Phrasal Verbs — Grammar Fiche
1. Definition and Rule
A phrasal verb is a combination of a main verb and one or more particles — words that function as adverbs or prepositions — that work together as a single unit with a meaning that is entirely new and idiomatic. This combined meaning cannot be deduced by simply adding up the meanings of the individual words.
For example, pick up does not mean the literal act of picking something in an upward direction — it means to collect or lift something. Likewise, run into means to encounter someone by chance, not to run physically into an obstacle. This non-literal, idiomatic character is the defining feature of all phrasal verbs.
Phrasal verbs are central to natural English and appear constantly in spoken conversation, informal writing, reading passages, and listening exercises — including in the Baccalaureate exam. Mastering them is therefore not optional but essential.
2. Form and Structure
Basic Patterns
Phrasal verbs are built according to four main structural patterns:
- Verb + Adverb particle: get up, show up, work out
- Verb + Preposition: give up, look after, deal with
- Verb + Particle (adverb or preposition): wake up, turn off, come across
- Verb + Particle + Preposition (three-word phrasal verbs): look forward to, put up with, get along with
Common Particles
The most frequently used particles in phrasal verbs include: up, down, on, off, in, out, away, over, back, through, forward, about, at, by, under. Remember: a combination of verb + preposition-like word is only a phrasal verb when together they produce a new, idiomatic meaning.
Conjugation Rule
Only the base verb changes to reflect tense, person, or number. The particle always stays the same:
- Present: She picks up her bag every morning.
- Past: She picked up her bag yesterday.
- Future: She will pick up her bag tomorrow.
Transitive vs. Intransitive
Phrasal verbs are first divided into two groups based on whether they need a direct object:
Intransitive phrasal verbs take no direct object and are always inseparable. The verb and particle must remain together. Examples: wake up, sit down, grow up, show up, break down.
He turned up unexpectedly at the meeting.
The car broke down on the motorway.
Transitive phrasal verbs require a direct object (a noun or pronoun answering "what?" or "whom?"). They are further divided into separable and inseparable types.
Can you fill out the form before leaving?
She finally got over her illness.
Separable vs. Inseparable Transitive Phrasal Verbs
Separable phrasal verbs allow the object to be placed either after the particle or between the verb and the particle — both positions are correct when the object is a noun:
Turn off the television. / Turn the television off. (both correct)
Write down his number. / Write his number down. (both correct)
However, when the object is a personal pronoun (it, them, me, him, her, us), it must go between the verb and the particle — never after the particle:
Turn it off. (correct) — NOT: Turn off it. (incorrect)
Pick them up. (correct) — NOT: Pick up them. (incorrect)
Inseparable phrasal verbs require the object to always follow the complete phrasal verb. The particle can never be split from the verb, even with a pronoun:
I look after my younger siblings. (correct) — NOT: I look my siblings after. (incorrect)
Can you deal with this problem? (correct) — NOT: Can you deal this problem with? (incorrect)
Important: All three-word phrasal verbs (verb + particle + preposition) are always inseparable, without exception:
I can't put up with this noise. (correct) — NOT: I can't put this noise up with. (incorrect)
We're looking forward to the holiday. (correct) — NOT: We're looking the holiday forward to. (incorrect)
3. Uses
Phrasal verbs serve several important communicative functions in English:
- Describing everyday actions: Phrasal verbs dominate informal English for talking about daily routines, relationships, and ordinary practical matters (e.g., wake up, get dressed, pick up, find out).
- Informal spoken and written communication: Phrasal verbs are characteristic of casual speech, informal writing, personal narratives, and dialogue. In formal contexts such as academic essays or official letters, single-word equivalents are preferred (e.g., abandon instead of give up; determine instead of find out).
- Expressing multiple meanings depending on context: The same phrasal verb can carry different meanings. For example, take off can mean to remove clothing, to depart (of an aircraft), or to become successful. Context always determines the correct interpretation.
- Conveying metaphorical or figurative ideas: Many phrasal verbs extend a physical action into an abstract meaning. Get over, which literally suggests passing over something, idiomatically means to recover from an illness or emotional difficulty.
- Listening and reading comprehension: Because native English speakers use phrasal verbs constantly in films, podcasts, news reports, and conversations, recognising them accurately is a key comprehension skill tested in the Baccalaureate exam.
4. Worked Examples
Intransitive (no object)
I woke up at six o'clock and immediately got up to prepare for school.
Everyone stood up when the headteacher entered the room.
My best friend grew up in a small village near Marrakech.
Transitive Separable (noun object — two positions possible)
Please turn off the lights before you leave. / Please turn the lights off before you leave.
She wrote down the homework assignment. / She wrote the homework assignment down.
Transitive Separable (pronoun object — one position only: between verb and particle)
Don't throw away the old notes — look them up again before the exam.
I lost my keys, but I finally picked them up from the office.
Transitive Inseparable (object always follows the complete phrasal verb)
She looks after her younger brother every afternoon while their parents are at work.
I ran into an old classmate at the market last weekend — what a surprise!
Do you get along with all of your classmates, or are there tensions in the group?
Three-Word Phrasal Verbs (always inseparable)
We are really looking forward to the end-of-year trip to Essaouira.
It is very hard to put up with constant noise when you are trying to study.
The team came up with a brilliant solution to the problem in just ten minutes.
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1 — Separating an inseparable phrasal verb
Wrong: I look my sister after every evening.
Correct: I look after my sister every evening.
Why it happens: Students apply the separable pattern to verbs like look after, deal with, and get over, which are always inseparable.
Mistake 2 — Placing a pronoun object after the particle in a separable verb
Wrong: Turn off it. / Pick up them.
Correct: Turn it off. / Pick them up.
Why it happens: This is one of the most frequent errors at intermediate level. When the object is a personal pronoun, it must always go between the verb and particle — this rule has no exceptions in separable phrasal verbs.
Mistake 3 — Confusing phrasal verbs that share the same base verb
Many base verbs combine with multiple particles to produce completely different meanings. For example: look after (to care for) vs. look for (to search for) vs. look up (to search for information) vs. look forward to (to anticipate with pleasure). Mixing these produces serious meaning errors.
Mistake 4 — Using phrasal verbs in formal writing
Wrong in a formal essay: The government should give up its plan.
Correct in a formal essay: The government should abandon its plan.
Why it matters: Phrasal verbs are characteristically informal. In academic essays, reports, or official texts, single-word equivalents carry the appropriate formal register.
Mistake 5 — Translating phrasal verbs word by word
Because phrasal verbs are idiomatic, direct translation from Arabic or French almost always fails. For instance, make up has no visible connection to its meaning of to reconcile after a disagreement. Each phrasal verb must be learned as a whole unit within a complete sentence, not broken into parts.
Mistake 6 — Inventing non-existent phrasal verbs
Students sometimes create combinations that do not exist in English by adding particles to any verb. While speak up is correct, a form such as "speak off" does not exist. Phrasal verb formation is largely unpredictable and cannot be systematised. Always verify a phrasal verb before using it.
6. Key-Point Callout
💡
Key points to remember: (1) A phrasal verb carries a meaning that is different from its individual words — always learn it as a single unit. (2) Only the main verb changes for tense; the particle stays constant. (3) With separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun object must go between the verb and the particle (Turn it off — never Turn off it). (4) Inseparable phrasal verbs and all three-word phrasal verbs can never be split — the object always follows the complete phrase. (5) Phrasal verbs are informal — replace them with single-word verbs in formal essays and reports. (6) Many phrasal verbs have multiple meanings; always use context to identify the correct one.
Quick Reference: Useful Phrasal Verbs for the Bac
Daily Life and Routine
- wake up — to stop sleeping
- get up — to rise from bed
- put on — to wear clothing
- take off — to remove clothing; also: to depart (aircraft); to become successful
- turn on / turn off — to switch a device on or off
Study and Work
- find out — to discover information
- look up — to search for information in a reference source
- fill out — to complete a form
- work out — to solve a problem; also: to exercise
- sort out — to organise or resolve
Relationships and Communication
- get along with / get on with — to have a good relationship with someone
- look after — to care for someone or something
- bring up — to introduce a topic; also: to raise children
- come across — to encounter or discover by chance
- get over — to recover from an illness or disappointment
Challenges and Decisions
- put off — to postpone
- put up with — to tolerate
- run out of — to exhaust a supply of something
- give up — to stop trying; to abandon
- come up with — to produce or think of an idea
- deal with — to manage or handle a situation
Exam Strategy Summary
In reading comprehension, use the surrounding context to infer the meaning of any unfamiliar phrasal verb — the particle often provides a directional or aspect clue. In writing tasks, use phrasal verbs freely in informal sections such as dialogues and personal narratives, but replace them with their single-word formal equivalents in essays and reports. In speaking, active use of phrasal verbs signals natural, authentic English and will strengthen your performance.
The most effective way to consolidate phrasal verbs is to learn each one inside a complete sentence, classify it immediately as transitive or intransitive and as separable or inseparable, and practise using it actively through writing and speaking exercises rather than memorising lists in isolation.