{"id":5217,"date":"2019-12-17T08:58:34","date_gmt":"2019-12-17T07:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baiby.com\/?p=5217"},"modified":"2025-05-28T09:22:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T08:22:08","slug":"phrasal-verbs-which-ones-are-the-most-common","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baiby.com\/en\/phrasal-verbs-which-ones-are-the-most-common\/","title":{"rendered":"Phrasal verbs: which ones are the most common?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phrasal verbs<\/a> are, for sure, the subject most student dislike from English. According to Cambridge Phrasal Verbs Dictionary<\/a>, there are around 6,000 and each of them has a different meaning. However, we do not need to know all of them and that is why we prepared the following list for you.<\/p>\n

The phrasal verbs you will find here are definitely the most useful ones. They might seem to be a lot, but if you use them, you will improve not only your written skills, but also your ability to understand (and follow) conversations. Are you ready?<\/p>\n

What is a phrasal verb?<\/h2>\n
A phrasal verb is a two-or-more-word-formula that is made up of a verb and another word or two, which is usually a preposition or an adverb. These words alone have a meaning that usually changes when we put them together.<\/p>\n
And that is, certainly, the most interesting thing of a phrasal verb: the ability of having different meanings.<\/p>\n
Moreover, it is important to add that there are different types of phrasal verbs:<\/p>\n
\n
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs<\/strong>: the ones with no direct object.<\/li>\n
Transitive Phrasal Verbs<\/strong>: the ones with a direct object.\n
\n
Separable Phrasal Verbs<\/em>: When we can put the direct object in the middle of the two words.<\/li>\n
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs<\/em>: When we cannot separate them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Key phrasal verbs<\/h2>\n
Now that we already know what we are talking about, let\u2019s go through a list with the most useful phrasal verbs and some examples that will help you understand their meaning better:<\/p>\n
Transitive and separable phrasal verbs<\/h3>\n
\n
blow up<\/strong>: Let\u2019s blow up the balloons for the party.<\/li>\n
bring up<\/strong>: The most difficult work for parents is bringing up children nowadays.<\/li>\n
call off<\/strong>: We had to call the meeting off.<\/li>\n
do over<\/strong>: The teacher told us to do our homework over.<\/li>\n
fill out<\/strong>: Fill out this application form to talk part in the course.<\/li>\n
fill up<\/strong>: They have to fill up the cups because they are empty.<\/li>\n
find out<\/strong>: My mother found out that dad had been planning a surprise party for her.<\/li>\n
give away<\/strong>: This actor decided to give away a large amount of his fortune.<\/li>\n
give back<\/strong>: I lent my friend a pen and he just gave it back to me.<\/li>\n
look over<\/strong>: Shall we look over the files again? I think there is a mistake.<\/li>\n
look up<\/strong>: If you are not sure of the meaning of this word, you should look it up in the dictionary.<\/li>\n
make up<\/strong>: Is that a real story, or are you making it up?<\/li>\n
make out<\/strong>: Can you repeat what you\u2019re saying? I just can\u2019t make it out.<\/li>\n
pick out<\/strong>: You need to pick out the colour that you like for your dress.<\/li>\n
pick up<\/strong>: I will pick my brother up from the airport when he arrives.<\/li>\n
point out<\/strong>: He pointed out his house so that we knew where he lived.<\/li>\n
put away<\/strong>: Paul\u2019s bedroom was such a mess that his father had to tell him to put his things away.<\/li>\n
put on<\/strong>: In summer, I like to put on my shorts.<\/li>\n
read over<\/strong>: The teacher told us to read over the lesson and correct our mistakes.<\/li>\n
set up<\/strong>: They set up the furniture in their new house and it looks really trendy now.<\/li>\n
take down<\/strong>: We should take down the paintings before we paint the walls.<\/li>\n
take off<\/strong>: Before taking a shower, we always take off our clothes.<\/li>\n
talk over<\/strong>: Let\u2019s talk over the important points before the meeting.<\/li>\n
throw away<\/strong>: I would like to be able to decide what to keep and what to throw away.<\/li>\n
try on<\/strong>: The bride tried on her wedding dress.<\/li>\n
try out<\/strong>: I tried out different cars before I could find the best for me.<\/li>\n
turn down<\/strong>: Every night we have to turn down the music.<\/li>\n
turn up<\/strong>: When I like the song, I turn up the radio.<\/li>\n
turn off<\/strong>: We turned off the lights so that no one could see us.<\/li>\n
turn on<\/strong>: We turned the television on to watch the movie.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Transitive and inseparable phrasal verbs<\/h3>\n
\n
call on<\/strong>: I am going to call on a friend in Paris.<\/li>\n
get over<\/strong>: Don\u2019t worry, you will get over your broken heart soon.<\/li>\n
go over<\/strong>: Did you go over your report to correct your mistakes?<\/li>\n
go through<\/strong>: We have been going through a bad time recently at home.<\/li>\n
look after<\/strong>: Grandparents usually look after their grandchildren.<\/li>\n
look into<\/strong>: The police will look into it and they will tell us something as soon as possible.<\/li>\n
run across<\/strong>: We were walking around the old town when we suddenly run across them.<\/li>\n
run into<\/strong>: Sarah ran into her boss in the hallway.<\/li>\n
take after<\/strong>: I wonder who I take after more: my mother or my father.<\/li>\n
wait on<\/strong>: It seemed strange to see my old boss wait on tables.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Intransitive phrasal verbs<\/h3>\n
\n
break down<\/strong>: The car has broken down again. It\u2019s the second time this week.<\/li>\n
catch on<\/strong>: She\u2019s still catching on after her sick leave.<\/li>\n
come back<\/strong>: He left one week ago and he will come back tomorrow morning.<\/li>\n
come in<\/strong>: They are trying to come in through the back door but it is closed.<\/li>\n
come to<\/strong>: I have come to understand that everything happens for a reason.<\/li>\n
come over<\/strong>: Why don\u2019t you come over for lunch this weekend?<\/li>\n
drop by<\/strong>: Drop by anytime you want, we are always at home.<\/li>\n
eat out<\/strong>: What we like about travelling is eating out in new restaurants.<\/li>\n
get by<\/strong>: Even if he doesn\u2019t speak perfect English, he gets by and is able to communicate.<\/li>\n
get up<\/strong>: Every morning I get up at 7 o\u2019clock.<\/li>\n
go back<\/strong>: I am sure I will go back to Paris soon.<\/li>\n
go on<\/strong>: The teacher heard a noise and she wanted to know what was going on.<\/li>\n
grow up<\/strong>: They grew up so quickly I didn\u2019t even notice.<\/li>\n
keep on<\/strong>: She tried to keep on dancing even if her leg was broken.<\/li>\n
pass out<\/strong>: Every time he sees blood, he passes out.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Now that you have this long list of phrasal verbs, try to use them day by day. You will surely learn them by heart and never forget them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The phrasal verbs you will find here are definitely the most useful ones. They might seem to be a lot, but if you use them, you will improve not only your written skills, but also your ability to understand (and follow) conversations. Are you ready?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[120,118],"tags":[440,398,365],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n

Key phrasal verbs<\/h2>\nNow that we already know what we are talking about, let\u2019s go through a list with the most useful phrasal verbs and some examples that will help you understand their meaning better:<\/p>\n

Key phrasal verbs<\/h2>\n
Now that we already know what we are talking about, let\u2019s go through a list with the most useful phrasal verbs and some examples that will help you understand their meaning better:<\/p>\n