English Phrasal Verbs

Alphabetical lists of English phrasal verbs with meaning and examples.

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What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb; the combination creates a
meaning different from the original verb alone.

Example :
To get  =  to obtain	I need to get a new battery for my camera.
To get together  =  to meet	Why don’t we all get together for lunch one day?

Phrasal verbs are part of a large group of verbs called “multi-part” or "multi-word” verbs.
The preposition or adverb that follows the verb is sometimes called a particle.

Phrasal verbs and other multi-word verbs are an important part of the English language.
However, they are mainly used in spoken English and informal texts. They should be
avoided in academic writing where it is preferable to use a formal verb such as “to postpone”
rather than “to put off”.

Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs :

Some phrasal verbs are transitive.  (A transitive verb always has an object.)
Example : I made up an excuse. ('Excuse' is the object of the verb.)

Some phrasal verbs are intransitive . (An intransitive verb does not have an object.)
Example : My car broke down.

Separable or inseparable phrasal verbs :

Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. (The object is between the verb and the preposition.)
Example : I looked the word up in the dictionary.

Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. (The object is placed after the preposition.)
Example : I will look into the matter as soon as possible.

Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places.
Example : I picked up the book.
   I picked the book up.

However, if the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the preposition.
Example : I picked it up.

Some verbs are two part verbs (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases). They consist of a verb and aparticle:

• grow + up
  >> The children are growing up.

Often this gives the verb a new meaning:

• take + after
  >> She takes after her mother
  = She looks like her mother, or She behaves like her mother.
• count + on
  >> I know I can count on you
  = I know I can trust you, or I know I can believe you.

Some transitive two part verbs (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases) have only one pattern:

N (subject) + V + p + N (object)

[Note: N = noun; V = verb; p = particle]

N (Subject)	Verb	Particle	N (Object)
She I My father	takes can count comes	after on from	her mother you Madrid

Some transitive two part verbs (see Clauses, Sentences and Phrases) are phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs have two different patterns:

• The usual pattern is: N + V + N + p

N (Subject)	Verb	(N) Object	Particle
She He We	gave knocked will be leaving	the money the glass our friends and neighbours	back over behind

• But sometimes these verbs have the pattern: N (subject) + V + p + N (object)

N (Subject)	Verb	Particle	N (Object)
She He We	gave knocked will be leaving	back over behind	the money the glass our friends and neighbours

When the object is a personal pronoun,these verbs always have the pattern:

N + V +N + p:

• She gave back it
  >> She gave it back
• He knocked over it
   >> knocked it over
• We will be leaving behind them
  >> We will be leaving them behind

• Phrasal verbs are nearly always made up of a transitive verb and a particle. Common verbs with their most frequent particles are:

bring:	about, along, back, forward, in, off, out, round, up
buy:	out, up
call:	off, up
carry:	off, out
cut:	back, down, off, out, up
give:	away, back, off
hand:	back, down, in, on out, over, round
knock:	down, out, over
leave:	behind, out
let:	down, in, off, out
pass:	down, over, round
point:	out
push:	about, around, over
put:	across, away, down, forward, off, on, out, through, together, up
read:	out
set:	apart, aside, back, down
shut:	away, in, off, out
take:	apart, away, back, down, in, on, up, over
think:	over, through, up