30 Most common English phrasal verbs with examples
Phrasal verbs in English can be a little frustrating to learn, but because of its importance in general English communication, taking some extra time to master the phrasal verb can help you vastly improve your English.
While many dread learning English phrasal verbs, when it is placed in context and introduced in an exciting manner, it becomes easier to understand and apply.
WHY ARE PHRASAL VERBS IMPORTANT?
Understanding English phrasal verbs need not be tedious nor frustrating. It should be a part of the learning process to help you improve your fluency.
THE BENEFITS OF THE PHRASAL VERBS
- You can easily understand English conversations
- The phrasal verb creates fluency and natural flow
- It becomes easier to learn spoken English
THE BASICS OF THE PHRASAL VERBS
When you understand phrasal verbs you can enhance your English which can help your communication skills.
The Definition of a Phrasal Verb
- The phrasal verb includes a verb and a particle. The particle can consist of adverbs or a preposition.
- The phrasal verb can also consist of two or more words and may have multiple meanings.
How to Learn what a Phrasal Verb is
To start off, it is best to learn a few phrasal adverbs at a time. By simplifying each combination or set, you can master your understanding of the English language.
look at the following phrasal verbs list:
|
Phrasal Verb |
What It Means |
Example |
| Act up | Behave badly | My phone was acting up yesterday; I think it had a low battery. |
| Add up | A mathematical total | Can you add up the figures for me? |
| Agree with | Usually used to show the negative influence of something | I suffered from stomach cramps because the food I ate didn’t agree with me. |
| Answer back | To respond in an abrupt tone/harsh manner | Her friend was stunned when she started answering back and failed to help. |
| Ask about | To question someone about their health. | She asked about my mother. |
| Ask around | To ask others for details to help you. | I’ll ask around to determine where I can get help. |
| Be cut up | To be upset | She was cut up about her dog’s injury. |
| Bear with | To be patient | I asked him to bear with me. |
| Bend down | To move your body in a downwards motion. | He bent down to pick his pen up off the floor. |
| Blow away | To impress | He was blown away by my presentation. |
| Calm down | To relax, not to be angry | I had to calm down after the car accident. |
| Carried away | To lose control | I got carried away with the chocolate dessert. |
| Die down | To reduce, to become quiet | I heard the wind die down as the clouds parted. |
| Dig in | To get into something, to consume. | He decided to dig in because he was too hungry to wait. |
| Feel up to | Feeling like doing something | I don’t think I feel up to it tonight. |
| Give up | To release or to quit something | He gave up before he finished the race. |
| Keep at | Push forward, to keep doing something. | She decided to keep at her piano lessons. |
| Lay out | To spend | He laid out thousands on a new car. |
| Pipe down | To quiet down | I asked him to pipe down and listen to me. |
| Play around | Being silly, fooling around | They were playing around and not listening to the lesson. |
With more than 6000 phrasal verbs you can understand why these grammar combinations are an important part of English language fluency. Learning a few of these every day and in context, can help you master the phrasal verb!
Now that you know the most common phrasal verbs, discover how to easily say and write the dates in English!
You may also like
20 Spanish sayings about friends with English translation
How to order food in Spanish: 30 Spanish restaurant phrases you need to know
