Phrasal Verbs for Relationships
Phrasal verbs are essential in English, especially when discussing relationships. They combine a verb and a preposition or adverb to create a unique meaning. Below is a comprehensive list of phrasal verbs related to relationships, along with their meanings, examples, exercises, and answer keys.
1. Break Up
Meaning: To end a romantic relationship.
- They broke up after five years of dating.
- She broke up with him because they argued too much.
- I heard that Tom and Sarah broke up last week.
2. Make Up
Meaning: To reconcile after an argument.
- After their fight, they made up the next day.
- It’s important to make up before going to bed angry.
- They always make up quickly after disagreements.
3. Fall For
Meaning: To develop strong feelings for someone.
- He fell for her the moment they met.
- She didn’t expect to fall for her best friend.
- They fell for each other during their trip to Paris.
4. Go Out With
Meaning: To date someone.
- Is he going out with anyone right now?
- She’s been going out with Mark for six months.
- They went out with each other in college.
5. Settle Down
Meaning: To start a stable, long-term relationship, often involving marriage.
- After traveling the world, he decided to settle down.
- They want to settle down and have kids soon.
- She’s not ready to settle down yet.
6. Cheat On
Meaning: To be unfaithful in a relationship.
- He cheated on his girlfriend with her best friend.
- She found out her husband was cheating on her.
- Never cheat on your partner—it destroys trust.
7. Put Up With
Meaning: To tolerate someone’s behavior.
- She puts up with his bad habits because she loves him.
- I don’t know how he puts up with her constant nagging.
- You shouldn’t have to put up with disrespect in a relationship.
8. Grow Apart
Meaning: To become emotionally distant over time.
- After college, they slowly grew apart.
- Many couples grow apart if they don’t communicate.
- We used to be close, but we’ve grown apart over the years.
9. Ask Out
Meaning: To invite someone on a date.
- He finally asked her out after months of hesitation.
- She was nervous when he asked her out.
- If you like someone, just ask them out!
10. Get Along
Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
- They get along really well despite their differences.
- I don’t get along with my boss at all.
- It’s important to get along with your partner’s family.
Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb from the list above.
- After years of marriage, they decided to __________ because they were unhappy.
- She __________ him when he was kind and funny.
- They always fight but __________ the same day.
- He __________ his girlfriend, and now she won’t talk to him.
- Do you __________ your roommate, or do you argue often?
Answer Key
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | break up |
| 2 | fell for |
| 3 | make up |
| 4 | cheated on |
| 5 | get along |