Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are usually twoword phrases consisting ofverb

+ adverbor verb + preposition.
Think of them as you would any
other English vocabulary.
Like many other verbs, phrasal
verbs often have more than one
meaning.

Phrasal verb

Meaning

Example
sentence

asksomeoneout

inviteonadate

BrianaskedJudyo
uttodinneranda
movie.

ask around

askmanypeoplethe
samequestion

Iasked aroundbut
nobodyhasseenmy
wallet.

bringsomeoneup

raiseachild

My
grandparentsbrought
meupaftermyparents
died.

catch up

gettothesame
pointassomeone
else

You'llhavetorun
fasterthanthatif
youwanttocatch
upwithMarty.

give in

reluctantlystopfighting
orarguing

Myboyfrienddidn't
wanttogototheballet,
buthefinallygave in.

give up

stoptrying

Mymath
homeworkwas
toodifficultsoI
gave up.

cutsomethingoff

removewith
somethingsharp

Thedoctorscut
offhisleg
becauseitwas
severelyinjured.

cutsomethingoff

stopproviding

Thephone
companycut
offourphone
becausewe
didn'tpaythe
bill.

cutsomeoneoff

takeoutofawill

My
grandparentscu
t my
fatheroffwhen
heremarried.

putsomething together

assemble

Ihave
toputthecrib
togetherbefore
thebaby
arrives.

setsomethingup

arrange,
organize

Ourbossseta
meetingupwith
thepresidentof
thecompany.

take aftersomeone

resemblea
familymember

Itake aftermy
mother.Weare
bothimpatient.

turnsomethingon

starttheenergy,
switchon

It'stoodarkin
here.
Let'sturnsome
lightson.

look after someone/something

takecareof

Ihavetolook
aftermysick
grandmother.

put up with someone/something

tolerate

Idon'tthinkI
canput up
withthree
smallchildren
inthecar.