Phrasal Verbs (B1 Intermediate Lesson 12 Box A)

The ESL Teacher Kenn Podcast

Phrasal verbs are a common feature of the English language, especially in 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. There are two main types of phrasal verbs: separable and inseparable.

With separable phrasal verbs, the verb and particle can be apart or together. However, separable phrasal verbs must be separated when you use a personal pronoun. For example, “I didn’t want to bring the situation up at the meeting” 1. Here are some common separable phrasal verbs:

• Bring up = start talking about a particular subject
• Fill in = write information in a form or document
• Pick up = collect someone in a car or other vehicle to take them somewhere
• Turn down = to not accept an offer

With non-separable phrasal verbs, the verb and particle cannot be separated. For example, “Who looks after the baby when you’re at work?” 1. Here are some common non-separable phrasal verbs:

• Come across = to find something by chance
• Turn into = become
• Get over = recover from something
• Look into = investigate

To learn more about phrasal verbs, you can visit this link which provides interactive exercises and explanations for intermediate ESL students.