Phrasal verbs are a vital part of English, often causing confusion due to their multiple meanings and varying contexts. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 25 essential phrasal verbs in English for fluent communication. These verbs are grouped by the main verb they use, making them easier to remember and apply.
Phrasal verbs with “Break”
✅Break Down:
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- Meaning: To stop working.
- Example: “My car broke down on the way to work.”
✅Break In:
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- Meaning: To enter forcefully, often illegally.
- Example: “Thieves broke in and stole the TV.”
✅Break Out:
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- Meaning: To escape or to suddenly begin.
- Example: “A fire broke out in the kitchen.”
✅Break Up:
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- Meaning: To end a relationship or to separate into smaller pieces.
- Example: “They decided to break up after 5 years.”
✅Break Off:
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- Meaning: To suddenly stop or to separate something from a larger part.
- Example: “He broke off in the middle of his speech.”
Essential phrasal verbs in English with “Turn”
✅Turn On:
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- Meaning: To switch on or to excite someone.
- Example: “Let’s turn on the TV.”
✅Turn Off:
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- Meaning: To switch off or to make someone lose interest.
- Example: “The bad smell turned him off.”
✅Turn Up:
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- Meaning: To arrive or to increase the volume.
- Example: “She turned up late to the party.”
✅Turn Down:
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- Meaning: To reject or to decrease the volume.
- Example: “He turned down a job offer in London.”
✅Turn Over:
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- Meaning: To flip or to give control of something to someone else.
- Example: “Turn over the pancake to cook the other side.”
Phrasal verbs with “Look”
✅Look After:
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- Meaning: To take care of something or someone.
- Example: “Can you look after my dog while I’m away?”
✅Look For:
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- Meaning: To search for something.
- Example: “I’m looking for my keys.”
✅ Look Forward To:
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- Meaning: To anticipate with pleasure.
- Example: “I look forward to meeting you.”
✅ Look Into:
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- Meaning: To investigate something.
- Example: “The police are looking into the case.”
✅ Look Up:
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- Meaning: To search for information or to admire someone.
- Example: “I need to look up this word in the dictionary.”
Phrasal verbs with “Put”
✅ Put Away:
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- Meaning: To store or to save money.
- Example: “Please put away all your toys.”
✅ Put On:
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- Meaning: To wear something or to gain weight.
- Example: “She put on her jacket because she was cold.”
✅ Put Up With:
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- Meaning: To tolerate someone or something.
- Example: “I can’t put up with this noise anymore.”
✅ Put Out:
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- Meaning: To extinguish a fire or to cause inconvenience.
- Example: “The firefighters put out the fire.”
Essential phrasal verbs in English with “Take”
✅Take After:
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- Meaning: To resemble someone in your family.
- Example: “She takes after her mother.”
✅ Take Off:
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- Meaning: To leave the ground (for airplanes) or to remove clothing.
- Example: “The plane will take off at 6:00 PM.”
✅ Take On:
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- Meaning: To accept a challenge or to hire someone.
- Example: “He decided to take on the project.”
✅ Take Over:
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- Meaning: To gain control of something.
- Example: “She will take over the business when her father retires.”
✅ Take Up:
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- Meaning: To start a hobby or to occupy space.
- Example: “He decided to take up painting.”
Conclusion
Phrasal verbs are an integral part of everyday English, and mastering them can significantly enhance your fluency. By understanding the different meanings and contexts in which they are used, you’ll find it easier to incorporate them into your speech and writing.
