A phrase is a group of words that forms part of a sentence but does not make a complete sentence. A phrase contains no finite verb. In this session let us share the list of phrasal verbs and their Meanings.
What is Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is formed with a simple verb and an adverb particle or preposition. In forming a phrasal verb a verb can take a number of adverb particles or prepositions. The adverbs particle or the preposition gives a verb a special idiomatic meaning. This implies that phrasal verb is verb + preposition/adverb, when they can be replaced another verb(s) having the same meaning.
Examples: My friends backed up (supported) my candidature.
In the above sentence backed up is a phrasal verb. It can be replaced by supported, which has the similar meaning to backed up.
Phrasal Verbs Examples with meaning
Account for (show reason for) – Tina’ illness accounts for her absence.
Ask for (beg, demand for) – Don’t ask for any favour from me.
Act on (act upon advice) – The boys are not in a mood to act on our suggestion.
Back away (move back) – When police arrived on the spot the mob started to back away.
Be against (oppose) – I am against electing such dishonest men to our Parliament.
Be away (remain away from home) – Mr. Joshi is away from home for a week.
Be over (be finished) – The storm is over now. We can resume our journey again.
Bear out (confirm) – The Commissioners findings bear out the general doubt that terrorists are involved in this accident.
Blow up (explode) – The extremists blew up the bridge.
Break down:
(a) Collapse : She completely broke down when she heard that she was not elected for the job.
(b) Collapse of Machine : The car broke down when we were driving through the forest.
(c) Collapse of negotiation : The negotiation broke down as both the parties remained obstinate.
Break in (enter suddenly) – Thieves broke into the ship and stole away 3 lakh rupees.
Break off (stop talking suddenly) – Both the sisters were in the middle of their conversion. They broke off when their mother came in.
Break out (sudden appearance) – Cholera has broken out in many villages.
Break out (escape) – The thief was locked up but he broke out.
Bring up (rear/ educate) – Children should be brought up properly.
Bring round (to persuade somebody to accept something to which he/she was opposed before) – After a lot of persuasion I bring him round to help his uncle.
Bring round (restore to consciousness) – The old man fainted on the ground. Splashing of water on his face brought him round.
Bear up (to endure) – He bore up the misfortune bravely and established him.
Call at (visit a place for a short time) – I called at the bank to deposit some money.
Call for (visit a place to collect a person or thing) – I called for Rahul to collect my dictionary from him.
Call on (visit a person) – The Chief Minister called on the Governor to apprise him the law and order situation of the state.
Call for (demand) – The situation calls for immediate action.
Call off (cancel) – The match was to be called off due to rain.
Call out (Summon someone to tackle situation) – Army was to be called out as the situation was going out of control.
Call up (Summon for military service) – In many Asian countries young boys and girls are called up at a tender age of twelve or thirteen.
Call up (telephone) – I called up Mohit and told him the news immediately.
Call off (withdraw) – After a discussion with the Chief Minister, the employees called off their strike.
Carry out (perform duties) – A dutiful and honest cadet always carries out what his commander wants.
Clear away (disperse) – After an hour rain the cloud cleared away and the sun started to sign.
Come across (find by chance) – When I was searching for my passport I came across this letter.
Come off (detach) – When I lifted the teapot its handle came off in my hand.
Come off (happen) – When is your marriage coming off ?
Come off (end its show) – “Mera Nam Joker” is coming off next week.
Come out (exposed) – At last their plan came out.
Come round (be cured) – The patient will come round soon.
Come up (rise to the surface) – Whales frequently come up the sea surface to breathe fresh air.
Come up (mention) – The question of reservation in Prime Educational Institutions will come up during the next session of the Parliament.
Crop up (appear suddenly) – Difficulties will crop up on your way but remain unmoved.
Cut down (felling a tree) – Seventy percent are cut down for fuel, agriculture and furniture where as only ten percent are cut down for industries.
Cut down (reduce expenses) – You have to cut down your expenses.
Cut off (remain isolated) – Heavy rain kept our village cut off from the world for a week.
Crack down (severe attack) – The Prime Minister cracked down on the leaders of opposition who were more concerned about their political gain.
Deal with (treat) – They don’t know how to deal with unruly students.
Drop out (stop attending school before completion of the course) – Due to poverty most of the students in primary schools of the tribal areas dropped out of the school.
Dig up (discover) – To dig up a real man from an autobiography is an impossible task.
Do away with (abolish) – The government should do away with regulations controlling sell of woods.
Do without (manage in the absence) – We have to do away with rice as it is not available here.
Draw back (retire) – It is impossible to drawback now when we have already implemented half of our programme.
Drop in (pay a short visit) – I dropped in at uncle’s house just to know when he was going to village.
Face up (accept the reality) – You have to face up all the sorrows and joys of life.
Fall among (meet by chance) – Last night while returning from the market I fell among some thieves.
Fall away (desert) – His supporters began to fall away as soon as he lost the election.
Fall back (retreat) – Our army fought so bravely with the invaders that they started to fall back.
Fall in (collapse) – The roof fell in the rain.
Fed up (bored) – I am completely fed up with such a garrulous boy like Jatin.
Fix up (arrange) – Our Club has already fixed up two matches for this winter.
Get away (be free to leave) – Though I told you return early, I had so much to do at office that I could not get away.
Get back – If you lend something to Sunita, you will never get it back.
Get back – When will we get at home back if we start now ?
Get on (make progress) – How is your son getting on in school ?
Get out (escape) – The cat can’t get at home back if we start now ?
Get over (recover) – He is just getting over from a serious disease.
Get up (rise) – When do you get up ?
Get at (attack) – The thief tried to get at me.
Give off (emit) – Jasmine flowers give off sweet smell.
Give out (come to an end) – We were compelled to return when our food supply gave out.
Give up (abandon) – It is not impossible to give up a bad habit.
Go ahead (proceed) – You go ahead with your plan . I’ll help you.
Go away (leave the place) – I am busy. Please go away and let me do my work.
Go off (explode) – A bomb kept in a car went off and killed ten people.
Go out:
(a) Go out of house : Mrs. Swain does not go out if it is not badly required.
(b) Go to parties : Mrs. Swain’s daughter goes out a lot .
Hang about (wait, loiter) – Why are you hanging here about ? Are you waiting for somebody?
Hang on (keep in possession) – I would hang on to this umbrella.
Hold up (Hold by threat) – The terrorists held up the bus at the gun point and set fire to it.
Hold up (delayed) – Heavy rainfall held up the bus.
Keep on (continue) – I wanted to ask him a question but he kept on talking giving me no chances to do so.
Live on (food) – People in Odisha live on rice.
Live by (profession) – How is your uncle living by ?
Live up (Maintain a certain standard) – She had high ideals and she tried to live up to them.
Look for (search) – Where is my pen ? I’m looking for it since yesterday.
Look into (investigate) – People demand that C.B.I. must look into liquor tragedy.
Pull down (demolish) – Government is thinking of pulling down buildings constructed encroaching roads.
Put down (crush a rebellion) – Army is called to put down the rebellion.
To use up (consume) – All the ration has been used up.
To see through (to know the truth) – I could not see through his cunningness.
To stagger into (to move unsteadily) – He staggered in to the hospital and fainted there.
To pull out (depart) – The Pakistani soldiers pulled out of Bangladesh.
To put aside (keep for other’s use) – If his book does not come to your aid put aside it for others.
To be equipped with (supply oneself with) – Good education equip us with knowledge and self-confidence.
Take after (resemble) – The son takes after his father.
Stand for (represent) – Through ages Bharat stands for spirituality.
Types of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English grammar, combining a verb with one or more particles (usually prepositions or adverbs) to create a distinct meaning. These constructions often differ significantly from the original verb’s meaning, making them challenging for learners. Understanding the different types of phrasal verbs can help improve fluency and comprehension.
1. Transitive Phrasal Verbs
Transitive phrasal verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. The object can be a noun or pronoun and usually follows the particle. These phrasal verbs can be further categorized based on the position of the object.
a. Separable Phrasal Verbs In separable phrasal verbs, the object can appear either between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
If the object is a pronoun, it must come between the verb and the particle:
– She turned them off. (Correct)
– She turned off them. (Incorrect)
Other examples include:
– Put on your jacket. / Put your jacket on.
– Take out the trash. / Take the trash out.
b. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs Inseparable phrasal verbs do not allow the object to separate the verb and the particle. The object must always follow the particle. For example: – He ran into an old friend. (Correct) – He ran an old friend into. (Incorrect)
Other examples:
– She looks after her younger brother.
– They came across a rare book.
2. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
Intransitive phrasal verbs do not require a direct object. They function independently and convey complete meaning without an object.
Examples include:
– The plane took off on time.
– He broke down during the meeting.
These phrasal verbs cannot be separated since they lack an object.
3. Phrasal Verbs with Two Particles
Some phrasal verbs incorporate two particles, often making them more complex. These are always transitive and inseparable.
Examples include:
– She looks up to her mentor.
– He ran out of patience.
The meaning of these phrasal verbs is often idiomatic and cannot be deduced from individual words.
4. Literal vs. Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs can also be classified based on whether their meaning is literal or idiomatic.
a. Literal Phrasal Verbs Literal phrasal verbs retain the original meanings of their components.
For example:
– She walked across the bridge.
– He climbed up the ladder.
b. Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs Idiomatic phrasal verbs have meanings that differ from their individual words. These are often more challenging to understand.
Examples include:
– They called off the meeting. (Canceled)
– She gave up smoking. (Stopped)
5. Three-Word Phrasal Verbs
These phrasal verbs consist of a verb followed by two particles. They are always inseparable and often idiomatic.
Conclusion
Mastering phrasal verbs requires familiarity with their different types—transitive, intransitive, separable, inseparable, literal, idiomatic, and three-word constructions. Recognizing these distinctions enhances both written and spoken English proficiency. By studying examples and practicing regularly, learners can integrate phrasal verbs naturally into their communication.