Phrasal verbs are best learned in groups tied to a real situation, not as a random alphabetical list. Here's a working set organised by where you'd actually use them.
Work & tasks
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| carry out (separable) | to do or complete a task | We carried out the plan as scheduled. |
| put off (separable) | to postpone | Let's put off the meeting until Monday. |
| take on (separable) | to accept responsibility for something | She took on a new project this month. |
| fill in (separable) | to complete a form; to substitute for someone | Please fill in the form / He filled in for me while I was away. |
| burn out (intransitive) | to become exhausted from overwork | He burned out after months of overtime. |
| catch up on (inseparable) | to do something you've fallen behind on | I need to catch up on emails. |
Daily life & routines
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wake up (intransitive) | to stop sleeping | I woke up early today. |
| get up (intransitive) | to get out of bed | She gets up at 6 a.m. |
| run out of (inseparable) | to have no more of something | We ran out of milk. |
| throw away (separable) | to discard | Throw away the old receipts. |
| clean up (separable) | to tidy | Can you clean up the kitchen? |
| look after (inseparable) | to take care of | She looks after her grandmother. |
| turn on / turn off (separable) | to activate / deactivate | Turn off the lights before you leave. |
Travel
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| check in (intransitive) | to register at a hotel/airport | We checked in two hours before the flight. |
| check out (intransitive) | to leave a hotel, settling the bill | Checkout is at 11 a.m. |
| set off (intransitive) | to begin a journey | We set off at dawn. |
| get around (inseparable) | to travel within a place | It's easy to get around the city by metro. |
| take off (intransitive, of a plane) | to leave the ground | The flight took off on time. |
| drop off (separable) | to leave someone/something somewhere | Can you drop me off at the station? |
Communication & relationships
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bring up (separable) | to mention a topic | She brought up the budget in the meeting. |
| get along with (inseparable) | to have a good relationship with | I get along with my colleagues well. |
| fall out (intransitive) | to argue and stop being friends | They fell out over money. |
| make up (separable) | to resolve an argument; to invent | They made up after the fight. / He made up an excuse. |
| speak up (intransitive) | to talk louder or more assertively | Could you speak up? I can't hear you. |
| point out (separable) | to draw attention to something | She pointed out a mistake in the report. |
Problem-solving & decisions
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| look into (inseparable) | to investigate | We're looking into the issue. |
| figure out (separable) | to understand or solve | I finally figured out the problem. |
| come up with (inseparable) | to think of an idea or solution | She came up with a great idea. |
| work out (intransitive/separable) | to succeed; to calculate | Everything worked out in the end. / Work out the total cost. |
| give up (separable/intransitive) | to stop trying | Don't give up on your goals. |
| put up with (inseparable) | to tolerate | I can't put up with this noise anymore. |
Separable vs. inseparable: why it matters
With separable phrasal verbs, a noun object can go either before or after the particle, but a pronoun object must go between the verb and particle: "turn off the light" or "turn the light off" are both fine, but only "turn it off" is correct — never "turn off it."
Common mistake: Using a phrasal verb's literal meaning when the idiomatic meaning is intended, or vice versa. "Look into" almost always means "investigate," not "look inside a container" — context tells you which sense is meant.
How to learn phrasal verbs efficiently
- Learn them in full example sentences, never as isolated word pairs.
- Group new phrasal verbs by theme or situation, like the tables above — it mirrors how you'll actually need to recall them.
- Notice them while listening or reading, rather than only studying lists — real exposure builds intuition for natural use.
Keep learning: browse more Phrasal Verbs notes or head back to the homepage to explore other subjects.
Related notes: