Definition / Explanation
A phrasal verb is a verb plus a small word such as up, out, on, off, or after. That small word can change the meaning only a little, or it can create a meaning that is completely different from the main verb. Phrasal verbs are extremely common in everyday English, especially in speech and informal writing. Because the meaning is not always literal, they are best learned as full expressions, not as separate words. This topic is important for both understanding native speakers and sounding more natural yourself.
Key Rules
- A phrasal verb has a verb + particle structure: turn off, pick up, look after.
- Sometimes the meaning is clear: sit down.
- Sometimes the meaning is not literal: give up means stop trying.
- Learn phrasal verbs as whole chunks, not word by word.
- The same verb can combine with different particles and create different meanings.
Examples
- Please turn off the light.
- He looked after the child.
- We need to find out the truth.
- She gave up smoking last year.
- I will pick up the package tomorrow.
Common Mistakes
- ❌ Please turn the light off it. -> ✅ Please turn off the light. / Please turn it off.
- ❌ He looked the child after. -> ✅ He looked after the child.
- ❌ We need to find the truth out. -> ✅ We need to find out the truth.
Tips
- Write phrasal verbs in your notes as one item with a short meaning: give up = stop trying.