Phrasal Verbs for Spoken English: A Comprehensive Guide
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of spoken English, making conversations sound more natural and fluent. They consist of a verb combined with a preposition or adverb, creating a meaning different from the original verb. This guide will help English learners understand common phrasal verbs, their meanings, and how to use them in everyday conversations.
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs). They often have idiomatic meanings, meaning their definitions aren’t always obvious from the individual words.
Common Phrasal Verbs for Spoken English
1. Break Down
Meaning: To stop working (for machines) or to lose emotional control (for people).
- My car broke down on the highway yesterday.
- She broke down crying when she heard the bad news.
- The washing machine broke down again.
2. Call Off
Meaning: To cancel something.
- They called off the meeting due to bad weather.
- The concert was called off at the last minute.
- We had to call off our trip because of the pandemic.
3. Cheer Up
Meaning: To make someone happier.
- I brought her flowers to cheer her up.
- He tried to cheer up his friend with a funny story.
- Cheer up! Things will get better soon.
4. Find Out
Meaning: To discover or learn something.
- I just found out that she’s moving abroad.
- How did you find out about this restaurant?
- The police are trying to find out what happened.
5. Get Along
Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
- I get along well with my coworkers.
- Do your children get along with each other?
- We didn’t get along at first, but now we’re good friends.
6. Give Up
Meaning: To stop trying or quit something.
- Don’t give up! You can do it!
- He gave up smoking last year.
- I gave up trying to fix the computer myself.
7. Look Forward To
Meaning: To feel excited about something that will happen.
- I’m looking forward to our vacation next month.
- She’s looking forward to seeing her family again.
- We’re all looking forward to the weekend.
8. Put Off
Meaning: To postpone or delay something.
- They put off the decision until next week.
- Don’t put off your homework until the last minute.
- The meeting was put off until further notice.
9. Run Out Of
Meaning: To have no more of something left.
- We’ve run out of milk. Can you buy some?
- My phone ran out of battery during the call.
- The car ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere.
10. Turn Up
Meaning: To arrive or appear, often unexpectedly.
- He finally turned up an hour late.
- My lost keys turned up in the laundry.
- Don’t worry, something will turn up soon.
Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb
- I need to _____ smoking. It’s bad for my health. (give up/look forward to)
- We’ve _____ milk. Can you go to the store? (run out of/turn up)
- They _____ the wedding because of financial problems. (called off/broke down)
- I’m _____ visiting my grandparents next month. (looking forward to/getting along)
- How did you _____ about this event? (find out/put off)
Exercise 2: Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Break down | a) To cancel |
| Call off | b) To stop working (machine) or lose control (person) |
| Cheer up | c) To make someone happier |
| Get along | d) To have a good relationship |
| Put off | e) To postpone |
Answer Key
Exercise 1 Answers:
- give up
- run out of
- called off
- looking forward to
- find out
Exercise 2 Answers:
- Break down – b) To stop working (machine) or lose control (person)
- Call off – a) To cancel
- Cheer up – c) To make someone happier
- Get along – d) To have a good relationship
- Put off – e) To postpone
Remember, the best way to master phrasal verbs is to practice them in conversation. Try using these in your daily English speaking, and soon they’ll become natural parts of your vocabulary!