Phrasal Verbs for Business: A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English, especially in business communication. They consist of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that change the meaning of the original verb. Mastering phrasal verbs can help you sound more natural and professional in business settings. Below is a detailed list of common business phrasal verbs, their meanings, examples, and exercises to test your understanding.
1. Bring up
Meaning: To mention or introduce a topic for discussion.
- She brought up the budget issue during the meeting.
- He brought up a new marketing strategy in yesterday’s presentation.
- Don’t bring up the merger until we finalize the details.
2. Carry out
Meaning: To complete or perform a task.
- The team carried out the market research successfully.
- We need to carry out a financial audit next month.
- The company carried out its expansion plan last year.
3. Follow up
Meaning: To take further action after an initial contact or meeting.
- Please follow up with the client after sending the proposal.
- She followed up the interview with a thank-you email.
- The manager asked me to follow up on the pending orders.
4. Go over
Meaning: To review or examine something carefully.
- Let’s go over the contract before signing it.
- The accountant went over the financial statements.
- We need to go over the project timeline again.
5. Hold off
Meaning: To delay or postpone something.
- They decided to hold off the product launch until next quarter.
- We should hold off hiring new employees until the budget is approved.
- The CEO held off making a decision until more data was available.
6. Look into
Meaning: To investigate or examine something.
- The HR department will look into the employee’s complaint.
- We need to look into the reasons for the sales decline.
- The committee is looking into possible cost-cutting measures.
7. Put off
Meaning: To postpone or delay something.
- The meeting was put off until next week.
- Don’t put off replying to important emails.
- They put off the product launch due to technical issues.
8. Set up
Meaning: To arrange or establish something.
- We need to set up a meeting with the investors.
- The company set up a new branch in Singapore.
- She set up an online payment system for the website.
9. Take over
Meaning: To assume control or responsibility for something.
- The new manager will take over the department next month.
- A larger company took over our startup last year.
- He took over the project when his colleague resigned.
10. Turn down
Meaning: To reject or refuse something.
- The board turned down the proposal due to high costs.
- She turned down the job offer because of the long commute.
- They turned down the partnership offer from the competitor.
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.
- We need to _____ the new marketing strategy in detail. (go over / bring up)
- The manager asked me to _____ the client’s complaint. (look into / take over)
- They decided to _____ the meeting until next Monday. (put off / set up)
- The company _____ a new office in Berlin last year. (set up / turned down)
- She _____ the job offer because the salary was too low. (turned down / held off)
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb with Its Meaning
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bring up | To mention a topic |
| Carry out | To perform a task |
| Follow up | To take further action |
| Hold off | To delay something |
| Take over | To assume control |
Exercise 3: Write Your Own Sentences
Create sentences using the following phrasal verbs:
- Set up
- Go over
- Follow up
- Look into
- Turn down
By practicing these phrasal verbs, you’ll improve your business English and communicate more effectively in professional settings.