Phrasal Verbs for Communication: A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English communication, especially in informal and conversational contexts. 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 can significantly improve your fluency and understanding of English. Below is a detailed list of common phrasal verbs related to communication, along with examples and exercises.
1. Bring up
Meaning: To mention or introduce a topic in conversation.
- She brought up the issue of salary during the meeting.
- He didn’t want to bring up his past mistakes.
- Can we bring up the vacation plans at dinner?
2. Call off
Meaning: To cancel something that was planned.
- They called off the wedding due to financial issues.
- The match was called off because of heavy rain.
- We had to call off our trip because of the pandemic.
3. Get across
Meaning: To successfully communicate or make something understood.
- It’s hard to get across my feelings in a letter.
- The teacher tried to get across the importance of grammar.
- Did you manage to get across your point in the discussion?
4. Speak up
Meaning: To talk louder or express an opinion more boldly.
- Please speak up; I can’t hear you.
- She finally spoke up about the unfair treatment.
- If you disagree, you should speak up in the meeting.
5. Break in
Meaning: To interrupt a conversation.
- He kept breaking in while I was speaking.
- It’s rude to break in when someone else is talking.
- She broke in with an important update.
6. Talk over
Meaning: To discuss something thoroughly.
- Let’s talk over the details before making a decision.
- They talked over the project for hours.
- We need to talk over our plans for the weekend.
7. Point out
Meaning: To mention or highlight something.
- She pointed out the errors in the report.
- He pointed out that the deadline was too tight.
- Can you point out where I went wrong?
8. Sum up
Meaning: To summarize the main points.
- At the end of the presentation, he summed up the key takeaways.
- Let me sum up what we’ve discussed so far.
- The professor summed up the lecture in three sentences.
9. Hang up
Meaning: To end a phone call.
- She hung up angrily after the argument.
- Don’t hang up; I have one more question.
- He accidentally hung up on his boss.
10. Put forward
Meaning: To suggest or propose an idea.
- She put forward a new strategy for the project.
- He put forward his name for the leadership role.
- They put forward several solutions to the problem.
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.
- She __________ her concerns during the team meeting. (brought up)
- The conference was __________ due to low attendance. (called off)
- It’s difficult to __________ complex ideas in a short email. (get across)
- Please __________ if you have any questions. (speak up)
- Let’s __________ the proposal before submitting it. (talk over)
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb to Its Meaning
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bring up | To mention a topic |
| Sum up | To summarize |
| Hang up | To end a phone call |
| Put forward | To suggest an idea |
| Break in | To interrupt |
Exercise 3: Create Sentences
Write a sentence using each of the following phrasal verbs:
- Point out
- Get across
- Call off
Answer Key
Exercise 1 Answers:
- brought up
- called off
- get across
- speak up
- talk over
Exercise 3 Sample Answers:
- She pointed out the mistake in the document.
- He struggled to get across his feelings.
- They had to call off the event due to bad weather.