Phrasal Verbs

ENGLISH

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Phrasal Verbs
A phrasal verb is a combination of a standard verb such as make or put. It is a
combination of first form of the verb with a preposition (V1+preposition).
A phrasal verb makes the language

 quick and crisp

 understanding to the beginners as well

 guessable for the new language learners.

Phrasal verbs extremely prevalent in daily usage. They are often used while
speaking informally.

Usage of Phrasal verbs in Language

 Phrasal verbs, in many cases, in their meaning cannot be deduced from its
elements. It is being used idiomatically i.e., its meaning does not change with
the change of the context. (Like Idioms and phrases)

 Many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning.

Common Mistake
There are difficulties in Grammar with respect to position of particles.
Example: The teacher put down the pen.—WRONG
The teacher put the pen down.—CORRECT

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Differences between Phrasal verbs

Made of Vs. Made up of

Made of Made up of

made of is used to show the composition of

made up of is used to show the composition
something when it is made of only one
of something when it is made of more than
material.
one material like wood, plastic, metal etc.
For example, if there is a chair and it is
We will say- the chair is made up of wood,
composed of only wood, we will say- the chair
plastic and metal.
is made of wood.

Example:

The chair is made of wood. The jewelry is made up of stones and crystals.

By Vs. Through

By Through

By is used to show a medium that actually Through is used to show digital medium like
exists like bus, train, etc. wire, phone, etc.

Example:

I go to the office by train. I was talking to her through phone.

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Hold on Vs. Hold up

Hold on Hold Up

It is used in general situation or on the phone to rob a bank or shop etc. at a gun point or to
to ask somebody to wait. delay or block the movement.

Example:

1) The robbers held up the bank as soon as it

Please hold on a minute while I inform my opened.
mother about my going out. 2) My money order was held up by the
postal strike.

Important Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs Usage Example

Set out present, describe, She set out the reasons for her resignation in a
detail/explain. long letter.

Run down stop (or cause to stop) If you leave your headlights on, you will soon run
functioning. down the battery.

Rope in enlist, engage, Everyone was roped in to help with the show.
persuade.

Stir up give rise to, cause, Whenever he is around, he always manages to stir
produce, generate. up the trouble.

Pull out withdraw, retreat, The project became so expensive that we had to
leave/disengage. pull out.

Level against direct (an accusation) The speech was intended to answer the charges
leveled against him by his opponents.

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bring gradually to a The government is winding down its nuclear

Wind down close, diminish/lessen, program.
dwindle.

Set back delay, hinder, impede. The spending cuts have set the project back for
several years.

Strike down abolish, annul, nullify (a The Supreme Court struck down the law passed
law or regulation) by the Parliament.

be disadvantaged, be
Lose out (on) deprived, fail to benefit Small businesses are losing out to the long chains.
from.

lose, be beaten, be
Go down defeated, suffer, Canada went down 3-1 to the Russian team.
collapse.

Water down moderate, mitigate, The law was watered down after it failed to pass
tone down. the legislature.

Borne out (Past

participle of bear support, confirm,
justify/uphold.
His version of events just isn’t borne out by the
facts.
out)

explain, give reasons The storekeeper was expected to account for any
Account for for, rationalize/ material removed.
elucidate

Strike back reciprocate, respond, When he called her lazy, she immediately struck
react. back by calling him fat.

Give in back down, give way, The champion refused to give in and went on to
give up. win the set.

Single out select, pick out, choose He was singled out as the outstanding performer
of the games.

Put together assemble, organize, A team of experts has been put together to
arrange examine the effects of global warming.

Carve out create, establish She carved out a reputation for herself as a high-
(something with effort). powered lawyer.

Hold someone I wanted to tell the truth but something held me

prevent, block, restrict back.
back

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Some more phrasal verbs

List of Phrasal verbs with ‘Fall’ in English

Phrasal Verbs Usage

Fall about Laugh so much that one’s entire body moves somewhat uncontrollably

Fall apart 1) Disintegrate

2) Be emotionally in crisis

Fall away Cease to support a person or cause.

Fall for 1) Be fooled; to walk into a trap or respond to a scam or trick

2) Fall in love with someone

Fall in Come to an end; to terminate; to lapse

Fall in with Join (a group of people)

Fall behind 1) Be late (for a regular event)

2) Be progressively below average in performance

Fall down Fail

Fall into Enter something without having planned it

Fall off 1) Become detached or to drop from

2) Diminish in size, value etc.

1) Experience; to suffer; to fall upon

Fall on 2) Be assigned to; to acquire a new responsibility, duty or burden
3) Occur on a particular day

Fall out 1) Cease to be on friendly terms

2) Leave one’s current location to report for duty at a new location

Fall through Be unsuccessful, abort, come to nothing/naught; to be cancelled; not to

proceed

Fall under Belong to for purposes of categorization

Fall upon Fall on; to experience; to suffer

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List of phrasal verbs with ‘Get’ in English

Phrasal Verbs Usage

Get about Become widely known

Get across Make an idea evident; to successfully explain a thought or feeling; put
over

Get after 1) Move into action in pursuit of something

2) Attempt to convince another to move into action

Get ahead Progress

Get ahead of Move in front of

Get along 1) Interact or coexist well, without argument or trouble

2) Survive; to do well enough

Get along with Have a good relationship with someone

Get around Move to the other side of an obstruction.

Get around to Eventually begin or return to some procrastinated task.

1) Understand or ascertain by investigation.

Get at 2) Attack verbally or physically; to annoy, bother
3) Persuade by intimidation, to tamper with.

Get away 1) Avoid capture; to escape (from)

2) Take a break from one’s present circumstances

Get into Become involved in a discussion, issue, or activity.

Get it Be punished or scolded

Get it on 1) Engage in a fight

2) Hurry up; to get a move on

Get it together To be well-organized and prepared

Get it over with Do or finish, especially said of something unpleasant

Get off 1) Disembark, especially from mass transportation

2) Stop (doing something), to desist from (doing something)

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