Phrasal verbs are a fundamental aspect of English grammar, comprising a verb combined with one or more particles, typically prepositions or adverbs. These particles can significantly alter the meaning of the verb, often creating idiomatic expressions that may not be immediately apparent from the individual words’ meanings.

Here’s a breakdown of the components:

1. Verb: This is the main action word in the phrase. Example: give, take, put, get.
2. Particle: The particle can be a preposition or an adverb that accompanies the verb to form the phrasal verb. Example prepositions: up, down, in, out, on, off. Example adverbs: away, along, out, up, down.

When combined, the verb and particle(s) create a new meaning, often distinct from the original meaning of the verb alone. Phrasal verbs are extensively used in both spoken and written English, so mastering them is crucial for understanding and effectively communicating in the language.

There are two main types of phrasal verbs:

1. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs: These are phrasal verbs that do not require a direct object to complete their meaning.Example: “The car broke down.” (In this sentence, “broke down” is an intransitive phrasal verb, and “the car” is the subject.)
2. Transitive Phrasal Verbs: These are phrasal verbs that require a direct object to complete their meaning.Example: “She looked up the word in the dictionary.” (In this sentence, “looked up” is a transitive phrasal verb, and “the word” is the direct object.)

Phrasal verbs are highly idiomatic and often have multiple meanings depending on context, which can make them challenging for non-native speakers to master. Understanding phrasal verbs involves learning their various meanings and how they are used in different contexts. Additionally, phrasal verbs can sometimes be replaced by formal equivalents, especially in more formal writing or speech, but they are pervasive in everyday language and informal communication.

Here is a list of very common phrasal verbs:

Here are the phrasal verbs with their definitions and examples:

1. Break down: (of a machine or vehicle) stop working. Example: “The car broke down on the highway.”
2. Call off: cancel something that was planned. Example: “They called off the meeting due to bad weather.”
3. Come across: find or meet unexpectedly. Example: “I came across an old friend at the supermarket.”
4. Cut down: reduce in size or amount. Example: “I’m trying to cut down on sugar intake.”
5. Get along: have a good relationship with someone. Example: “Sarah and Tom get along very well.”
6. Give up: stop doing or believing in something. Example: “Don’t give up on your dreams.”
7. Go on: continue. Example: “What’s going on in the next room?”
8. Hang out: spend time relaxing or enjoying oneself. Example: “Let’s hang out at the park this weekend.”
9. Hold on: wait for a short time. Example: “Hold on tight, the ride is about to start.”
10. Look after: take care of someone or something. Example: “Can you look after my dog while I’m away?”
11. Make up: reconcile after an argument; invent a story. Example: “They made up after their argument.” / “He made up an excuse for being late.”
12. Put off: postpone; discourage. Example: “Don’t put off your homework until the last minute.” / “The bad weather put us off from going to the beach.”
13. Run into: meet unexpectedly. Example: “I ran into my neighbor at the grocery store.”
14. Set up: establish; arrange. Example: “They set up a tent for camping.” / “We need to set up a meeting with the clients.”
15. Take off: leave the ground; become successful or popular. Example: “The plane will take off in an hour.” / “The new app took off in the market.”
16. Turn up: increase in volume, intensity, or strength. Example: “Can you turn up the volume on the TV?”
17. Turn down: refuse or reject. Example: “He turned down the job offer.”
18. Put up with: tolerate or endure. Example: “I can’t put up with his constant complaining anymore.”
19. Bring up: raise a topic for discussion. Example: “She brought up an interesting point during the meeting.”
20. Look forward to: anticipate with pleasure. Example: “I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
21. Bring about: cause to happen. Example: “The new law brought about significant changes.”
22. Carry on: continue an activity or task. Example: “Carry on with your work; I’ll be back soon.”
23. Find out: discover or learn something. Example: “Let’s find out what happened.”
24. Look up: search for information. Example: “You should look up the meaning of that word.”
25. Take after: resemble a parent or relative in appearance or behavior. Example: “He takes after his father in terms of personality.”