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Phrasal Verbs Examples: 200 Sentences for Every Level
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Phrasal Verbs Examples: 200 Sentences for Every Level

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Definitions tell you what a phrasal verb means. Examples show you how it actually works. There is a reason every grammar textbook includes example sentences — seeing a phrasal verb in context reveals its grammar (separable or not?), its register (formal or casual?), and its natural collocations (which nouns and situations pair with it?).

This guide gives you 200 phrasal verb examples in complete, natural sentences. The sentences are organized by CEFR level — from A2 basics like “wake up” and “turn off” to C1 expressions like “play down” and “phase out.” Each entry includes the meaning, a clear sentence, and a usage note where helpful.

Use this as a reference when writing, a study list for building confidence, or a source of natural patterns to absorb. The more example sentences you read and repeat, the more naturally phrasal verbs will come to you.

  • Total examples: 200 sentences
  • Levels covered: A2, B1, B2, C1
  • Format: Phrasal verb → meaning → example sentence
  • Best for: learners who know definitions but struggle to use phrasal verbs naturally

For definitions and detailed explanations of each phrasal verb, see English Phrasal Verbs: Complete Guide. For phrasal verbs grouped by base verb, see Phrasal Verbs with GET or Phrasal Verbs with MAKE.

How to Use These Examples

Reading example sentences passively helps, but active practice builds real fluency. Here is how to get the most from this list:

  1. Read the sentence aloud. Pronunciation and rhythm matter. Phrasal verbs sound different from their individual words — “pick UP” has different stress than “pick” + “up” said separately.
  2. Cover the meaning, guess from context. Test yourself. If you can understand the sentence without the definition, you are making progress.
  3. Write your own version. Replace the nouns and details with your own life. “She turned down the job offer” → “I turned down the invitation to the party.” Personal sentences stick in memory.
  4. Notice the grammar. Is the object between the verb and particle (separable) or after (inseparable)? This tells you how to form your own sentences correctly.

A2 Level: Basic Phrasal Verbs (50 Examples)

These are the phrasal verbs every learner encounters first. They describe daily routines, basic actions, and simple interactions.

Daily Routines

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
1 wake up stop sleeping I wake up at 7 every morning, even on weekends.
2 get up rise from bed She got up immediately when the alarm rang.
3 put on place clothing on your body He put on his coat and went outside.
4 take off remove clothing Please take off your shoes at the door.
5 turn on activate a device Can you turn on the light? It’s getting dark.
6 turn off deactivate a device Turn off the TV — dinner is ready.
7 go out leave the house We usually go out on Friday evenings.
8 come back return She went to the store and came back in ten minutes.
9 sit down take a seat Please sit down. The meeting will start soon.
10 stand up rise to a standing position Everyone stood up when the teacher entered.

Basic Actions

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
11 pick up lift something from a surface He picked up the phone and called his mother.
12 put down place something on a surface She put down her bag and sat on the sofa.
13 throw away discard in the trash Don’t throw away that box — I need it.
14 give back return something to someone Can you give back my pen when you’re finished?
15 look for try to find I’m looking for my keys. Have you seen them?
16 find out discover information I found out that the store closes at 9 PM.
17 write down record on paper Write down the address so you don’t forget it.
18 fill in complete a form Please fill in your name and email address.
19 hand in submit Students must hand in their homework by Friday.
20 try on test clothing by wearing it She tried on three dresses before choosing one.

Communication and People

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
21 call back return a phone call He’s busy right now. Can he call you back in an hour?
22 hang up end a phone call She said goodbye and hung up.
23 look after take care of My neighbor looks after our cat when we travel.
24 get along have a good relationship The new employee gets along with everyone in the office.
25 grow up become an adult She grew up in a small town near the coast.
26 ask for request He asked for a glass of water.
27 talk about discuss We talked about the problem for over an hour.
28 wait for stay until someone/something arrives I waited for the bus for twenty minutes in the rain.
29 listen to pay attention to sound She listens to podcasts every morning on her commute.
30 belong to be the property of This laptop belongs to the company, not to me.

Movement and Direction

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
31 come in enter Come in! The door is open.
32 go away leave, depart The headache went away after I took medicine.
33 get on board (bus, train, plane) We got on the bus at the Central Station stop.
34 get off leave a vehicle Get off at the next stop — that’s the city center.
35 get in enter a car or taxi She got in the taxi and told the driver the address.
36 get out exit a car or small space He got out of the car and walked to the building.
37 run away escape by running The cat ran away when it heard the thunder.
38 fall down drop to the ground The child fell down but got up without crying.
39 move in begin living in a new place They moved in last weekend and are still unpacking.
40 move out leave your home permanently He moved out of his parents’ house at 18.

Time and Routine

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
41 hurry up do something faster Hurry up! The movie starts in five minutes.
42 slow down reduce speed The driver slowed down when he saw the school.
43 carry on continue Carry on reading — I didn’t mean to interrupt.
44 go on continue, happen What’s going on? I heard a loud noise.
45 end up finally be in a situation We got lost and ended up in the wrong part of town.
46 set up prepare, arrange They set up the chairs for the presentation.
47 clean up make a place tidy We need to clean up before the guests arrive.
48 use up consume completely We used up all the milk — someone needs to buy more.
49 run out have no more of something We ran out of coffee, so I’m drinking tea today.
50 show up arrive, appear He showed up 20 minutes late to the meeting.

B1 Level: Intermediate Phrasal Verbs (50 Examples)

At B1, phrasal verbs become more abstract. The meanings are harder to guess from the individual words, and many have multiple senses.

Work and Productivity

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
51 take over assume control She took over as team leader when Mark resigned.
52 set up establish, start (a business) He set up his own company after years of working for others.
53 carry out perform, complete (a task) The researchers carried out experiments for six months.
54 deal with handle, manage She deals with customer complaints every day.
55 put off postpone They put off the decision until next week.
56 come up with think of, invent He came up with a brilliant idea during the meeting.
57 figure out understand after thinking I can’t figure out how to use this software.
58 keep up with maintain the same pace as It’s hard to keep up with all the changes in technology.
59 work out calculate; exercise; succeed We need to work out the total cost before signing the contract.
60 take on accept (a responsibility) She took on extra work to save money for the trip.

Relationships and Social Life

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
61 break up end a relationship They broke up after three years together.
62 make up reconcile after an argument They argued all morning but made up before dinner.
63 get together meet socially Let’s get together for coffee this weekend.
64 look up to admire, respect She looks up to her grandmother as a role model.
65 let down disappoint I trusted him, and he let me down.
66 put up with tolerate I can’t put up with this noise anymore.
67 fall out have an argument, stop being friends They fell out over money and haven’t spoken since.
68 bring up mention a topic; raise a child Don’t bring up politics at the dinner table.
69 turn out result, happen in the end The party turned out to be much better than I expected.
70 cheer up become happier, make someone happier She bought him flowers to cheer him up after the bad news.

Learning and Understanding

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
71 look up search for information I looked up the word in the dictionary.
72 find out discover She found out that her flight was canceled only at the airport.
73 go over review, examine Let’s go over the plan one more time before we start.
74 point out draw attention to something My teacher pointed out several errors in my essay.
75 make sense be logical, understandable This explanation doesn’t make sense to me at all.
76 pick up learn informally He picked up some Spanish while living in Barcelona.
77 catch on begin to understand The new system is complex, but most people catch on quickly.
78 mix up confuse one thing with another I always mix up “affect” and “effect.”
79 come across find by chance I came across an interesting article while browsing online.
80 think over consider carefully I need to think it over before making a decision.

Life Changes and Decisions

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
81 give up stop trying; quit a habit He gave up smoking three years ago.
82 turn down reject, refuse She turned down the job offer because the salary was too low.
83 take up start a new hobby or activity I took up running during the pandemic and still do it.
84 drop out leave school or a course He dropped out of university to start a business.
85 sign up register, enroll Over 500 people signed up for the online course.
86 go ahead proceed, start The project was approved — we can go ahead with construction.
87 hold on wait a moment Hold on — I’ll check the schedule and call you back.
88 come up arise, appear unexpectedly Something came up at work, so I’ll be late tonight.
89 sort out organize, resolve We need to sort out the accommodation before the trip.
90 get over recover from It took her weeks to get over the flu this winter.

Everyday Situations

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
91 run into meet by chance I ran into my old teacher at the supermarket yesterday.
92 look forward to feel excited about a future event I’m looking forward to the holiday — I need a break.
93 cut down on reduce the amount The doctor told him to cut down on sugar and salt.
94 get rid of eliminate, throw away We got rid of the old sofa and bought a new one.
95 put away store in the correct place Please put away your toys before dinner.
96 check in register at a hotel or airport We checked in at the hotel at around 3 PM.
97 check out leave a hotel; examine We need to check out by 11 AM tomorrow.
98 come along make progress; accompany How is your English coming along?
99 calm down become less upset or excited Calm down — getting angry won’t solve anything.
100 break down stop functioning (machine) Our car broke down on the highway during the trip.

B2 Level: Upper-Intermediate Phrasal Verbs (50 Examples)

At B2, phrasal verbs become more idiomatic. Many of these have figurative meanings that differ sharply from the literal words.

Professional and Academic

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
101 draw up prepare a formal document The lawyers drew up a new contract with revised terms.
102 lay off terminate employment The company laid off 200 workers due to falling revenue.
103 take into account consider as a factor You need to take into account the cost of shipping when pricing products.
104 rule out eliminate as a possibility The police have not ruled out foul play in the investigation.
105 account for explain; represent a proportion Online sales account for 40% of the company’s revenue.
106 bring about cause to happen The new policy brought about significant changes in working conditions.
107 follow up continue to investigate or pursue I’ll follow up with the supplier next week about the delivery date.
108 come up against encounter a difficulty We came up against several technical problems during testing.
109 call off cancel They called off the outdoor event because of the storm warning.
110 hand over transfer control or possession She handed over her responsibilities to her replacement before leaving.

Thinking and Decision-Making

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
111 narrow down reduce options to a smaller list We’ve narrowed down the candidates to three finalists.
112 weigh up consider pros and cons He spent days weighing up whether to accept the transfer.
113 talk into persuade someone to do something She talked me into running the marathon with her.
114 talk out of persuade someone not to do something His friends talked him out of quitting his job impulsively.
115 go through with complete something despite difficulty She was nervous but went through with the presentation anyway.
116 back out of withdraw from a commitment They backed out of the deal at the last minute.
117 look into investigate The manager promised to look into the customer’s complaint.
118 open up become willing to share feelings He finally opened up about the stress he’d been feeling at work.
119 come around change your mind; regain consciousness She was against the idea at first but eventually came around.
120 work through deal with something systematically They worked through their disagreements with the help of a mediator.

Communication and Expression

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
121 speak up talk louder; express an opinion If you disagree, you should speak up during the meeting.
122 bring up raise a topic in conversation She brought up an interesting point about the budget.
123 get across communicate successfully He tried to get his point across, but nobody was listening.
124 brush off dismiss as unimportant She brushed off the criticism and continued with her plan.
125 turn to seek help from When things got difficult, she turned to her family for support.
126 pass on share information with others Could you pass on the message to everyone in the team?
127 take back retract a statement I take back what I said — you were completely right.
128 cut in interrupt a conversation He cut in before she could finish explaining her idea.
129 go into discuss in detail I won’t go into all the reasons now — we can talk later.
130 sum up summarize To sum up, we need to reduce costs and increase sales.

Change and Development

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
131 build up increase gradually She built up her savings over five years before buying the apartment.
132 break through achieve despite obstacles After months of research, the team finally broke through with a solution.
133 set back delay progress The funding problem set the project back by three months.
134 cut back reduce spending or consumption The government cut back on education funding this year.
135 branch out expand into new areas The restaurant branched out into catering for corporate events.
136 phase in introduce gradually The company is phasing in a new remote work policy over six months.
137 wind down gradually reduce activity; relax The conference was winding down, and people started leaving.
138 step down resign from a position The CEO stepped down after 15 years leading the company.
139 scale up increase in size or scope They scaled up production to meet the sudden demand.
140 hold back prevent progress; restrain Fear of failure held her back from applying for the promotion.

Emotions and Behavior

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
141 bottle up suppress emotions He bottles up his feelings and never talks about what’s bothering him.
142 lash out attack verbally or physically She lashed out at her colleague after a stressful morning.
143 pull through survive a difficult situation The patient was critical but pulled through after surgery.
144 burn out become exhausted from overwork She burned out after working 70-hour weeks for six months straight.
145 snap out of force yourself out of a negative state He told himself to snap out of it and focus on the solution.
146 live up to meet expectations The film didn’t live up to the hype — it was disappointing.
147 own up to admit responsibility Nobody owned up to breaking the window in the office.
148 play along pretend to agree or cooperate She didn’t believe his excuse but played along to avoid conflict.
149 wear off gradually disappear (effect) The excitement of the new job wore off after a few months.
150 get away with avoid punishment He was late every day and somehow got away with it for months.

C1 Level: Advanced Phrasal Verbs (50 Examples)

These phrasal verbs appear in academic writing, professional contexts, and sophisticated speech. They mark you as a confident, nuanced English speaker.

Business and Strategy

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
151 buy out purchase someone’s share of a business The partners disagreed, so one bought the other out for $2 million.
152 bail out rescue financially The government bailed out the failing bank to prevent economic collapse.
153 cash in on profit from a situation Competitors were quick to cash in on the company’s PR disaster.
154 ramp up increase rapidly They ramped up marketing spending ahead of the product launch.
155 phase out gradually discontinue The manufacturer is phasing out the old model by the end of the year.
156 pencil in schedule tentatively Let’s pencil in Thursday for the review — we can confirm later.
157 hammer out negotiate with difficulty The two sides hammered out an agreement after twelve hours of talks.
158 sign off on give formal approval The director still hasn’t signed off on the revised budget.
159 factor in include as a consideration You need to factor in inflation when planning your retirement savings.
160 iron out resolve small problems We need to iron out the details before presenting to the board.

Nuanced Communication

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
161 play down make something seem less important The spokesperson played down the severity of the data breach.
162 talk down to speak condescendingly She hated how her manager talked down to her in front of clients.
163 come out with say something surprising He came out with the most bizarre excuse anyone had ever heard.
164 own up admit fault After a week of denials, the politician finally owned up to the mistake.
165 water down weaken, make less effective Critics accused the government of watering down the environmental regulations.
166 gloss over avoid discussing in detail The report glossed over the safety concerns raised by engineers.
167 spell out explain very clearly and simply Let me spell out exactly what will happen if we miss the deadline.
168 fend off defend against, resist The company fended off a hostile takeover attempt from a larger rival.
169 put forward propose, suggest formally She put forward a radical plan to restructure the entire department.
170 touch on mention briefly The speaker touched on climate change but didn’t go into detail.

Analysis and Reasoning

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
171 boil down to reduce to the essential point The whole argument boils down to one question: who pays?
172 stem from originate, be caused by Most of the delays stem from poor planning in the early stages.
173 hinge on depend entirely on The success of the project hinges on securing funding by March.
174 pan out develop, turn out We’ll have to wait and see how the new strategy pans out.
175 stack up compare with something How does our proposal stack up against the competition?
176 flesh out add detail to an idea The concept is good — now we need to flesh out the implementation plan.
177 zero in on focus closely on one thing The investigators zeroed in on a discrepancy in the financial records.
178 piece together understand by combining fragments Detectives pieced together what happened from CCTV footage and witness statements.
179 rule out exclude as a possibility Doctors ruled out serious illness but ordered further tests.
180 map out plan in detail She mapped out her career goals for the next five years.

Society and Change

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
181 crack down on enforce rules more strictly The authorities cracked down on illegal parking near schools.
182 clamp down on take strong action to stop The platform clamped down on fake accounts spreading misinformation.
183 stand for represent; tolerate What does this abbreviation stand for?
184 stamp out eliminate completely The campaign aims to stamp out bullying in schools.
185 cave in yield under pressure After weeks of protests, the council caved in and reversed the decision.
186 opt out of choose not to participate More families are opting out of traditional schooling.
187 usher in introduce, mark the beginning of The invention of the internet ushered in a new era of communication.
188 die down gradually become less intense The controversy eventually died down after the company issued an apology.
189 crop up appear suddenly and unexpectedly Problems keep cropping up whenever we try to launch the feature.
190 fall through fail to happen as planned The acquisition fell through because the two companies couldn’t agree on price.

Personal and Emotional (Advanced)

# Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Sentence
191 draw on use as a resource She drew on her years of experience to handle the crisis calmly.
192 measure up meet a required standard He constantly felt he didn’t measure up to his parents’ expectations.
193 see through recognize deception She saw through his apology immediately — it wasn’t sincere.
194 come to terms with accept something difficult It took him months to come to terms with the loss.
195 dwell on think about something negative for too long Don’t dwell on past mistakes — focus on what you can do now.
196 wear down weaken resistance over time Constant criticism from her boss gradually wore her down.
197 fall back on rely on when nothing else works If the business fails, at least he has his engineering degree to fall back on.
198 write off dismiss as unimportant or hopeless Critics wrote off the startup, but it’s now worth $500 million.
199 turn around change from bad to good The new CEO managed to turn the company around in just two years.
200 pay off produce good results after effort All those late nights studying finally paid off — she got the highest score.

Phrasal verb particle patterns: UP means completely/more, DOWN means less/stopping, OUT means completely/externally, OFF means separation/completion, OVER means transfer/examining

Patterns You Should Notice

After reading 200 examples, certain patterns become clear. These patterns help you understand new phrasal verbs without looking them up.

UP Often Means “Completely” or “More”

Phrasal Verb What UP adds
clean up clean completely
use up use completely (nothing left)
build up increase gradually
hurry up increase speed
speak up speak louder / more boldly

DOWN Often Means “Less” or “Completely Stopping”

Phrasal Verb What DOWN adds
slow down reduce speed
cut down reduce amount
break down stop functioning completely
calm down become less agitated
wind down gradually stop

OUT Often Means “Completely” or “Externally”

Phrasal Verb What OUT adds
find out discover (information comes out)
work out solve completely
phase out remove completely (over time)
spell out explain completely, clearly
burn out exhaust completely

OFF Often Means “Separation” or “Completion”

Phrasal Verb What OFF adds
call off cancel (separate from the plan)
pay off achieve result (debt is cleared)
brush off dismiss (push away)
wear off disappear gradually
lay off dismiss from employment

OVER Often Means “Transfer” or “Examining”

Phrasal Verb What OVER adds
take over transfer control
hand over transfer possession
go over examine carefully
think over consider thoroughly
get over move past (transfer beyond)

Separable vs inseparable phrasal verbs: separable allows object between verb and particle (Turn the light OFF), inseparable keeps them together (Look after the children)

Separable vs. Inseparable: Quick Reference

Many learners struggle with word order. Here is how to check if a phrasal verb is separable:

Separable — you can (and sometimes must) put the object between the verb and particle:

  • Turn off the light → Turn the light off → Turn it off (with pronouns, separation is required)
  • Pick up the book → Pick the book up → Pick it up

Inseparable — the verb and particle must stay together:

  • Look after the children → Look the children after (wrong)
  • Come across an article → Come an article across (wrong)

Three-word phrasal verbs are always inseparable:

  • Look forward to → I look forward to the trip
  • Put up with → She put up with the noise
  • Come up with → He came up with a plan

Words to Practice With

Here are 25 high-frequency verbs that form the base of most phrasal verbs in this article. Add them to your dictionary and practice combining them with different particles.

artery

noun

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A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the body.

Examples

- The blocked artery required immediate surgical intervention to save his life.

- This highway is a major artery connecting the city to surrounding areas.

coastal

adjective

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Coastal describes areas near or along the coast.

Examples

- Coastal towns often depend on fishing and tourism for their economy.

- The coastal erosion threatens many beachfront properties and buildings.

cooperate

verb

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To work together with others towards a common goal.

donate

verb

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To give something, especially money or goods, to help a cause or person.

Examples

- Many people donate money to charities that help homeless individuals.

- She decided to donate blood to help patients in emergency situations.

evaluate

verb

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To judge or measure the value, quality, or importance of something.

Examples

- Companies evaluate job candidates based on experience, skills, and personality.

- Teachers evaluate student progress through tests, projects, and classroom participation.

graduate

verb

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To complete a course of study at a school or university.

Examples

- She will graduate from university next year with a degree in engineering.

- Students must complete all requirements before they can graduate from high school.

guide

verb

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To show or direct someone how to do something.

Examples

- Parents should guide their children to make responsible decisions.

- The experienced hiker will guide the group through the mountain trail safely.

implication

noun

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A suggestion or hint about something that is not directly stated.

Examples

- Scientists are studying the implications of climate change for future generations.

- The implication of his statement was that he disagreed with the policy.

candidate

noun

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A person who is competing in an election or contest.

Examples

- Each presidential candidate presented their policy plans to voters.

- The job candidate impressed the interview panel with her experience.

prejudice

noun

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Preconceived opinions or feelings, often negative, about a person or group.

Examples

- Education helps overcome prejudice and promotes understanding.

- Racial prejudice damages communities and individuals alike.

discourage

verb

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To try to make someone feel less confident or hopeful about something.

Examples

- Don't let one failure discourage you from pursuing your dreams.

- High prices discourage many people from buying organic food products.

resolve

verb

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To find a solution or answer to a problem or question.

Examples

- Mediator helps parties resolve dispute through negotiation.

- Technical team will resolve software problems quickly.

off

adjective

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Describes something that is not fresh or is no longer suitable for eating, often used for food and drinks.

Examples

- Please turn off the lights before leaving the room.

- The dog ran off into the forest chasing wild rabbits.

tragedy

noun

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An extremely sad or serious event that causes suffering or loss.

Examples

- Natural tragedy affects thousands of innocent people.

- Personal tragedy changes person's life perspective completely.

admission

noun

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The process or fact of being allowed to enter or join.

Examples

- Her admission to the prestigious medical school was the result of hard work.

- The museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month.

boom

noun

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A loud, deep sound or a sudden increase in activity or popularity.

Examples

- The boom of thunder echoed across the valley.

- The technology boom created many new millionaires.

horizon

noun

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The line where the earth or the sky appears to meet in the distance.

Examples

- The sun disappeared behind the horizon as evening approached.

- Traveling broadens your horizon and exposes you to new cultures.

jury

noun

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A group of people who listen to evidence in a court and decide if someone is guilty.

Examples

- The jury deliberated for several hours before reaching a verdict.

- The talent show jury consisted of professional musicians and entertainers.

lifelong

adjective

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Continuing for a very long time or for the whole life.

Examples

- Learning is a lifelong process that never truly ends.

- Their lifelong friendship began during elementary school years.

motivated

adjective

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Feeling driven or inspired to do something because of a reason or goal.

Examples

- Motivated employee seeks additional responsibilities and challenges at work.

- Success requires being motivated even when facing difficult obstacles.

total

adjective

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An adjective describing something that is complete or whole, not divided or broken.

Examples

- Total cost includes all fees and expenses.

- Total silence fills room during meditation session.

humorous

adjective

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Funny or amusing, often making people laugh.

Examples

- She writes humorous articles about everyday life and family experiences.

- The humorous speech made everyone laugh and lightened the serious mood.

indispensable

adjective

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Absolutely necessary; essential.

Examples

- Clean water is indispensable for human survival and good health.

- Her experience and skills make her indispensable to the research team.

firmly

adverb

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An adverb indicating a way of doing something with certainty or stability.

Examples

- Hold the rope firmly while climbing down the steep mountain slope.

- The manager firmly believed in treating all employees with respect.

normally

adverb

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Usually; under normal conditions.

Examples

- Heart normally beats between sixty and hundred times per minute.

- Students normally arrive at school before morning bell rings.

Go to library

What to Do Next

  1. Choose your level. Find the section that matches your current ability and focus on those 50 examples first.

  2. Write 5 of your own sentences. Pick 5 phrasal verbs from your level, and write sentences about your own life using them. Personal sentences are remembered much better than textbook examples.

  3. Study by base verb. For detailed explanations of every meaning, explore our verb-specific guides: GET, MAKE, or 50 Most Common.

  4. Practice with spaced repetition. Add phrasal verbs to your Linglify dictionary and review them at optimal intervals. Browse the full phrasal verb library for categorized lists.

  5. Learn the rules. If separable vs. inseparable confuses you, read our Complete Phrasal Verbs Guide which explains the grammar in detail.

FAQ

What are phrasal verbs with examples?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb + preposition or adverb that create a new meaning different from the original verb. For example: “give up” means to stop trying (not “give” + “up” literally), “run into” means to meet by chance, and “break down” means to stop functioning. English has thousands of phrasal verbs, and native speakers use them constantly in everyday speech.

How do you use phrasal verbs in sentences?

Use phrasal verbs exactly where you would use a regular verb. “She gave up smoking” works the same as “She quit smoking.” The key rule: with separable phrasal verbs, pronouns must go between the verb and particle (“Turn it off,” not “Turn off it”). With inseparable phrasal verbs, the object always follows the full phrase (“Look after the children,” not “Look the children after”).

What are 10 examples of phrasal verbs in sentences?

Here are 10 common ones: (1) I wake up at 7 AM. (2) Please turn off the light. (3) She gave up her job. (4) We ran out of time. (5) He came up with a great idea. (6) They broke up last month. (7) I’m looking forward to the weekend. (8) She turned down the offer. (9) The car broke down on the highway. (10) He picked up Spanish while living abroad.

How many phrasal verbs are there in English?

Estimates range from 5,000 to 10,000, depending on how you count different meanings. However, most native speakers regularly use about 200–300 in daily conversation. For learners, knowing the 100 most common phrasal verbs (covered in our 100 Phrasal Verbs guide) will handle the vast majority of situations you encounter.

What level are phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs span all levels. Basic ones like “wake up,” “turn on,” and “sit down” are A2 level. Most common ones like “give up,” “look forward to,” and “find out” are B1. More abstract ones like “bring about,” “rule out,” and “phase in” are B2. Highly idiomatic ones like “cash in on,” “boil down to,” and “play down” are C1. This article is organized by level to help you study systematically.

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