Phrasal Verbs for TOEFL: A Comprehensive Guide
Phrasal verbs are essential for mastering English, especially for exams like TOEFL. They consist of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs), and their meanings often differ from the original verb. Below is a detailed list of common phrasal verbs for TOEFL, along with meanings, examples, and exercises.
1. Bring Up
Meaning: To mention or introduce a topic in conversation.
- She brought up the issue during the meeting.
- He didn’t want to bring up his past mistakes.
- The professor brought up an interesting point about climate change.
2. Carry Out
Meaning: To perform or complete a task.
- The scientists carried out several experiments.
- The company carried out a survey to understand customer needs.
- She carried out her duties efficiently.
3. Come Across
Meaning: To find or encounter something/someone by chance.
- I came across an old photo while cleaning my room.
- He came across as very confident during the interview.
- She came across a rare book at the flea market.
4. Figure Out
Meaning: To understand or solve something.
- It took me hours to figure out the math problem.
- Can you figure out how this machine works?
- They finally figured out the solution to the puzzle.
5. Go Over
Meaning: To review or examine something carefully.
- Let’s go over the notes before the test.
- The teacher went over the assignment in detail.
- He went over the contract before signing it.
6. Look Into
Meaning: To investigate or examine a situation.
- The police are looking into the robbery.
- We need to look into the cause of the problem.
- The committee will look into the complaints.
7. Put Off
Meaning: To postpone or delay something.
- They put off the meeting until next week.
- Don’t put off your homework until the last minute.
- She put off going to the dentist for months.
8. Run Into
Meaning: To meet someone unexpectedly or encounter a problem.
- I ran into my old friend at the mall.
- They ran into financial difficulties.
- We ran into heavy traffic on the way.
9. Set Up
Meaning: To arrange or establish something.
- He set up a new business last year.
- They set up a meeting with the clients.
- She set up the equipment for the presentation.
10. Turn Down
Meaning: To refuse or reject something.
- She turned down the job offer because of the salary.
- He turned down the invitation to the party.
- The committee turned down his proposal.
Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb from the list above.
- She decided to __________ the trip due to bad weather.
- The detective will __________ the mysterious disappearance.
- Can you __________ how to fix this issue?
- They __________ a new branch in the city center.
- I __________ my former teacher at the supermarket.
Answer Key
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | put off |
| 2 | look into |
| 3 | figure out |
| 4 | set up |
| 5 | ran into |