Making Phrasal Verbs Easy to Understand: The 50 Most Useful Phrasal Verbs to Learn
For many English learners, phrasal verbs feel confusing and impossible to remember. Why? Because they are made of a verb + a small word (preposition or adverb) that completely changes the meaning.
But here’s the secret:
Most phrasal verbs follow clear patterns, and the same small words often add similar meanings. Once you learn the most common ones, everything becomes much easier.
This guide explains phrasal verbs simply and gives you the 50 most useful phrasal verbs every learner should know.
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb = verb + particle (up, down, out, in, off, on, etc.)
Examples:
Some phrasal verbs are literal (easy). Some are idiomatic (meaning changes completely).
Why Learn Phrasal Verbs?
- Native speakers use them all the time.
- They appear in movies, conversations, and work emails.
- They make your English sound more natural.
- They replace longer phrases.
How to Learn Them Easily
- Learn in groups, not one by one.
- Connect the meaning to the particle:
- up → increase/finish
- out → remove/finish/away
- Learn with examples and short stories.
- Practice 5–10 per week.
The 50 Most Useful Phrasal Verbs (Simple Definitions + Examples)
A. Phrasal Verbs with “Up”
1. Wake up – stop sleeping
I wake up at 7:00.
2. Stand up – rise to your feet
Please stand up.
3. Give up – stop trying
Don’t give up!
4. Make up – invent / create / reconcile
He made up a story.
5. Pick up – collect / learn / lift
I’ll pick you up at 6.
6. Clean up – make clean
Let’s clean up the kitchen.
7. Hurry up – go faster
Hurry up, we’re late.
8. Grow up – become an adult
She grew up in Peru.
B. Phrasal Verbs with “Out”
9. Find out – discover
I found out the truth.
10. Work out – exercise / solve
They worked out the problem.
11. Run out (of) – have no more
We ran out of milk.
12. Go out – leave home for fun
Do you want to go out tonight?
13. Take out – remove / invite
Take out the trash.
14. Point out – show / explain
She pointed out my mistake.
15. Check out – look at / leave a hotel
Check out this video.
C. Phrasal Verbs with “On”
16. Turn on – start
Turn on the light.
17. Put on – wear clothing
She put on her jacket.
18. Hold on – wait
Hold on a minute.
19. Get on – enter transport / have a good relationship
We get on well.
20. Carry on – continue
Carry on with your work.
D. Phrasal Verbs with “Off”
21. Turn off – stop a machine
Turn off the TV.
22. Take off – remove clothing / airplane leaves
The plane takes off at 3.
23. Go off – explode / alarm starts
The alarm went off.
24. Cut off – stop / disconnect
The phone call was cut off.
25. Set off – start a journey
We set off early.
E. Phrasal Verbs with “In”
26. Come in – enter
Please come in.
27. Fill in – complete a form
Fill in your name here.
28. Join in – participate
Come and join in the game!
29. Give in – surrender
He finally gave in.
30. Break in – enter by force
Someone broke in last night.
F. Phrasal Verbs with “Down”
31. Sit down – take a seat
Sit down, please.
32. Calm down – relax
Take a deep breath and calm down.
33. Break down – stop working / lose control
The car broke down.
34. Write down – take notes
Write down the words.
35. Cut down (on) – reduce
I want to cut down on sugar.
G. Phrasal Verbs with “Back”
36. Go back – return
Let’s go back home.
37. Call back – return a phone call
I’ll call you back.
38. Pay back – return money
I’ll pay you back tomorrow.
39. Look back – reflect on the past
Don’t look back. Move forward.
40. Bring back – return something
Bring back my book, please.
H. Phrasal Verbs with “Away”
41. Throw away – put in the trash
Don’t throw it away.
42. Put away – store / clean
Put away your clothes.
43. Take away – remove
They took away his phone.
44. Go away – leave
Go away! I’m busy.
45. Run away – escape
The dog ran away.
I. Useful Everyday Phrasal Verbs
46. Look for – search
I’m looking for my keys.
47. Look after – take care of
Can you look after the baby?
48. Look out – be careful
Look out! There’s a car.
49. Turn around – change direction
Turn around and look.
50. Get along – have a good relationship
My classmates and I get along well.
How to Practice Phrasal Verbs
Here are easy methods to remember them:
✔ 1. Learn 5 per week
Slow and steady is better than learning 50 at once.
✔ 2. Make your own sentences
Personal examples help memory.
✔ 3. Use flashcards
Apps like Quizlet make it simple.
✔ 4. Watch English-speaking YouTubers
You will hear phrasal verbs in real context.
✔ 5. Practice conversation
Use phrasal verbs in chats, roleplays, or daily conversations.
Phrasal verbs do not have to be confusing. When you learn the most common ones, understand the logic of the particles, and practice a little each day, they become easy and natural.
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