Phrasal Verbs for Routine: A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of everyday English, especially when describing daily routines. These combinations of verbs and particles (prepositions or adverbs) often have meanings that differ from the original verb. Mastering them will make your English sound more natural and fluent. Below is a detailed list of common phrasal verbs related to routines, along with examples and exercises.
1. 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.
- They usually wake up early on weekends.
2. Get up
Meaning: To rise from bed after waking.
- He gets up at 6:30 AM to go jogging.
- We got up late because it was a holiday.
- She gets up as soon as the alarm rings.
3. Brush up
Meaning: To clean teeth with a toothbrush.
- I brush up my teeth twice a day.
- He forgot to brush up before leaving.
- She always brushes up after meals.
4. Put on
Meaning: To wear clothes or accessories.
- She puts on her glasses before reading.
- He put on a jacket because it was cold.
- They put on their uniforms for school.
5. Take off
Meaning: To remove clothing or leave the ground (for planes).
- He takes off his shoes before entering the house.
- The plane took off on time.
- She took off her coat when she got inside.
6. Turn on
Meaning: To activate a device or light.
- I turn on the TV to watch the news.
- She turned on the lights because it was dark.
- He always turns on his computer first thing in the morning.
7. Turn off
Meaning: To deactivate a device or light.
- Don’t forget to turn off the oven after cooking.
- She turned off her phone during the meeting.
- He always turns off the lights before leaving.
8. Go out
Meaning: To leave home for social activities.
- They go out for dinner every Friday.
- She went out with her friends last night.
- We rarely go out on weekdays.
9. Come back
Meaning: To return to a place.
- He comes back from work at 6 PM.
- She came back home late after the party.
- They always come back before midnight.
10. Hang out
Meaning: To spend time relaxing or socializing.
- We hang out at the park on weekends.
- They hung out at the mall yesterday.
- She loves to hang out with her cousins.
11. Pick up
Meaning: To collect someone or something.
- He picks up his kids from school every day.
- She picked up some groceries on her way home.
- Can you pick up my dry cleaning?
12. Drop off
Meaning: To take someone or something to a place and leave them there.
- I drop off my sister at the bus stop.
- He dropped off the package at the post office.
- She drops off her laundry every Monday.
13. Set up
Meaning: To arrange or prepare something for use.
- He set up his new computer yesterday.
- She sets up the meeting room before every presentation.
- We need to set up the chairs for the event.
14. Clean up
Meaning: To make a place tidy.
- She cleans up the kitchen after cooking.
- They cleaned up the living room before guests arrived.
- I always clean up my desk at the end of the day.
15. Wind down
Meaning: To relax after a busy day.
- He likes to wind down with a book before bed.
- She winds down by listening to music.
- We usually wind down with a cup of tea.
Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verb from the list above.
- I usually ___ at 6:30 AM to go for a run.
- Don’t forget to ___ the lights when you leave.
- She ___ her coat because it was too hot inside.
- They ___ at the café every Saturday.
- He ___ his laptop before starting work.
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb with Its Meaning
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wake up | a. To wear clothes |
| Put on | b. To stop sleeping |
| Pick up | c. To collect something |
| Clean up | d. To make tidy |
| Wind down | e. To relax |
Exercise 3: Write Your Own Sentences
Create five sentences using any of the phrasal verbs listed above.
Answer Key
Exercise 1 Answers:
- get up
- turn off
- took off
- hang out
- sets up
Exercise 2 Answers:
- Wake up – b
- Put on – a
- Pick up – c
- Clean up – d
- Wind down – e
Exercise 3: Sample Answers
- I wake up early on weekdays.
- She brushes up her teeth before bed.
- He drops off his son at school every morning.
- They go out for dinner every Friday.
- We clean up the house every weekend.