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Grammar of Phrasal Verbs
Grammar of Phrasal Verbs
ask around ask many people the I asked aroundbut nobody has seen
same question my wallet.
break down stop functioning (vehicle, Our car broke down at the side of the
machine) highway in the snowstorm.
break up start laughing (informal) The kids justbroke up as soon as the
clown started talking.
break out insomething develop a skin condition I broke out in a rash after our
camping trip.
call on someone visit someone We called onyou last night but you
weren't home.
calm down relax after being angry You are still mad. You need to calm
downbefore you drive the car.
catch up get to the same point as You'll have to run faster than that if
someone else you want to catch up with Marty.
check in arrive and register at a We will get the hotel keys when
hotel or airport we check in.
check out leave a hotel You have tocheck out of the hotel
before 11:00 AM.
check outsomeone/something look at (informal) Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
cut in pull in too closely in The bus driver got angry when that
front of another vehicle car cut in.
dosomeone/somethingover beat up, ransack (BrE, He's lucky to be alive. His shop
informal) was done overby a street gang.
to dress up.
drop out quit a class, school etc I dropped outof Science because it
was too difficult.
fall apart break into pieces My new dressfell apart in the washing
machine.
fall down fall to the ground The picture that you hung up last
night fell downthis morning.
fall out separate from an interior The money must have fallen outof my
pocket.
fall out (of hair, teeth) become His hair started to fall out when he
loose and unattached was only 35.
get along/on like each other I was surprised how well my new
girlfriend and my sistergot along/on.
get away withsomething do without being noticed Jason alwaysgets away withcheating
or punished in his maths tests.
get back at someone retaliate, take revenge My sister got back at me for stealing
her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.
get back intosomething become interested in I finally got back into my novel and
something again finished it.
get on something step onto a vehicle We're going to freeze out here if you
don't let usget on the bus.
get over something recover from an illness, I just got overthe flu and now my
loss, difficulty sister has it.
get round tosomething finally find time to do I don't know when I am going to get
(AmE: get around round towriting the thank you cards.
tosomething)
get together meet (usually for social Let's get together for a BBQ this
reasons) weekend.
go over visit someone nearby I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I
think I'llgo over for an hour or two.
grow apart stop being friends over My best friend and I grew apart after
time she changed schools.
grow out ofsomething get too big for Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes
because she has grown out of her old
ones.
grow into something grow big enough to fit This bike is too big for him now, but
he shouldgrow into it by next year.
hang in stay positive (informal) Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a
job very soon.
hang out spend time relaxing Instead of going to the party we are
(informal) just going tohang out at my place.
hold ontosomeone/something hold firmly using your Hold onto your hat because it's very
hands or arms windy outside.
keep on doingsomething continue doing Keep on stirring until the liquid comes
to a boil.
log in (or on) sign in (to a website, I can't log in to Facebook because I've
database etc) forgotten my password.
log out (or off) sign out (of a website, If you don't log off somebody could
database etc) get into your account.
look down onsomeone think less of, consider Ever since we stole that chocolate bar
inferior your dad haslooked down on me.
look forsomeone/something try to find I'm looking fora red dress for the
wedding.
look forward tosomething be excited about the I'm looking forward to the Christmas
future break.
look out be careful, vigilant, and Look out! That car's going to hit you!
take notice
look out be especially vigilant for Don't forget tolook out forsnakes on
forsomeone/something the hiking trail.
look up to someone have a lot of respect for My little sister has alwayslooked up to
me.
pay for something be punished for doing That bully willpay for being mean to
something bad my little brother.
try on.
put something down put what you are holding You can put the groceries downon the
on a surface or floor kitchen counter.
show off act extra special for He alwaysshows off on his skateboard
people watching (usually
boastfully)
sleep over stay somewhere for the You shouldsleep overtonight if the
night (informal) weather is too bad to drive home.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence
stick to something continue doing You will lose weight if youstick to the
something, limit yourself diet.
to one particular thing
switch something off stop the energy flow, turn The light's too bright. Could
off you switch itoff.
turn something off stop the energy flow, Your mother wants you toturn the
switch off TV offand come for dinner.
turn something on start the energy, switch It's too dark in here. Let's turnsome
on lights on.