A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb + particle that functions as a single unit and often has a meaning different from the original verb.
verb + particle → phrasal verb
For example:
give + up → give up = quit
- give = hand/provide
- give up = quit/stop
So:
He gave up smoking.
Here, gave up is the phrasal verb.
What is a "particle"?
A particle is usually a small word such as:
up, down, out, off, on, away, back, in, over, around
These words can combine with verbs to create new meanings.
Examples:
- wake up
- sit down
- come back
- find out
- turn off
- give away
- carry on
The important point is that the particle is part of the meaning of the whole expression.
Examples of common phrasal verbs
| Phrasal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| give up | quit |
| find out | discover |
| look up | search for information |
| turn on | switch on |
| turn off | switch off |
| put off | postpone |
| call off | cancel |
| bring up | raise a subject |
| carry on | continue |
| break down | stop functioning |
| break out | start suddenly |
| pick up | lift/collect |
| take off | remove / leave the ground |
| come back | return |
| go away | leave |
| wake up | stop sleeping |
| grow up | become an adult |
| set up | establish/arrange |
| work out | solve/exercise |
| look after | take care of |
Phrasal verbs can be literal or idiomatic
Literal meaning
He stood up.
Here, stand + up has a fairly literal meaning.
Idiomatic meaning
He gave up smoking.
Give up does not mean "give something upwards".
It means quit.
This is why phrasal verbs can be difficult for learners.
Separable Phrasal Verbs
Some phrasal verbs can be separated by their object.
For example:
Turn off the light.
or:
Turn the light off.
Both are correct.
With a noun
Pick up the book.
Pick the book up.
With a pronoun
With a pronoun, separation is normally compulsory:
Pick it up. ✅
❌ Pick up it.
Turn it off. ✅
❌ Turn off it.
This is an important rule for exams.
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Some cannot normally be separated.
For example:
She looks after her child.
❌ She looks her child after.
Another:
I ran into an old friend.
❌ I ran an old friend into.
So:
look after + object
not:
look + object + after
Three-word Phrasal Verbs
Some expressions contain three words:
verb + particle + preposition
Examples:
look forward to
= anticipate
I look forward to meeting you.
put up with
= tolerate
I can't put up with this noise.
get away with
= escape punishment/blame
He got away with cheating.
look down on
= consider someone inferior
Don't look down on others.
come up with
= think of/produce an idea
She came up with a good idea.
Phrasal Verb vs Prepositional Verb
This is a slightly more advanced distinction.
Phrasal verb
He gave up smoking.
up is a particle.
Prepositional verb
He looked at the picture.
at is a preposition introducing the object the picture.
Many school grammar books use phrasal verb as a broad term for both types, but in advanced grammar they are distinguished.
How to identify a phrasal verb
Take:
The plane took off.
Step 1: Find the verb
took
Step 2: Look at the word connected to it
off
Step 3: Check the combined meaning
take off = leave the ground
Therefore:
took off = phrasal verb.
The same verb can form many phrasal verbs
This is one reason phrasal verbs can seem difficult.
TAKE
- take off = remove / leave the ground
- take up = begin an activity
- take back = return / withdraw a statement
- take over = gain control
- take after = resemble a family member
- take in = understand / deceive / accommodate
LOOK
- look at = examine
- look for = search
- look after = take care of
- look up = search for information
- look into = investigate
- look out = be careful
- look forward to = anticipate
Phrasal verbs change with tense
The verb changes according to tense, but the particle normally stays the same.
Present
I give up easily.
Past
I gave up yesterday.
Present perfect
I have given up smoking.
Present continuous
I am giving up smoking.
So the phrasal verb is give up, while the verb changes:
give → gave → given → giving
Phrasal verbs can be transitive or intransitive
Transitive
A transitive phrasal verb takes an object.
Please turn off the light.
the light = object
Intransitive
An intransitive phrasal verb does not take an object.
The car broke down.
There is no object after broke down.
Very important: "up", "down", "out" etc. are not always particles
Look at:
He walked down the road.
Here down is a preposition because it has the noun phrase the road as its object.
But:
He calmed down.
Here down is a particle.
So don't identify a word as a particle simply because it is up, down, out, etc. Its function in the sentence matters.
Phrasal verb vs ordinary verb + adverb
Compare:
He stood up.
Here stood up can be treated as a phrasal verb.
But:
He looked up at the sky.
Depending on the meaning and analysis, up can indicate direction rather than forming an idiomatic phrasal verb.
The meaning and grammatical behaviour help determine whether you are dealing with a true phrasal verb.
Phrasal verbs and gerunds/infinitives
A phrasal verb can itself be followed by a gerund or infinitive.
Give up + gerund
He gave up smoking.
Here:
- gave up = phrasal verb
- smoking = gerund
Look forward to + gerund
I look forward to meeting you.
Here:
- look forward to = three-word expression
- meeting = gerund
Important: In look forward to, to is a preposition, so it is followed by a noun or gerund:
look forward to the trip
look forward to meeting you
Not:
❌ I look forward to meet you.
Useful phrasal verbs
| Phrasal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| bring up | mention/raise |
| call off | cancel |
| carry on | continue |
| come across | find unexpectedly |
| find out | discover |
| give up | quit |
| go through | experience/examine |
| look after | take care of |
| look into | investigate |
| look for | search for |
| look forward to | anticipate |
| put off | postpone |
| put up with | tolerate |
| run into | meet unexpectedly |
| set up | establish/arrange |
| take after | resemble |
| take off | remove/leave ground |
| take over | take control |
| turn down | reject/reduce |
| work out | solve/exercise |
And remember: do not always translate the individual words separately. Learn the meaning of the whole phrasal verb.
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