WHY ARE PHRASAL VERBS HARD TO LEARN?

Phrasal verbs can be hard to learn for many different reasons.  But perhaps, the first thing to understand is that there are thousands of them.  This is why you should never attempt or even consider trying to learn all of them! Different Meanings The problem with phrasal verbs lies in the fact that the combination of the words used in … Read More

PHRASAL VERBS WITH OUT

Using Phrasal Verbs or Multi-Word Verbs can be a tricky business. There are also so many, that learning them might seem like climbing a mountain. However, when you find out (discover) that many phrasal verbs have similar meanings, the list you need to learn gets a lot shorter. Organising PHRASAL VERBS into categories is a useful method as it will … Read More

PHRASAL VERBS WITH FORWARD

Phrasal verbs with forward is one of the smallest categories of phrasal verbs when studied by the particle. Clearly, forward means the direction in front and it is therefore most frequently used either for actual movement or for the future. look forward to – Meaning: to think of something with excitement.  Example: I’m looking forward to the party on Friday.  … Read More

PHRASAL VERBS WITH UP

Phrasal verbs with UP are the largest category of phrasal verbs in English (followed by phrasal verbs with out). The prepositions up and down are used for movement, place & position in simple phrases like go upstairs.  But they can also have a more hidden or abstract meaning such as to increase or reduce. Putting phrasal verbs into categories is … Read More

PHRASAL VERBS WITH BACK

Some phrasal verbs with back can be grouped together.  Look at the following: bring back / take back / put back go back / head back / drive back pay back / win back All the phrasal verbs above have a similar meaning.   Can you guess what it is? Answer: RETURN   Check out the examples in context below: Bring … Read More

TRUMP UP – PHRASAL VERB

  TRUMP UP – PHRASAL VERB to trump up – to invent something bad to cause problems for someone else / to lie or create a falsehood. Example: (1). In some communist countries, innocent people are put into prison on trumped up charges. (2). He trumped up an excuse so that we wouldn’t have to go to the party. CLICK … Read More

DRESS UP

to dress up – means to wear a costume or fancy dress (special clothes for an event such as carnival).   This phrasal verb dress up is followed by AS or IN. Examples:  What are you going to wear for Carnival?   I’m going to dress up as Spiderman. I’m going to dress up in a Spiderman costume. Another verb with … Read More

USING GO AS A PHRASAL VERB

Try to use Phrasal Verbs such as GO as much as possible. Native English speakers typically use plenty of Phrasal Verbs. This is especially true in speaking and conversation. This is just a short list of Phrasal Verbs with GO – there are many more. to go on (1) – to continue.  He never seems to get to the end … Read More

USING LOOK AS A PHRASAL VERB

to look after someone or something – to take care of / to be responsible for.  I’m looking after my sister’s children while she’s on holiday. to look up to someone – to admire / to respect.  She thinks the world of her older brother.  She really looks up to him. to look around – to try to find something … Read More

USING TAKE AS A PHRASAL VERB

Use Phrasal Verbs such as TAKE as much as possible. Native English speakers typically use plenty of Phrasal Verbs in everyday conversational English.  This is just a short list of Phrasal Verbs with TAKE – there are many more. PHRASAL VERB TAKE to take up – to start learning or doing something new.  She took up dancing when she was just 3 … Read More