phrasal verbs for informal letters

Phrasal Verbs for Informal Letters: A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners

Phrasal verbs are an essential part of informal English, especially in letters, emails, and casual conversations. 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 make your informal writing sound more natural and fluent.

Why Use Phrasal Verbs in Informal Letters?

• They make your language sound more conversational and friendly.
• They are commonly used in everyday speech and writing.
• They help you express ideas more naturally.

Common Phrasal Verbs for Informal Letters

1. Bring up – To mention a topic

Examples:

• I wanted to bring up the idea of our summer trip.
• She brought up an interesting point in her last letter.
• Don’t bring up the argument again—it’s better to move on.

2. Come across – To find or meet by chance

Examples:

• I came across an old photo of us while cleaning my room.
• He came across as very friendly in his email.
• Did you come across any good books lately?

3. Get along (with) – To have a good relationship with someone

Examples:

• I get along really well with my new roommate.
• Do you and your brother get along these days?
• We didn’t get along at first, but now we’re good friends.

4. Look forward to – To feel excited about something in the future

Examples:

• I’m looking forward to seeing you next month!
• She’s looking forward to her birthday party.
• We look forward to hearing from you soon.

5. Run into – To meet someone unexpectedly

Examples:

• I ran into Sarah at the mall yesterday.
• Guess who I ran into at the café?
• We might run into each other at the concert.

6. Turn out – To result in a certain way

Examples:

• The party turned out to be a lot of fun.
• It turned out that she already knew about the surprise.
• How did your exam turn out?

7. Go on – To continue or happen

Examples:

• What’s going on with your new job?
• The meeting went on for hours.
• Tell me what’s been going on in your life.

8. Put off – To postpone

Examples:

• We had to put off our trip because of the weather.
• Don’t put off writing your letter—do it today!
• He keeps putting off his homework.

9. Take up – To start a new hobby or activity

Examples:

• I’ve taken up painting recently.
• She took up yoga to relax.
• Why don’t you take up a new sport?

10. Break up – To end a relationship

Examples:

• They broke up after five years together.
• Did you hear that Tom and Lisa broke up?
• I don’t want to break up, but things aren’t working.

Exercises: Practice Using Phrasal Verbs

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verb from the list below:

• bring up
• come across
• get along
• look forward to
• run into

1. I ___ an old friend at the supermarket yesterday.
2. We ___ really well with our neighbors.
3. I ___ reading your next letter!
4. Did you ___ any interesting articles online?
5. I didn’t want to ___ that topic, but it’s important.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences

Replace the underlined words with a suitable phrasal verb.

1. I found a great book at the library. → I ___ a great book at the library.
2. She mentioned her new project in the email. → She ___ her new project in the email.
3. We postponed the meeting until next week. → We ___ the meeting until next week.
4. They ended their relationship last month. → They ___ last month.
5. He started playing the guitar. → He ___ playing the guitar.

Answer Key

Exercise 1 Answers:

1. ran into
2. get along
3. look forward to
4. come across
5. bring up

Exercise 2 Answers:

1. came across
2. brought up
3. put off
4. broke up
5. took up

By practicing these phrasal verbs, you’ll make your informal letters sound more natural and engaging. Keep writing and experimenting with them in your daily communication!