situation.
💡 Tip: Can be literal (cleaning) or figurative (improving)!

15. Work out

Beginner Both
🤔 "Work out" has multiple meanings. Can you guess them?
Meanings: 1) Exercise, 2) Solve a problem, 3) Calculate, 4) Succeed/function well
Examples:
"I work out at the gym every day." (exercise)
"Let's work out this problem together." (solve)
"Can you work out the total cost?" (calculate)
"I hope everything works out well." (succeeds)
When to use: Exercise, problem-solving, calculations, or expressing hope.
💡 Tip: For exercise: inseparable. For problems: separable!

🎯 Ready to Level Up?

You've mastered the basics! Now let's explore more complex phrasal verbs.

🟡 Intermediate Phrasal Verbs (16-35)

More complex phrasal verbs for intermediate learners

16. Figure out

Intermediate Separable
🤔 What does "figure out" mean?
Meaning: To understand or solve something through thinking and analysis.
Examples:
"I can't figure out this math problem."
"Let me figure it out myself."
"Did you figure out why the computer isn't working?"
When to use: Problem-solving, understanding complex situations.
💡 Tip: Very common in problem-solving contexts!

17. Run into

Intermediate Inseparable
🤔 What does "run into" mean?
Meanings: 1) Meet someone unexpectedly, 2) Crash into something, 3) Encounter a problem
Examples:
"I ran into my old friend at the mall." (met unexpectedly)
"The car ran into a tree." (crashed)
"We ran into some problems with the project." (encountered)
When to use: Unexpected meetings, accidents, or encountering difficulties.
💡 Tip: Context determines whether it's literal or figurative!

18. Catch up on

Intermediate Inseparable
🤔 What does "catch up on" mean?
Meaning: To do something you should have done earlier; to get up to date.
Examples:
"I need to catch up on my reading this weekend."
"Let's catch up on the latest news."
"She's catching up on her sleep after the busy week."
When to use: When behind on work, studies, or activities.
💡 Tip: Often used with work, news, sleep, or TV shows!

19. Break down

Intermediate Separable
🤔 "Break down" has multiple meanings. Can you guess them?
Meanings: 1) Stop working (machine), 2) Lose emotional control, 3) Analyze in detail, 4) Demolish
Examples:
"My car broke down on the highway." (stopped working)
"She broke down and started crying." (lost control)
"Let's break down the costs." (analyze)
"They broke down the old building." (demolished)
When to use: Machine failures, emotional situations, analysis, or demolition.
💡 Tip: Very versatile - context is crucial!

20. Set up

Intermediate Separable
🤔 What does "set up" mean?
Meanings: 1) Arrange/organize, 2) Establish a business, 3) Trick someone, 4) Install equipment
Examples:
"Let's set up a meeting for next week." (arrange)
"He set up his own company." (established)
"I think someone set me up!" (tricked)
"Can you help me set up this printer?" (install)
When to use: Organization, business, deception, or equipment installation.
💡 Tip: Common in business and technology contexts!

21. Call off

Intermediate Separable
🤔 What does "call off" mean?
Meaning: To cancel an event or planned activity.
Examples:
"We had to call off the meeting due to bad weather."
"They called off the wedding."
"The game was called off because of rain."
When to use: When canceling plans, events, or scheduled activities.
💡 Tip: Common in business and social contexts!

22. Look for

Intermediate Inseparable
🤔 What does "look for" mean?
Meaning: To search for something or someone.
Examples:
"I'm looking for my keys."
"She's looking for a new job."
"What are you looking for?"
When to use: When searching or seeking something/someone.
💡 Tip: One of the most common phrasal verbs in everyday English!

23. Find out

Intermediate Separable
🤔 What does "find out" mean?
Meaning: To discover information or learn a fact.
Examples:
"I need to find out when the meeting is."
"Did you find out the answer?"
"Let's find out what happened."
When to use: When discovering or learning new information.
💡 Tip: Often used when investigating or researching!

24. Look after

Intermediate Inseparable
🤔 What does "look after" mean?
Meaning: To take care of someone or something.
Examples:
"Can you look after my dog while I'm away?"
"She looks after her elderly parents."
"Who's looking after the children?"
When to use: When caring for people, animals, or things.
💡 Tip: Similar to "take care of" - very common in caregiving contexts!

25. Get over

Intermediate Inseparable
🤔 What does "get over" mean?
Meanings: 1) Recover from illness/problem, 2) Overcome emotional difficulty
Examples:
"It took me a week to get over the flu." (recover)
"She can't get over her ex-boyfriend." (overcome emotionally)
"I can't get over how beautiful this place is!" (express amazement)
When to use: Recovery from illness, emotional healing, or expressing surprise.
💡 Tip: Can be physical (illness) or emotional (relationship/shock)!

26. Bring up

Intermediate Separable
🤔 What does "bring up" mean?
Meanings: 1) Mention a topic, 2) Raise a child, 3) Vomit
Examples:
"Don't bring up politics at dinner." (mention)
"She was brought up in a small town." (raised)
"The child brought up his lunch." (vomited)
When to use: Introducing topics, discussing childhood, or medical contexts.
💡 Tip: Most commonly used for "mention" and "raise children"!

27. Come across

Intermediate Inseparable
🤔 What does "come across" mean?
Meanings: 1) Find by chance, 2) Seem/appear to others
Examples:
"I came across this old photo in the attic." (found)
"He comes across as very confident." (appears)
"We came across some interesting information." (discovered)
When to use: Unexpected discoveries or describing impressions.
💡 Tip: Similar to "run into" for things, or "seem" for impressions!

28. Deal with

Intermediate Inseparable
🤔 What does "deal with" mean?
Meaning: To handle or manage a situation/problem.
Examples:
"I can deal with difficult customers."
"How do you deal with stress?"
"Let me deal with this problem."
When to use: Managing problems, handling situations, or coping with difficulties.
💡 Tip: Essential in professional and problem-solving contexts!

29. Get along with

Intermediate Inseparable
🤔 What does "get along with" mean?
Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
Examples:
"I get along with all my coworkers."
"Do you get along with your neighbors?"
"They don't get along with each other."
When to use: Describing relationships and social compatibility.
💡 Tip: Also "get on with" in British English!

30. Throw away

Intermediate Separable
🤔 What does "throw away" mean?
Meanings: 1) Discard/put in trash, 2) Waste an opportunity
Examples:
"Don't throw away those papers - I need them!" (discard)
"She threw away a great opportunity." (wasted)
"Throw it away if it's broken."
When to use: Disposing of items or wasting opportunities.
💡 Tip: Can be literal (trash) or figurative (opportunities)!

31. Try on

Intermediate Separable
🤔 What does "try on" mean?
Meaning: To put on clothing to see if it fits or looks good.
Examples:
"Can I try on these shoes?"
"She tried on five dresses before buying one."
"You should try it on before purchasing."
When to use: Shopping for clothes, shoes, or accessories.
💡 Tip: Essential for shopping conversations!

32. Fill out

Intermediate Separable
🤔 What does "fill out" mean?
Meaning: To complete a form or document with required information.
Examples:
"Please fill out this application form."
"I need to fill out my tax return."
"Did you fill it out completely?"
When to use: Completing forms, applications, or documents.
💡 Tip: "Fill in" (British) means the same thing!

33. Hand in

Intermediate Separable
🤔 What does "hand in" mean?
Meaning: To submit or give something to someone in authority.
Examples:
"Please hand in your homework by Friday."
"I handed in my resignation letter."
"When do we need to hand it in?"
When to use: Submitting assignments, reports, or official documents.
💡 Tip: Common in academic and professional settings!

34. Make up

Intermediate Separable
🤔 "Make up" has several meanings. Can you guess them?
Meanings: 1) Invent/create a story, 2) Reconcile after argument, 3) Compensate for, 4) Apply cosmetics
Examples:
"He made up an excuse." (invented)
"They had a fight but made up later." (reconciled)
"I'll make up for lost time." (compensate)
"She's making up her face." (applying cosmetics)
When to use: Creating stories, reconciling, compensating, or beauty routines.
💡 Tip: Very versatile - context is crucial!

35. Look forward to

Intermediate Inseparable
🤔 What does "look forward to" mean?
Meaning: To anticipate something with pleasure or excitement.
Examples:
"I'm looking forward to the weekend."
"We look forward to seeing you soon."
"She's looking forward to her vacation."
When to use: Expressing anticipation or excitement about future events.
💡 Tip: Always followed by a noun or gerund (-ing form)!

🔴 Advanced Phrasal Verbs (36-50)

Complex phrasal verbs for advanced learners

36. Brush up on

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 What does "brush up on" mean?
Meaning: To review or improve knowledge/skills that you haven't used recently.
Examples:
"I need to brush up on my French before the trip."
"She's brushing up on her computer skills."
"Let me brush up on the latest regulations."
When to use: Refreshing knowledge or skills for future use.
💡 Tip: Common in professional and academic contexts!

37. Cut down on

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 What does "cut down on" mean?
Meaning: To reduce the amount or frequency of something.
Examples:
"I'm trying to cut down on sugar."
"The company is cutting down on expenses."
"You should cut down on caffeine."
When to use: Discussing reduction of consumption, expenses, or habits.
💡 Tip: Often used for health and financial advice!

38. Put up with

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 What does "put up with" mean?
Meaning: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant.
Examples:
"I can't put up with this noise anymore!"
"She puts up with a lot from her boss."
"How do you put up with the cold weather?"
When to use: Expressing tolerance of difficult situations or people.
💡 Tip: Similar to "tolerate" or "endure" - often implies patience!

39. Carry out

Advanced Separable
🤔 What does "carry out" mean?
Meaning: To execute, perform, or complete a task or plan.
Examples:
"The scientists will carry out the experiment tomorrow."
"We need to carry out a thorough investigation."
"They carried out the plan successfully."
When to use: Formal contexts involving execution of tasks, research, or plans.
💡 Tip: Common in academic, scientific, and business settings!

40. Turn down

Advanced Separable
🤔 "Turn down" has multiple meanings. Can you guess them?
Meanings: 1) Reject an offer/request, 2) Lower volume/temperature
Examples:
"She turned down the job offer." (rejected)
"Please turn down the music." (lower volume)
"He turned down my invitation." (refused)
When to use: Rejecting offers or reducing volume/intensity.
💡 Tip: Context determines meaning - rejection or reduction!

41. Run out of

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 What does "run out of" mean?
Meaning: To use all of something so none is left.
Examples:
"We've run out of milk."
"I'm running out of time to finish this project."
"The store ran out of bread."
When to use: When supplies, time, or resources are depleted.
💡 Tip: Very common in everyday shopping and time management contexts!

42. Get through

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 "Get through" has multiple meanings. Can you guess them?
Meanings: 1) Successfully contact by phone, 2) Finish/complete, 3) Survive a difficult period
Examples:
"I can't get through to her phone." (contact)
"I have a lot of work to get through today." (complete)
"We'll get through this difficult time together." (survive)
When to use: Communication, completion of tasks, or enduring difficulties.
💡 Tip: Versatile phrasal verb with emotional support connotations!

43. Come up

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 "Come up" has several meanings. Can you guess them?
Meanings: 1) Arise/occur (issue/topic), 2) Approach someone, 3) Be mentioned
Examples:
"A problem has come up." (arisen)
"He came up to me after the meeting." (approached)
"Your name came up in the conversation." (was mentioned)
When to use: Discussing emergence of issues, topics, or physical approach.
💡 Tip: Often used for unexpected situations or topics!

44. Point out

Advanced Separable
🤔 What does "point out" mean?
Meaning: To draw attention to something; to indicate or mention.
Examples:
"Let me point out a few important details."
"She pointed out my mistakes."
"Can you point it out on the map?"
When to use: Highlighting information, errors, or important details.
💡 Tip: Common in educational and professional feedback contexts!

45. Show up

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 What does "show up" mean?
Meanings: 1) Appear/arrive, 2) Become visible/evident
Examples:
"He didn't show up to the meeting." (arrive)
"The stain will show up on white fabric." (be visible)
"Just show up on time, please!" (appear)
When to use: Attendance, appearance, or visibility of marks/evidence.
💡 Tip: Informal way to say "arrive" or "appear"!

46. Fall apart

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 What does "fall apart" mean?
Meanings: 1) Break into pieces, 2) Lose emotional control, 3) Fail/collapse
Examples:
"This old book is falling apart." (breaking)
"She fell apart when she heard the news." (emotional breakdown)
"The plan fell apart at the last minute." (failed)
When to use: Physical deterioration, emotional breakdowns, or plan failures.
💡 Tip: Can be literal (objects) or figurative (emotions/plans)!

47. Keep up with

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 What does "keep up with" mean?
Meaning: To stay informed about or maintain pace with something/someone.
Examples:
"It's hard to keep up with technology these days."
"I can't keep up with you - you walk too fast!"
"Do you keep up with current events?"
When to use: Staying current with trends, news, or matching someone's pace.
💡 Tip: Common in discussions about technology and news!

48. Settle down

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 "Settle down" has multiple meanings. Can you guess them?
Meanings: 1) Become calm/quiet, 2) Start living a stable life, 3) Make yourself comfortable
Examples:
"The children need to settle down." (become calm)
"He's ready to settle down and start a family." (stable life)
"Let's settle down and watch a movie." (get comfortable)
When to use: Calming situations, life transitions, or getting comfortable.
💡 Tip: Often used by teachers and in discussions about life stages!

49. Wear out

Advanced Separable
🤔 What does "wear out" mean?
Meanings: 1) Become damaged from use, 2) Make someone very tired
Examples:
"These shoes are worn out." (damaged)
"The kids wore me out today." (made tired)
"Don't wear yourself out working too hard."
When to use: Objects becoming old/damaged or people becoming exhausted.
💡 Tip: Can refer to physical items or energy/patience!

50. Count on

Advanced Inseparable
🤔 What does "count on" mean?
Meaning: To rely on or trust someone/something.
Examples:
"You can count on me to be there."
"I'm counting on your support."
"We can always count on her for good advice."
When to use: Expressing dependability, trust, and reliability.
💡 Tip: Similar to "rely on" or "depend on" - shows trust!

🎯 Interactive Phrasal Verb Quiz

Test your knowledge with these quick challenges!

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What are phrasal verbs in English?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb + preposition or adverb that create a new meaning different from the individual words. For example, "give up" means "to quit," not literally "to give" something "up." They're essential for sounding natural in English!

What is the difference between separable and inseparable phrasal verbs?

Separable phrasal verbs can have an object between the verb and particle (e.g., "turn off the light" or "turn the light off"). Inseparable phrasal verbs must stay together (e.g., "look after the baby" - you cannot say "look the baby after"). Our guide clearly marks each type!

How can I learn phrasal verbs effectively?

Learn phrasal verbs in context with real examples, practice with quizzes, and note whether they're separable or inseparable. Focus on common phrasal verbs first and use them in sentences to remember them better. Try to use 3 new phrasal verbs daily in your conversations!

What are the most common phrasal verbs in English?

The most common phrasal verbs include: get up, go out, look for, pick up, turn on/off, give up, come back, find out, and work out. These are used daily in English conversations and are perfect for beginners to start with!

📚 Complete Study Guide

Master all separable vs inseparable rules

🔥 Quick Reference: All 50 Phrasal Verbs

✅ Separable

look up, turn on/off, pick up, put off, put on, wake up, clean up, work out (problems), take off, give up, figure out, break down, set up, call off, bring up, throw away, try on, fill out, hand in, make up

❌ Inseparable

get up, come back, go out, sit down, stand up, work out (exercise), run into, catch up on, come across, look after, deal with, get along with, look forward to, brush up on, cut down on

⚡ Multi-meaning

pick up, take off, work out, break down, put on, go out, get over, turn down, bring up, make up, look up, run out, get through, come up

🧠 Memory Techniques & Study Tips

📝 Study Methods

  • Flashcards: Make cards with the phrasal verb on one side, meaning on the other
  • Story Method: Create stories using multiple phrasal verbs
  • Grouping: Learn phrasal verbs with the same particle together
  • Context Practice: Use each phrasal verb in 3 different sentences

💭 Memory Tricks

  • Visual Images: Picture the action in your mind
  • Personal Connections: Relate to your own experiences
  • Pronunciation Practice: Say them out loud repeatedly
  • Daily Usage: Try to use 3 new phrasal verbs each day

✍️ Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. I need to ________ ________ this word in the dictionary. (search for)
  2. Don't ________ ________ your homework until tomorrow. (postpone)
  3. Can you ________ me ________ at 6 PM? (collect)
  4. The meeting was ________ ________ due to bad weather. (canceled)
  5. I ________ ________ my old teacher at the mall. (met unexpectedly)
Show Answers
1. look up | 2. put off | 3. pick, up | 4. called off | 5. ran into

Exercise 2: Separable or Inseparable?

turn on - Separable ✅
"Turn it on" ✅ | "Turn on it" ❌
run into - Inseparable ✅
"Run into him" ✅ | "Run him into" ❌
look up - Separable ✅
"Look it up" ✅ | "Look up it" ❌
get up - Inseparable ✅
"Get up early" ✅ | "Get early up" ❌
Next: Verb Tenses Previous: Idioms Back to Home
Click "Reveal Answer" buttons to see explanations!