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Intermediate 📝 Grammar

Phrasal verbs 1

A phrasal verb is a verb + a small word (up, off, on, out) that together mean something new: give up = stop trying; look after = take care of..

1What is it?

A phrasal verb is a verb + a small word (up, off, on, out) that together mean something new: give up = stop trying; look after = take care of.

2Why do we use it?

Native speakers use phrasal verbs more than the formal one-word verb. Understanding them is the difference between “I understand English” and “I understand people”.

3The simple rule

Learn them as whole phrases with an example. Some can be split (turn the TV off / turn off the TV); with a pronoun, always split (turn it off).

4Formula

verb + up / off / on / out / after / into = new meaning

5Easy examples

Wake up.Stop sleeping
Turn off the light.Switch it off
Look after the baby.Take care of
Give up.Stop trying

6Everyday examples

I’ll pick you up at 6.Collect you
Can you put on the fan?Switch on
We ran out of milk.Have none left
Sorry, I’ll call you back.Return the call

7Kerala and India examples

The power went off during the match.Stopped
I grew up in Kannur.Spent my childhood
Let’s set off early to beat the traffic.Start a journey
My cousin dropped out of college.Left before finishing

8Common mistakes

Turn off it.
Turn it off.
Why: Pronoun goes in the middle.
I look forward to meet you.
I look forward to meeting you.
Why: Look forward to + -ing.
Please switch off the AC off.
Please switch off the AC.
Why: One particle only.

9Practice quiz

Question 1 of 4Multiple choice
Please ___ the lights when you leave.

10Speaking challenge

Speaking challenge

Describe your morning using 5 phrasal verbs: wake up, get up, put on, set off, pick up…

0:30

Say it out loud. Nobody is listening — that’s the point. Mistakes are allowed.

Finish this lesson

Do the practice quiz above, then mark it complete.

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