Are you one of those who hear the word phrasal verbs and tremble? We understand you, it is not for less. Learning how phrasal verbs work is one of the great challenges for anyone trying to improve the language. They are one of the aspects most hated and feared in equal parts by English students since it is very difficult to learn them all and yet it is very easy to make mistakes since also the same phrasal verb can have more than one meaning.


You can always not use them, of course, forget that they exist and use other verbs instead, but keep in mind that natives use them constantly in conversations. And you want to look native, right?


To avoid having to study a list with two hundred verbs and in order to make your life a little easier, we are going to help you with this list that we have made with the most used phrasal verbs in English. A list with only the most common and practical for everyday life, so that they are useful in your routine and especially when having a conversation in English.


💡Table of contents


1 What is a phrasal verb?

2 The most used phrasal verb in everyday life

3 Other important Phrasal verbs

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a compound verb formed by the combination of a verb and an adverb or a preposition, or also by a verb followed by an adverb and a preposition.


For example, look means to look, but if we add for to the verb ( look for ), we have to search. As if phrasal verbs were not difficult enough on their own, it should be added that the same phrasal verb can have more than one meaning. But don't worry, that is precisely why we show you the most used phrasal verbs. 


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Party friends

The most used phrasal verbs in everyday life

Be about to

Meaning: to be about to (do or happen something)


Examples:


When we arrived at the cinema the film was about to begin


Be out of

Meaning: run out of something


Examples:


We are out of pizza for supper! Can you go to the shop and get any?


Relaxing girl

Be over

Meaning: finish, finish


Examples:


In two hours the exam will be over and we will finally get some rest


Break down

Meaning: stop working, break down


Examples:


The car broke down only 20km away from their destination


Come on

Meaning: Come on, let's go!


Examples:


Come on to the party!


More versatile than come in (enter) Its meaning varies from a positive "Let's go!" or "Let's go!" even a sarcastic "come on ..." or "that's fine", especially if you add a new already at the end.


Come are a verb of the most common phrasal verbs and its use in songs, series, and movies make it one of the most well-known expressions in English, so you should know the 12 essential phrasal verbs with come that you need to know, especially for a party.


The most common phrasal verbs

Come up (with)

Meaning: Come up means to happen unexpectedly, to arise, and if we add with, it means to occur (an idea, solution ...).


Examples:


A problem came up and I had to stay at work until late.


Remember our problem? Well, Ana has come up with a great solution!


Do without

Meaning:


Get by without something or someone, survive


Examples:


There's no more chocolate, so I guess we'll just have to do without


Get back to

Meaning: " back", "back" or "recover", but if you add to s eans "someone answer a call or email" and if you add at means revenge on someone.


Examples:


If I don't get back to you later, call me tomorrow


I will get back at Laura


Let me check out some numbers and I will get back to you with an answer this afternoon.


The most used phrasal verbs

Get on / Get off

Meaning: continue, get on / off. Get on and Get off are often used to talk about public transport, but also Get off means "stop working" so yes, you will want to use it a lot in day-to-day speech.


Examples:


I ignored their conversation and got on with my work.


I get on the bus at Market Square.


We get off at the last stop


I'll give you a call when I get off, at around 8 pm


Go on

Meaning: to happen, to pass, to continue, to last, to continue, to be based on, to criticize someone continuously, to start doing something after having done something else ... Better read the examples of these 10 phrasal verbs with go to be leftover. If you say Go on with, it means, whatever happens, you have to follow the established plan.

Examples:


I'm sorry. What were you saying? Go on.


What's going on?


You should go on with our plan. Don't let me down.


I thought it would be a typical concert, but it went on for more than three hours. It was horrible!


Dumbledore didn't see what happened, he's just going on what Snape told him


Gollum is always going on at Sam about the clothes she wears


After visiting Aragorn, we will go on to my cousin's, Harry Potter


Pub

Go out

Meaning:


It can mean to go off or go extinct, but it is also used a lot to refer to dates, events, and social activities. If it is accompanied by with, it is more specific, it means "to accompany" or to go out and have a relationship with someone.


Examples:


We're going out this evening.


Hermione'll go out to France to finish his master's degree in magic


Aragorn and Arwen went out with each other for 3 years before they got engaged


Hurry up

Meaning: hurry up


Examples:


Hurry up or we will never make it in time!


Look forward to

Meaning: wanting something to happen. Do not confuse with look for (search ) It is the typical phrase that they always recommend to put in the letters when saying goodbye in English.


Examples:


I'm really looking forward to my holiday


I look forward to seeing you this summer


The most common phrasal verbs

Lookout

Meaning: be careful


Examples:


Look out! You're going to fall!


Makeup

Meaning: recover, although it is also used a lot to reconcile, invent or make up.


Examples:


We are making up for a lost time.


They were angry with each other, but they made up yesterday


Pick up

Meaning: to pick up (the opposite of drop off, to leave someone in a place), although it also means «to learn by chance.


Examples:


Can you pick me up at the train station?


The most common phrasal verbs

Put on

Meaning: to put on, turn on, get fat


Examples:


Put on your coat before you go out.


It's dark. Can you put on the light, please?


He looks like he's put on weight.


Turn on / off

Meaning: turn on / off.


Examples:


Can you turn the lights on when you arrive, please?


Can you turn the lights off when you leave, please?


Turn out

Meaning: occur differently than expected, present, result.


Examples:


As it turns out, John didn't get the job in Advertising -he is going to Australia for a gap year instead.


Lola turned out to be an old friend of my cousin


Turn up

Meaning: to arrive or appear


Examples:


Mike hasn't turned up yet. Do any of you know where is he?