Do you know how to use verbs in phrases like pick the kids up, turn the music down and look after my cat?
Look at these examples to see how phrasal verbs are used.
This is the form. Please can you fill it in?
Why are you bringing that argument up now?
Police are looking into connections between the two crimes.
We need to come up with a solution.
Phrasal verbs are very common in English, especially in more informal contexts. They are made up of a verb and a particle or, sometimes, two particles. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb.
I called Jen to see how she was. (call = to telephone)
They’ve called off the meeting. (call off = to cancel)
In terms of word order, there are two main types of phrasal verb: separable and inseparable.
With separable phrasal verbs, the verb and particle can be apart or together.
They’ve called the meeting off.
OR
They’ve called off the meeting.
However, separable phrasal verbs must be separated when you use a personal pronoun.
The meeting? They’ve called it off.
Some phrasal verbs cannot be separated.
I came across your email when I was clearing my inbox.
(come across = to find something by chance)
The caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly.
(turn into = become)
It was quite a major operation. It took months to get over it and feel normal again.
(get over = recover from something)
We are aware of the problem and we are looking into it.
(look into = investigate)