Phrasal Verbs for Daily Life: A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of everyday English. They consist of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs), and their meanings often differ from the original verb. Mastering phrasal verbs will help you sound more natural in conversations. Below is a detailed list of common phrasal verbs used in daily life, along with meanings, examples, and exercises.
1. Common Phrasal Verbs with Meanings and Examples
Wake up
Meaning: To stop sleeping and become conscious.
- I wake up at 7 AM every morning.
- She woke up late and missed her bus.
- Don’t forget to wake up early for the meeting.
Turn on
Meaning: To activate a device or light.
- Please turn on the TV; the news is starting.
- He turned on the heater because it was cold.
- Can you turn on the lights? It’s too dark.
Turn off
Meaning: To deactivate a device or light.
- Remember to turn off the stove after cooking.
- She turned off her phone during the flight.
- Don’t turn off the computer; I’m still working.
Put on
Meaning: To wear clothes or accessories.
- He put on his jacket before going outside.
- She put on her glasses to read the book.
- Don’t forget to put on sunscreen at the beach.
Take off
Meaning: To remove clothing or for an airplane to leave the ground.
- She took off her shoes when she entered the house.
- The plane took off on time despite the rain.
- It’s hot; you can take off your sweater.
Look after
Meaning: To take care of someone or something.
- Can you look after my dog while I’m away?
- She looks after her younger brother every evening.
- He looked after the plants while his neighbor was on vacation.
Run out of
Meaning: To have no more of something left.
- We ran out of milk, so I’ll buy some later.
- She ran out of patience and left the meeting.
- The car ran out of gas in the middle of the highway.
Give up
Meaning: To stop trying or quit a habit.
- He gave up smoking last year.
- Don’t give up; you can still pass the exam!
- She gave up her job to travel the world.
Pick up
Meaning: To lift something or collect someone.
- Can you pick up the pen you dropped?
- I’ll pick up my sister from school at 3 PM.
- He picked up some groceries on his way home.
Find out
Meaning: To discover information.
- I need to find out when the train leaves.
- She found out the truth about the accident.
- Did you find out who won the competition?
2. Exercises to Practice Phrasal Verbs
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct phrasal verb from the list to complete the sentences.
- 1. Please ___ the lights before leaving. (turn on / turn off)
- 2. She ___ her jacket because it was cold. (put on / took off)
- 3. We ___ of sugar, so I need to buy some. (ran out / gave up)
- 4. Can you ___ my cat while I’m on vacation? (look after / pick up)
- 5. He ___ smoking last month. (gave up / woke up)
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb with Its Meaning
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wake up | To stop sleeping |
| Turn on | To activate a device |
| Run out of | To have no more left |
| Give up | To quit a habit |
| Find out | To discover information |
3. Answer Key
Exercise 1 Answers:
- 1. turn off
- 2. put on
- 3. ran out
- 4. look after
- 5. gave up
Exercise 2 Answers:
The table already correctly matches the phrasal verbs with their meanings.