Using Phrasal Verbs

Tips for Using Phrasal Verbs:

 Don’t try to understand the individual meaning of the words in the phrase. Instead, try to understand the meaning

of the words together

 Like many other words in English, phrasal verbs often have more than one meaning

 Just like regular verbs, phrasal verbs can be used with the different verb tenses – get up, got up, getting up, will

get up, to get up, etc

 It’s true that phrasal verbs can help you sound more natural in English because English speakers use them all

the time.

 We say, “I put on my clothes every morning,” instead of “I dress myself every morning.” We say, “I just want to

fit in” instead of saying, “I want to feel more accepted.”

 If you aren’t comfortable with using phrasal verbs yet, that doesn’t make you bad at English. People will still

understand what you mean if you use a verb that has the same meaning. But keep in mind that when you avoid

using phrasal verbs and instead use more formal alternatives, you may sound more reserved or formal than

you’d like to.

 EXERCISES
Write a sentence using the phrasal verb.

 put up with Every night I have to put up with the dogs barking outside.
 give up/in ___________________________________________________.
 pass out __________________________________________________.
 put away __________________________________________________.
 set off ____________________________________________________.

Decide which phrasal verb is correct to complete the sentence.

 If we want to go travel around the world, we need to put aside some money. (put aside / turn into)
 The bus is really late! I wonder what the (1) ___________ is? (call off / hold up)
 My brother always (2) ______________ everything when we were kids. (got away with / look down on)
 Every time my parents go away for a long time, my siblings and I (3) ________ them _________. (see off / set off)
 Why are you (4) ______________ with me? (pulling through / breaking up)

Determine which verb tense the phrasal verb is using: present simple, past simple, future simple, infinitive, or continuous
present.

 Two of my workers called off today. past simple

 I think you are turning into a shopaholic, because you are buying a lot of clothes. (5) ____________________
 If parents always give in, their children will never learn the value of hard work. (6) ________________
 You will pass out from heat exhaustion if you stay outside too long. (7) ____________
 The children need to put their toys away. (8) ___________________
 Identify the phrasal verbs used in the following paragraph. There are 5 in total.

When you arrive at the airport, you need to check in first. Before the plane takes off, buckle your seat belt. After the plane lands, get
off the plane and walk to the baggage claim area to collect your suitcase. Unfortunately, you will have to put up with other people
who are collecting their bags also. When you leave the airport, you need to get on the shuttle bus to the car rental office.

(9) to check in

(10) ___________

(11) ___________

(12) ___________

(13) ___________

Discussion Questions

 Talk about your last travel experience in detail. Did you fly or drive or take a train? When did you take off and get in? Did you get
held up?
 What are some things that annoy you but you put up with?
 When was the last time you gave up on something important? What caused you to give in?

(Source: 1. http://www.recyclereminders.com/conserve-energy-signs,
Answer Key:
(1) hold up
(2) got away with
(3) see / off
(4) breaking up
(5) continuous present
(6) present simple
(7) future simple
(8) infinitive
(9) check in
(10) takes off
(11) get off
(12) put up
(13) get on