English Phrasal verbs are very common in English grammar and are fairly easy to understand with a few examples. Basically, a phrasal verb is a short phrase made up of a verb and something else such as an adverb or preposition. Phrasal verbs are usually self-explanatory, but can sometimes be idiomatic.
The list below contains the most common English phrasal verbs in English grammar. Some of the phrasal verbs include short definitions and an example for clarity. Remember, phrasal verbs occur when a verb or verbs are used with another part of speech.
C and D English phrasal verbs
Carry over
- When something carries over it continues. For example, “The new rules will carry over to the next school year.”
Carry out
- The meaning of this phrasal verb is to do something such as “carry out orders.”
Carry on with
Catch out
Catch up on something
- The meaning of this phrasal verb is to get new information about something. For example, “I need to catch up on the latest news before I make a decision.”
Catch somebody up on something
Catch on
- To catch on means to start to understand something. For example, “It took a few minutes for the children to catch on to the new game.”
Catch up somebody
Catch up on
Check in
Clear away
- This phrasal verb phrase mean to clear something up or take something away.
Clear out of
Clear somebody off
Clear up
Check off
- Check off means to complete something. For example, “I was finally able to check off skydiving from my to do list.”
Cut back
- To cut back means to do less of something. For example, “To lose weight, I cut back on junk food and soda.”
Cut in
Cut into
Cut across
Cut through
Cut up
Cut out
- The phrasal verb cut out means to remove something. For example, “I decided to cut out all sugar from my diet.”
D English phrasal verbs
Drop off
- This phrasal verb means to leave something or someone somewhere. For example, ” I need to drop off the kids at school.” or “You need to drop off the essay before noon on Friday.”
G, H and K English phrasal verbs
Get away
Get on
Get along
Get out
- The phrasal verb get out means to leave a place or location. Here’s the meaning in a sentence: “We knew we had to get out of the hotel as quickly as possible.”
Get across
- To get across something means to make yourself understood or clear as in, “I was able to get across my point and the kids won’t play in the street anymore.”
Get away
Get somebody down
Get through
Get around
- To get around something has a meaning to avoid doing something that is normally required. For example, “We got around the rules by avoiding the ticket agent.”
Get over
Get ahead
Hang around
Hang on
- Hang on has the meaning of not giving up.
Hang out
Hang over
Hold up
- The phrasal verb hold up has a meaning of delaying something from happening. For example, “I will hold up the last payment until next month.”
Keep from
Keep in
Keep off
Keep away
Knock off
Knock back
Knock up
L, M and P English phrasal verbs
Let in
Let into
Let in on
Let off
Let through
Let up
Look ahead
Look back
Look after
- Look after has the meaning of taking care of someone or something.
Look round
Look on
Look forward to
- The verbs look forward to has the meaning to be happy something is going to happen in the future. For example, “I was looking forward to seeing the movie on Friday.”
Look in
Make after
Make up
Make out
Make up for
Make into
Put up with
- To put up with something has the meaning to tolerate something that is annoying or unpleasant. For example, “I put up with her behavior because she was new to the class.”
Put away
Put across
Put out
Put down
Put on
R, S and T English phrasal verbs
Run across
- Run across has the meaning of meeting someone unintentionally.
Run away
Read back
Read up on something
Read over
Read through
Run into
Run against
Run around
- Run around has the meaning of avoiding a person or situation.
Run over
Run on
Run down
- The meaning of the verbs run down is to give a summary of a situation.
Set about
Set forth
Set off
Set up
Set to
Set aside
Set in
Set on
Set down
Set back
Set off
- Set off has the meaning of beginning or starting a journey or trip.
Stop over
Take over
Take away
Take in
Take against
Take down
- Take down has the meaning of destroying or defeating someone.
Touch down
Learning English phrasal verbs
So, how do you study English phrasal verbs? First, know the meaning of a verb and how a verb is used. Try to list phrasal verbs you know such as phrasal verbs with of. Also, make sure you know the verb meaning and look for an example of the phrasal verbs in real life. Below is a list of some more English phrasal verbs that have common verb meaning.
List of English phrasal verbs
A-G phrasal Verbs
- Act on
- Act out
- Act up
- Act up to
- Act upon
- Answer back
- Answer for
- Answer to
- Ask after
- Ask around
- Ask for
- Ask in
- Ask out
- Ask round
- Ask over
- Back down
- Back into
- Back off
- Back onto
- Back out
- Back up
- Be above
- Be around
- Be in for
- Be on about
- Be with
- Be above
- Be along
- Be around
- Be cut out for
- Be down
- Be fed up
- Be in for
- Be in for
- Be in on
- Be on about
- Be on to
- Be out for
- Be there for
- Be snowed under
- Be taken aback
- Be taken with
- Be up for
- Be with
- Beat down
- Beat off
- Beat out
- Beat up
- Blow away
- Blow down
- Blow off
- Blow out
- Blow over
- Blow past
- Blow up
- Break away
- Break down
- Break even
- Break in
- Break off)
- Break into
- Break out
- Break through
- Break up
- Bring about
- Bring along
- Bring around
- Bring back
- Bring down
- Bring forth
- Bring forward
- Bring in
- Bring off
- Bring out
- Bring round
- Bring to
- Bring up
- Call away
- Call down
- Call for
- Call for
- Call in
- Call off
- Call on
- Call out
- Carry off
- Carry on
- Carry out
- Carry over
- Check out
- Check up
- Check up on
- Come about
- Come across
- Come after
- Come along
- Come apart
- Come around
- Come at
- Come away
- Come back
- Come before
- Come between
- Come by
- Come down
- Come down on
- Come down upon
- Come down to
- Come down with
- Come for
- Come forth
- Come from
- Come in
- Come in for
- Come into
- Come off
- Come on
- Come out in
- Come out in
- Come out of
- Come out with
- Come round
- Come through
- Come through with
- Come to
- Come together
- Come under
- Come up
- Come up to
- Come up with
- Come upon
- Come with
- Crack down
- Crack down on:
- Crack on
- Crack up
- Crack out
- Cut back
- Cut down
- Cut off
- Cut out
- Cut through
- Cut up
- Fall about
- Fall apart
- Fall away
- Fall behind
- Fall down
- Fall for
- Fall in
- Fall in with
- Fall into
- Fall off
- Fall on
- Fall out
- Fall through
- Fall under
- Fall upon
- Fill in
- Fill out
- Fill up
- Get about
- Get across
- Get after
- Get ahead
- Get ahead of
- Get along
- Get along with
- Get around
- Get around to
- Get at
- Get away
- Get away from
- Get away with
- Get back
- Get back at
- Get back to
- Get behind
- Get behind with
- Get by
- Get down
- Get down on
- Get down to
- Get in
- Get in with
- Get into
- Get it
- Get it on
- Get it together
- Get it over with
- Get it up
- Get off
- Get off on
- Get off on
- Get on
- Get on to
- Get on to
- Get on for
- Get on with
- Get onto
- Get out
- Get out of
- Get over
- Get over with
- Get rid of
- Get stuck in
- Get stuck into
- Get taken in
- Get through
- Get through to
- Get to
- Get together
- Get up
- Get up to
- Get used
- Get with
- Give away.
- Give back
- Give forth
- Give in
- Give in to
- Give it up for/to
- Give of oneself
- Give off
- Give out
- Give over
- Give up
- Give up on
- Give way
- Give way to
- Give yourself up
- Go about
- Go across
- Go after
- Go against
- Go ahead
- Go ahead with
- Go all out
- Go along
- Go around
- Go at
- Go away
- Go back
- Go before
- Go below
- Go by
- Go down
- Go down with
- Go for
- Go for it
- Go forward
- Go in
- Go in for
- Go in for
- Go in with
- Go into
- Go off
- Go off with
- Go off with: Steal
- Go on
- Go on to
- Go on about
- Go on
- Go on at
- Go on with
- Go out
- Go out for
- Go out to
- Go over
- Go over to
- Go so far as
- Go past
- Go round
- Go through
- Go through with
- Go to
- Go together
- Go towards
- Go under
- Go up
- Go up for
- Go with
- Go without
H-K Phrasal Verbs
- Hang about
- Hang on
- Hang out
- Hang over
- Hang together
- Hang up
- Hold back
- Hold down
- Hold in: Restrain oneself
- Hold off
- Hold on
- Hold out
- Hold over: Save, delay
- Hold up
- Jump around
- Jump at
- Jump down
- Jump in
- Jump off
- Jump on
- Jump out
- Jump up
- Keep across
- Keep around
- Keep at
- Keep away
- Keep away from
- Keep back
- Keep down
- Keep from
- Keep in
- Keep off
- Keep on
- Keep out
- Keep out of
- Keep to oneself
- Keep up
- Keep up with
- Kick around
- Kick back
- Kick down
- Kick in
- Kick off
- Kick out
- Kick up
- Knock about
- Knock back
- Knock down
- Knock it off
- Knock off
- Knock out
- Knock over
- Knock together
- Knock up
L-P Phrasal Verbs
- Lay by
- Lay down
- Lay low
- Lay off
- Lay on
- Lay out
- Lay up
- Live down
- Live off
- Live on
- Live out
- Live through
- Live up
- Let downy
- Let in
- Let in on
- Let off
- Let on
- Let out
- Let past
- Let up
- Look after
- Look ahead
- Look back
- Look down on
- Look around
- Look at
- Look for
- Look forward to
- Look into
- Look on
- Look on as
- Look out
- Look out for
- Look round
- Look through
- Look to
- Look up
- Look up to
- Look upon
- Look upon as
- Make after
- Make away with
- Make for
- Make into
- Make it up to
- Make of
- Make off
- Make off with
- Make out
- Make out of
- Make over
- Make towards
- Make up
- Make up for
- Make up to
- Make way
- Mess about
- Mess around
- Mess up
- Mess with
- Move forward
- Move on
- Move out
- Move up
- Pass away
- Pass by
- Pass by
- Pass by
- Pass down
- Pass off
- Pass on
- Pass out
- Pass over
- Pass round
- Pass through
- Pass to
- Pass up
- Pick apart
- Pick at
- Pick off
- Pick on
- Pick out
- Pick through
- Pick up
- Pick up after
- Pick up on
- Pick yourself up
Progressive Tense: Correct Usage