What are phrasal verbs in English?
Phrasal verbs in English or phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs with one or more particles (usually prepositions or adverbs) that together have a different meaning from the individual words separately. (In another words phrasal verbs are combination of two or more words that together act as a new word with another meaning from the original word).These particles can change the meaning of the main verb, often adding nuances of direction, manner, or completion.
Examples for Phrasal Verbs in English:
Here we have some examples for phrasal verbs in English. Look at it and understand how phrasal verbs are formed and the change in its meaning.
- Take off: (verb + particle) means to remove something, like clothes or a plane lifting off the ground.
- Look after: means to take care of someone or something.
- Give up: means to stop doing something or to surrender.
- Look for: To search for something or someone. Example: “I need to look for my keys before I can leave.”
We use phrasal verbs in English for several reasons:
- Expressing Informal or Colloquial Language: Phrasal verbs are commonly used in spoken English and informal writing, making them an essential part of everyday communication. They help convey meaning in a more casual and natural way.
- Adding Depth and Nuance: Phrasal verbs often add nuances to the meaning of verbs, allowing speakers to express a wider range of ideas and concepts. For example, “look” and “look after” have different meanings, with the latter implying care or responsibility.
- Expanding Vocabulary: Learning phrasal verbs expands vocabulary and comprehension skills, as they provide alternative ways to express actions and ideas. Since phrasal verbs are so prevalent in English, understanding them is crucial for fluency.
- Enhancing Language Fluency: Using phrasal verbs appropriately demonstrates a deeper understanding of the English language and contributes to overall language fluency. Mastering phrasal verbs allows learners to communicate more effectively and confidently in both spoken and written English.
- Reflecting Native Speaker Patterns: Phrasal verbs are a distinctive feature of English, reflecting native speaker usage and language patterns. Incorporating phrasal verbs into speech and writing helps learners sound more natural and fluent in English.
Overall, phrasal verbs in English play a significant role in English language usage, offering versatility, expressiveness, and authenticity in communication. While they may present challenges for learners due to their idiomatic nature and multiple meanings, mastering phrasal verbs is essential for achieving fluency in English.
Here are 100 phrasal verbs in English. The meanings of the given phrasal verbs are given below.
100 phrasal verbs in English:
- Act up
- Ask out
- Back off
- Back up
- Beat up
- Blow up
- Bring up
- Break down
- Break in
- Break off
- Break out
- Break up
- Bring about
- Bring on
- Bring out
- Bring over
- Bring up
- Calm down
- Carry on
- Catch up
- Come across
- Come apart
- Come back
- Come by
- Come down
- Come forward
- Come off
- Come on
- Come out
- Come over
- Come up
- Crack down
- Crack up
- Cut back
- Cut down
- Cut off
- Cut out
- Do away with
- Do over
- Do without
- Drop in
- Drop off
- Eat out
- Fall apart
- Fall back
- Fall behind
- Fall for
- Fall off
- Fall out
- Fall through
- Figure out
- Fill in
- Fill out
- Find out
- Get ahead
- Get along
- Get around
- Get away
- Get back
- Get by
- Get down
- Get in
- Get off
- Get on
- Get out
- Get over
- Get through
- Get together
- Get up
- Give away
- Give back
- Give in
- Give off
- Give out
- Give up
- Go ahead
- Go off
- Go on
- Go over
- Go through
- Go under
- Go without
- Grow apart
- Grow back
- Grow up
- Hang around
- Hang on
- Hang out
- Hold back
- Hold on
- Hold up
- Jump in
- Jump out
- Jump over
- Keep away
- Keep back
- Keep off
- Keep on
- Keep up
- Let down
These phrasal verbs are commonly used in everyday English conversation and writing. Incorporating them into your language practice can help you communicate more effectively and naturally. Now we can discuss the meaning of the above mentioned phrasal verbs in English.
100 phrasal verbs in English with its meaning
- Act up – behave badly or improperly
- Ask out – invite someone to go on a date
- Back off – move away or retreat from a situation
- Back up – provide support or evidence for something
- Beat up – physically attack or assault someone
- Blow up – explode or become angry
- Bring up – raise a topic or issue for discussion
- Break down – stop working or functioning properly
- Break in – enter a building forcibly or interrupt a conversation
- Break off – end a relationship or conversation abruptly
- Break out – escape or start suddenly, like a fire or a fight
- Break up – end a relationship or a group
- Bring about – cause or make something happen
- Bring on – cause something to happen, often negative
- Bring out – produce or publish something for the public
- Bring over – invite someone to your house or bring something to someone else’s house
- Bring up – raise or mention a topic
- Calm down – relax or become less agitated
- Carry on – continue doing something
- Catch up – reach the same level or progress as others
- Come across – find or encounter something unexpectedly
- Come apart – break or fall apart into pieces
- Come back – return to a place or activity
- Come by – obtain or acquire something
- Come down – decrease in intensity or fall from a higher place
- Come forward – volunteer or offer to do something
- Come off – succeed or be successful
- Come on – express disbelief or encouragement
- Come out – emerge or become visible
- Come over – visit someone’s house or become affected by a feeling
- Come up – arise or be mentioned in conversation
- Crack down – take strong measures to control or repress something
- Crack up – laugh uncontrollably or break down emotionally
- Cut back – reduce the amount of something
- Cut down – reduce in size or quantity
- Cut off – disconnect or stop the supply of something
- Cut out – remove or eliminate something
- Do away with – get rid of or eliminate something
- Do over – do again or repeat
- Do without – manage or cope without something
- Drop in – visit someone informally or without notice
- Drop off – deliver or deposit someone or something at a destination
- Eat out – dine at a restaurant instead of at home
- Fall apart – disintegrate or break down completely
- Fall back – retreat or move backward
- Fall behind – fail to keep up with others or a schedule
- Fall for – be deceived or become infatuated with someone
- Fall off – decrease in size, number, or quality
- Fall out – quarrel or have a disagreement
- Fall through – fail to happen or be completed
- Figure out – understand or solve a problem
- Fill in – provide information or complete a form
- Fill out – complete a form with necessary information
- Find out – discover or obtain information
- Get ahead – progress or succeed
- Get along – have a good relationship or be compatible
- Get around – travel or move from place to place
- Get away – escape or leave a place
- Get back – return to a place or recover something
- Get by – manage to survive or cope with a situation
- Get down – depress or make someone feel sad
- Get in – enter a place or vehicle
- Get off – leave a vehicle or be acquitted of charges
- Get on – board a vehicle or have a good relationship with someone
- Get out – leave a place or situation
- Get over – recover from an illness or emotional distress
- Get through – finish or succeed in completing something
- Get together – meet or assemble with others
- Get up – rise or stand from a seated position
- Give away – give something to someone else for free or reveal a secret
- Give back – return something to its owner
- Give in – surrender or yield to someone else’s demands
- Give off – emit or produce something such as light or a smell
- Give out – distribute or provide something to others
- Give up – stop trying or surrender
- Go ahead – proceed or start something
- Go off – explode or sound suddenly
- Go on – continue or persist
- Go over – review or examine something
- Go through – experience or undergo something difficult
- Go under – fail or become bankrupt
- Go without – manage or cope without something
- Grow apart – drift away or become distant from someone
- Grow back – regenerate or start to grow again
- Grow up – mature or develop into an adult
- Hang around – spend time in a place or with someone without a specific purpose
- Hang on – wait or hold tightly onto something
- Hang out – spend time relaxing or socializing with others
- Hold back – restrain or prevent something from happening
- Hold on – wait or maintain your position
- Hold up – delay or cause a delay
- Jump in – participate or join a conversation or activity
- Jump out – stand out or be noticeable
- Jump over – leap or pass over something
- Keep away – stay at a distance or avoid something
- Keep back – withhold or restrain something
- Keep off – stay away from or avoid something
- Keep on – continue doing something
- Keep up – maintain or remain at the same level as others
- Let down – disappoint or fail to meet someone’s expectations
The given phrasal verbs in English are commonly used in different situations. These meanings provide a basic understanding of each phrasal verb’s usage in English. Keep in mind that phrasal verbs can have multiple meanings and may vary depending on context.
Knowledge of phrasal verbs in English are essential to understand a sentence meaningfully. It will help us to learn english language easily and meaningfully.
