What are phrasal verbs?

1. A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the
original verb.

Example:
I ran into my teacher at the movies last night. run + into = meet
He ran away when he was 15. run + away = leave home

2. Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object.

Example:
He suddenly showed up. "show up" cannot take an object

3. Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object.

Example:
I made up the story. "story" is the object of "make up"

4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the
preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a *
between the verb and the preposition / adverb.

Example:
I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car.
She looked the phone number up.

5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In this
Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a + after the preposition /
adverb.

Example:
I ran into an old friend yesterday.
They are looking into the problem.

6. Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary,
such phrasal verbs are marked with both * and + .

Example:
I looked the number up in the phone book.
I looked up the number in the phone book.

7. WARNING! Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places, you must put the
object between the verb and the preposition if the object is a pronoun.
Example:
I looked the number up in the phone book.
I looked up the number in the phone book.
I looked it up in the phone book. correct
I looked up it in the phone book. Incorrect

Phrasal Verb Exercises

Choose the correct phrasal verb from the parenthesis at the end of the sentence.

drop in, look down on, come across, show up, get on with, hand in, took off, put off, lift up, ran
into, blown over, showing off, give in, get into

1. Someone broke into my car last night and stole the stereo. (broke down/broke into)
2. Will you be able to get by this month with the little you have?(get off / get by)

1. His father always taught him not to __look down on___ those people with less. (look up to / look down
on)
2. Stop complaining and ___get on with __ your work! (get on with / get over)
3. The boss wants you to __hand in__ your figures for this month to him. (hand out / hand in)
4. We’re going to have to __put off___ our trip to Spain until September. (put up/ put off)
5. I __ran into___ Amir today at the supermarket. It was great to see him. (ran out of / ran into)
6. I’m so tired of Sophie __showing off___ her engagement ring all the time. (showing off, showing up)
7. The police would not ___give in__ to the kidnapper’s demands. (give up/ give in)
8. I thought I would __drop in___ for a cup of coffee. Is that okay? (drop off/ drop in)
9. Have you ever __come across___ such an unusual piece of art? (come forward/come across)
10. It’s important to _show up____ on time. (show up / show off)
11. __lift uo___ your feet when walking; you don’t want to trip! (uplift / lift up)
12. The tree was blown over_____ by the wind. (blown up / blown over)
13. He _took off____ his hat to show me his new haircut. (took off / took up)
14. I just can’t seem to ___get into__ this book. (get off / get into )