Phrasal Verbs Exercises
Do more with this exercise
What phrasal verbs are and how they work
A phrasal verb is a verb plus one or two particles (up, out, on, off…) whose combined meaning is often different from the verb alone: give up means quit, not give something upward.
- Form:
- verb + particle(s): wake up, look after, run out of
- Meaning:
- often idiomatic — 'turn down an offer' means refuse it
- Separable:
- some take the object between verb and particle: turn the music down / turn it down
- Inseparable:
- others never split: look after the kids (never 'look the kids after')
- Strategy:
- learn phrasal verbs in context and in topic groups, not as isolated lists
Examples
I woke up at six and got up ten minutes later.
wake up = stop sleeping; get up = leave the bed
She turned down the job offer because of the salary.
turn down = refuse
We've run out of milk — can you buy some?
run out of = have none left
Can you look after my dog this weekend?
look after = take care of (inseparable)
He gave up smoking two years ago.
give up = stop doing something
Practice exercises
Choose the correct phrasal verb
Select the phrasal verb that completes each sentence.
1.The plane ___ on time despite the storm.
2.I need to ___ this word in the dictionary.
3.She ___ a story about why she was late.
4.Our car ___ on the motorway, so we called a mechanic.
5.Don't worry, you can always ___ on me.
6.The fire alarm ___ during class, so everyone left the building.
Complete with the correct particle
Type the missing particle (up, off, after, out, on...).
Build the sentence
Click the words in the correct order — watch the position of the object.
13. Build the sentence:
14. Build the sentence:
15. Build the sentence:
16. Build the sentence:
True or false?
Decide if each statement about phrasal verbs is true or false.
17."She turned down it" is correct English.
18.'Give up' means to stop doing something.
19.The meaning of a phrasal verb is always the literal meaning of the verb plus the particle.
20.'Look after' and 'take care of' mean the same thing.
Phrasal verbs: why they matter and how to learn them
Phrasal verbs are one of the defining features of natural English. Native speakers use them constantly — often preferring 'find out' to 'discover', 'go on' to 'continue', and 'put off' to 'postpone'. A learner who avoids phrasal verbs can still be understood, but their English will always sound slightly formal and foreign. That is why examiners in Cambridge, IELTS and TOEFL speaking tests listen for them as a sign of fluency.
The biggest challenge is that phrasal verbs are frequently idiomatic: the particle changes the meaning in ways that are hard to predict. 'Look' means to direct your eyes, but 'look after' means to care for, 'look up' means to search for information, and 'look forward to' means to feel excited about something in the future. Trying to translate word by word almost never works.
Grammar adds a second layer of difficulty: word order. With separable phrasal verbs, a noun object can go in two positions (turn off the light / turn the light off), but a pronoun object must split the verb: turn it off. Inseparable verbs — including all verbs with two particles, like 'get along with' or 'run out of' — never split. When you learn a new phrasal verb, always note whether it separates.
The most effective learning strategy is contextual grouping. Instead of memorising an alphabetical list, group phrasal verbs by topic (daily routine: wake up, get up, put on; travel: set off, take off, check in) or by base verb (take off, take up, take after, take over). Write your own example sentence for each one — memory research consistently shows that self-generated examples are remembered far better than read ones.
Finally, accept that mastering phrasal verbs is a long-term project. Every exercise you complete adds a few more to your active vocabulary. The set on this page covers high-frequency phrasal verbs that appear in everyday conversation, exams and workplace English — a solid foundation to build on.
Frequently asked questions
What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or two particles (adverbs or prepositions) — like give up, look after, or run out of — that together create a meaning often different from the original verb.
What is the difference between separable and inseparable phrasal verbs?
Separable phrasal verbs allow the object between the verb and particle (turn the TV off / turn off the TV), and require it there when the object is a pronoun (turn it off). Inseparable phrasal verbs keep the verb and particle together (look after the kids, never 'look the kids after').
How many phrasal verbs should I learn?
Focus on the 100–200 most frequent ones first (get up, find out, give up, look for, turn on/off...). They cover the vast majority of everyday usage. Learn them in context — in sentences and topic groups — rather than from alphabetical lists.
Are phrasal verbs informal?
Phrasal verbs are common in every register, but they are especially frequent in spoken and informal English. In formal writing, a Latin-based synonym often sounds more formal: 'postpone' instead of 'put off', 'tolerate' instead of 'put up with'.
Can a phrasal verb have more than one meaning?
Yes, very often. 'Take off' can mean to leave the ground (a plane), to remove (clothes), or to become successful (a business). Context tells you which meaning applies.
Answer key
1. The plane ___ on time despite the storm.
Answer: took off
'Take off' means to leave the ground (for planes). 'Take up' = start a hobby; 'take over' = assume control.
2. I need to ___ this word in the dictionary.
Answer: look up
'Look up' means to search for information. 'Look after' = take care of; 'look out' = be careful.
3. She ___ a story about why she was late.
Answer: made up
'Make up' means to invent (a story, an excuse). 'Make out' = manage to see/hear; 'make off' = escape.
4. Our car ___ on the motorway, so we called a mechanic.
Answer: broke down
'Break down' means to stop working (machines). 'Break up' = end a relationship; 'break out' = start suddenly (war, fire).
5. Don't worry, you can always ___ on me.
Answer: count on
'Count on' means to rely on someone. It is inseparable — the object always follows 'on'.
6. The fire alarm ___ during class, so everyone left the building.
Answer: went off
'Go off' means to start ringing or exploding suddenly (alarms, bombs). 'Go on' = continue or happen; 'go out' = leave home for entertainment — or, for a fire, stop burning: the opposite of what happened here.
7. Please turn ___ the TV — the baby is sleeping.
Answer: off
'Turn off' (stop it) and 'turn down' (make it quieter) both work here — both mean reducing the noise.
8. I grew ___ in a small town in the mountains.
Answer: up
'Grow up' means to become an adult. "I grew up in…" is the standard way to talk about your childhood home.
9. She takes ___ her mother — they have the same smile.
Answer: after
'Take after' means to resemble an older family member.
10. The meeting was put ___ until next Friday.
Answer: off
'Put off' means to postpone. Don't confuse it with 'put on' (clothes) or 'put out' (a fire).
11. We set ___ early to avoid the traffic.
Answer: off
'Set off' and 'set out' both mean to start a journey.
12. Could you speak ___ a little? I can hardly hear you.
Answer: up
'Speak up' means to talk louder. It's inseparable here — you can't split it with an object in this meaning.
13. turned / she / it / down
Answer: she turned it down
With separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun object must go between the verb and the particle: turned it down.
14. after / looks / he / his little sister
Answer: he looks after his little sister
'Look after' is inseparable — the object always comes after the particle.
15. gave / smoking / my dad / up
Answer: my dad gave up smoking
With a noun object, separable verbs allow both orders; 'gave up smoking' is the most natural here.
16. out of / we / run / have / coffee
Answer: we have run out of coffee
'Run out of' is a three-word phrasal verb — the three parts always stay together.
17. "She turned down it" is correct English.
Answer: False
False — when the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle: "She turned it down."
18. 'Give up' means to stop doing something.
Answer: True
True — "He gave up sugar" means he stopped eating it.
19. The meaning of a phrasal verb is always the literal meaning of the verb plus the particle.
Answer: False
False — most phrasal verbs are idiomatic: 'run into a friend' has nothing to do with running.
20. 'Look after' and 'take care of' mean the same thing.
Answer: True
True — both mean to be responsible for someone or something's well-being.