phrasal verbs for emails

Phrasal Verbs for Emails: A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners

Phrasal verbs are essential for mastering English, especially in professional and formal contexts like email communication. This guide will help you understand common phrasal verbs used in emails, their meanings, and examples of how to use them effectively.

Why Learn Phrasal Verbs for Emails?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs and prepositions or adverbs that often have meanings different from the original verb. In emails, they make your language sound more natural and professional. Below is a detailed list of phrasal verbs commonly used in email communication.

Common Phrasal Verbs for Emails

1. Follow up

Meaning: To check on the progress of something previously discussed or requested.

• I’m just following up on the report you promised to send last week.
• Could you follow up with the client to confirm the meeting time?
• She followed up her email with a phone call to ensure I received it.

2. Get back to

Meaning: To reply or respond to someone.

• I’ll get back to you as soon as I have more information.
• He promised to get back to me by the end of the day.
• Please get back to us with your decision by Friday.

3. Look into

Meaning: To investigate or examine something.

• Could you look into the issue with the server?
• I’ll look into the matter and update you soon.
• They’re looking into the delay in shipping the order.

4. Set up

Meaning: To arrange or organize something.

• Let’s set up a meeting to discuss the project.
• Can you set up a call with the team for tomorrow?
• We need to set up a new email account for the department.

5. Go over

Meaning: To review or examine something carefully.

• Let’s go over the details before sending the email.
• Could you go over the contract and suggest any changes?
• We’ll go over the feedback from the survey in our next meeting.

6. Fill out

Meaning: To complete a form or document.

• Please fill out the attached application form.
• Have you filled out the survey we sent last week?
• She asked me to fill out the feedback form before leaving.

7. Point out

Meaning: To highlight or mention something important.

• I’d like to point out that the deadline is approaching.
• He pointed out several errors in the report.
• Let me point out the key points from the meeting.

8. Bring up

Meaning: To mention or introduce a topic.

• I wanted to bring up the budget issue in our next meeting.
• She brought up an interesting point during the discussion.
• Don’t hesitate to bring up any concerns you may have.

9. Put off

Meaning: To postpone or delay something.

• We’ll have to put off the meeting until next week.
• He keeps putting off replying to important emails.
• Don’t put off sending the report; the deadline is tomorrow.

10. Turn in

Meaning: To submit or hand in something.

• Please turn in your expense reports by Friday.
• Have you turned in your project proposal yet?
• She forgot to turn in the signed contract.

Exercises

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

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence.

1. Could you _____ the issue with the missing files? (look into / put off)
2. I’ll _____ you as soon as I get the details. (get back to / turn in)
3. Let’s _____ the presentation slides before the meeting. (go over / bring up)
4. Don’t forget to _____ the registration form. (fill out / set up)
5. We need to _____ a time for the conference call. (follow up / set up)

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences using the correct phrasal verb.

1. “Please complete the survey.” → “Please _____ the survey.”
2. “I will reply to you tomorrow.” → “I will _____ you tomorrow.”
3. “Let’s review the contract.” → “Let’s _____ the contract.”
4. “Can you organize a meeting?” → “Can you _____ a meeting?”
5. “She mentioned the problem in the email.” → “She _____ the problem in the email.”

Answer Key

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. look into
2. get back to
3. go over
4. fill out
5. set up

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences

1. fill out
2. get back to
3. go over
4. set up
5. brought up

By mastering these phrasal verbs, you’ll be able to write more natural and professional emails in English. Practice using them in your daily communication to become more fluent!