phrasal verbs for essays

Phrasal Verbs for Essays: A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners

Phrasal verbs are essential for mastering English, especially in academic writing. They consist of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that change the verb’s meaning. Using them correctly can make your essays more natural and sophisticated. Below is a detailed guide to common phrasal verbs for essays, including meanings, examples, and exercises.

1. Bring Up

Meaning: To mention or introduce a topic.

• The author brings up an interesting point about climate change in the introduction.
• She brought up the issue of income inequality during the debate.
• It’s important to bring up counterarguments in your essay.

2. Point Out

Meaning: To highlight or draw attention to something.

• The researcher pointed out several flaws in the previous study.
• He points out that social media affects mental health.
• Always point out key evidence to support your claims.

3. Go Into

Meaning: To discuss something in detail.

• The essay goes into great depth about economic theories.
• We will go into the causes of World War II in the next paragraph.
• Avoid going into unnecessary details.

4. Carry Out

Meaning: To conduct or perform (e.g., research, experiments).

• The scientists carried out a series of experiments.
• She carried out a survey to collect data.
• Always explain how you carried out your research.

5. Set Out

Meaning: To present or explain something clearly.

• The report sets out the main objectives of the study.
• He set out his argument in the first paragraph.
• Make sure to set out your thesis statement early.

6. Look Into

Meaning: To investigate or examine.

• The government will look into the causes of inflation.
• Researchers looked into the effects of sleep deprivation.
• You should look into multiple sources for your essay.

7. Sum Up

Meaning: To summarize.

• In conclusion, the author sums up the main findings.
• Let me sum up the key points of the discussion.
• Always sum up your argument in the final paragraph.

8. Back Up

Meaning: To support with evidence.

• You must back up your claims with reliable sources.
• The study backs up the theory with solid data.
• Always back up your arguments in academic writing.

9. Rule Out

Meaning: To exclude or dismiss as a possibility.

• The researcher ruled out bias in the experiment.
• We cannot rule out external factors affecting the results.
• Make sure to rule out alternative explanations.

10. Put Forward

Meaning: To propose or suggest.

• The author puts forward a new theory in this paper.
• She put forward several solutions to the problem.
• Always put forward clear arguments in your essay.

Exercises

Test your understanding of these phrasal verbs with the following exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct phrasal verb from the list above to complete the sentences.

1. The professor __________ the importance of critical thinking in his lecture.
2. We need to __________ the reasons behind the economic crisis.
3. Can you __________ the main points of the article?
4. The study __________ the impact of pollution on marine life.
5. She __________ a compelling argument in her essay.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences

Replace the underlined words with a suitable phrasal verb.

1. The report explains the methodology in detail.
2. He mentioned the problem during the meeting.
3. Scientists conducted experiments to test the hypothesis.
4. The committee will investigate the allegations.
5. Please summarize your findings in the conclusion.

Answer Key

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. brought up
2. look into
3. sum up
4. carried out
5. put forward

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences

1. sets out
2. brought up
3. carried out
4. look into
5. sum up