📚 Class 12 English Grammar
Phrasal Verbs
Complete Guide with 150+ Examples, Types, Rules & Exercises
Phrasal verbs are one of the most challenging yet essential components of English grammar for Class 12 students. These multi-word verbs combine a main verb with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) to create meanings that are often completely different from the original verb. Mastering phrasal verbs is crucial for CBSE Board exams, competitive exams, and everyday English communication.
📖 Definition
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles (preposition or adverb) that functions as a single semantic unit with a meaning different from the individual words.
Formula: Verb + Particle(s) = New Meaning
Example: "look" (see) + "after" = "look after" (take care of)
What are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs are idiomatic expressions that consist of a verb combined with a preposition, an adverb, or both. The meaning of a phrasal verb is usually idiomatic and cannot be understood by knowing only the meanings of the individual words.
Structure of Phrasal Verbs
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Two-word | Verb + Particle | give up, turn on, break down |
| Three-word | Verb + Adverb + Preposition | look forward to, put up with, get along with |
💡 Understanding the Difference
Simple Verb: "She ran quickly." (ran = moved fast on foot)
Phrasal Verb: "She ran into an old friend." (ran into = met by chance)
Simple Verb: "They gave money to charity." (gave = donated)
Phrasal Verb: "They gave up smoking." (gave up = quit/stopped)
Types of Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs can be classified into four main types based on their grammatical behavior:
1. Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs
Transitive Separable
These phrasal verbs take an object, and the object can be placed either between the verb and particle OR after the particle.
Pattern:
- Verb + Object + Particle ✓
- Verb + Particle + Object ✓
Examples: Transitive Separable
Turn off the light. = Turn the light off. ✓
Put on your shoes. = Put your shoes on. ✓
Fill out the form. = Fill the form out. ✓
⚠️ Important Rule for Pronouns
When the object is a pronoun (it, him, her, them, etc.), it MUST come between the verb and particle.
- ✓ Turn it off. (Correct)
- ✗ Turn off it. (Wrong)
- ✓ Pick them up. (Correct)
- ✗ Pick up them. (Wrong)
2. Transitive Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Transitive Inseparable
These phrasal verbs take an object, but the verb and particle MUST stay together. The object always comes after the particle.
Pattern: Verb + Particle + Object ✓
Examples: Transitive Inseparable
✓ Look after the children. (Correct)
✗ Look the children after. (Wrong)
✓ Run into a problem. (Correct)
✗ Run a problem into. (Wrong)
3. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs
Intransitive
These phrasal verbs do NOT take an object. They express complete meaning without needing an object.
Examples: Intransitive
The car broke down. (no object needed)
Please sit down. (no object needed)
He will show up soon. (no object needed)
The meeting was called off. (no object needed)
4. Three-word Phrasal Verbs
Three-word Phrasal Verbs
These consist of a verb + adverb + preposition. They are always inseparable and always take an object.
Pattern: Verb + Adverb + Preposition + Object
Examples: Three-word Phrasal Verbs
I look forward to meeting you.
She can't put up with his behavior.
We must catch up with the latest technology.
They ran out of money.
Separable vs Inseparable: Quick Reference
| Separable Phrasal Verbs | Inseparable Phrasal Verbs |
|---|---|
| bring up (raise/mention) | come across (find by chance) |
| call off (cancel) | look after (take care of) |
| fill out (complete form) | run into (meet unexpectedly) |
| give up (quit) | go through (experience) |
| hand in (submit) | look into (investigate) |
| make up (invent) | take after (resemble) |
| pick up (collect/learn) | get over (recover from) |
| put off (postpone) | look for (search) |
| take off (remove) | deal with (handle) |
| turn down (reject) | count on (depend on) |
150+ Most Common Phrasal Verbs with Meanings
Here is a comprehensive list of phrasal verbs categorized alphabetically for Class 12 students:
Phrasal Verbs Starting with A-C
Act up
Behave badly
"The children acted up during the trip."
Add up
Make sense; be logical
"His story doesn't add up."
Ask out
Invite on a date
"He asked her out to dinner."
Back up
Support; make a copy
"Please back up your files."
Break down
Stop working; collapse
"The car broke down on the highway."
Break up
End a relationship
"They broke up after five years."
Bring up
Raise (children); mention
"Don't bring up that topic."
Call off
Cancel
"They called off the meeting."
Calm down
Become peaceful
"Please calm down and relax."
Carry on
Continue
"Carry on with your work."
Carry out
Execute; perform
"They carried out the experiment."
Catch up (with)
Reach the same level
"I need to catch up with my studies."
Check in
Register at hotel/airport
"We'll check in at 2 PM."
Check out
Leave hotel; investigate
"Check out this new restaurant."
Come across
Find by chance
"I came across an old photo."
Come up with
Think of (idea)
"She came up with a brilliant plan."
Count on
Depend on; rely on
"You can count on me."
Cut down on
Reduce
"I'm cutting down on sugar."
Phrasal Verbs Starting with D-G
Deal with
Handle; manage
"She can deal with pressure well."
Do away with
Eliminate; abolish
"They did away with old rules."
Drop off
Deliver; fall asleep
"I'll drop you off at school."
End up
Finally be/become
"We ended up staying home."
Fall apart
Break into pieces
"The old building fell apart."
Fall for
Be deceived by; fall in love
"Don't fall for that trick."
Figure out
Understand; solve
"I can't figure out this puzzle."
Fill in
Complete (form); substitute
"Please fill in this form."
Fill out
Complete (form)
"Fill out the application."
Find out
Discover
"I found out the truth."
Get along (with)
Have good relationship
"She gets along with everyone."
Get away with
Escape punishment
"He got away with cheating."
Get over
Recover from
"She got over her illness."
Give away
Donate; reveal secret
"Don't give away the surprise."
Give in
Surrender; yield
"He finally gave in to pressure."
Give up
Quit; stop trying
"Never give up your dreams."
Go on
Continue; happen
"What's going on here?"
Go over
Review; examine
"Let's go over the lesson again."
Go through
Experience; examine
"He went through a difficult time."
Grow up
Become adult
"I grew up in Mumbai."
Phrasal Verbs Starting with H-P
Hand in
Submit
"Hand in your homework tomorrow."
Hand out
Distribute
"The teacher handed out worksheets."
Hang up
End phone call
"She hung up on me."
Hold on
Wait; grip tightly
"Hold on, I'm coming."
Keep on
Continue
"Keep on trying!"
Keep up (with)
Stay at same level
"I can't keep up with the pace."
Let down
Disappoint
"Don't let me down."
Look after
Take care of
"She looks after her siblings."
Look for
Search for
"I'm looking for my keys."
Look forward to
Anticipate with pleasure
"I look forward to seeing you."
Look into
Investigate
"The police will look into it."
Look up
Search in reference
"Look up the word in dictionary."
Make up
Invent; reconcile
"Don't make up stories."
Pass away
Die
"His grandfather passed away."
Pass out
Faint; distribute
"She passed out from heat."
Pick up
Collect; learn
"I'll pick you up at 5 PM."
Point out
Indicate; show
"He pointed out the mistakes."
Put off
Postpone
"Don't put off till tomorrow."
Put on
Wear; gain weight
"Put on your jacket."
Put up with
Tolerate
"I can't put up with noise."
Phrasal Verbs Starting with R-Z
Run into
Meet unexpectedly
"I ran into my teacher."
Run out of
Exhaust supply
"We ran out of milk."
Set up
Establish; arrange
"They set up a new company."
Show off
Display proudly
"Stop showing off your skills."
Show up
Appear; arrive
"He didn't show up for class."
Shut down
Close permanently
"The factory shut down."
Slow down
Reduce speed
"Slow down, you're driving fast."
Stand for
Represent; tolerate
"UN stands for United Nations."
Stand up
Rise to feet
"Please stand up."
Take after
Resemble (family)
"She takes after her mother."
Take care of
Look after
"Take care of yourself."
Take off
Remove; depart (plane)
"Take off your shoes."
Take up
Start (hobby); occupy space
"She took up painting."
Think over
Consider carefully
"Think it over before deciding."
Throw away
Discard
"Don't throw away old books."
Try on
Test by wearing
"Try on these shoes."
Turn down
Reject; reduce volume
"They turned down my offer."
Turn off
Stop (device)
"Turn off the TV."
Turn on
Start (device)
"Turn on the lights."
Turn up
Appear; increase volume
"He turned up late."
Wake up
Stop sleeping
"I wake up at 6 AM."
Work out
Exercise; solve
"Things will work out fine."
Phrasal Verbs by Topic
📚 Education & Learning
- Catch up with: Reach the same level (I need to catch up with my classmates.)
- Drop out: Quit school/course (He dropped out of college.)
- Hand in: Submit (Hand in your assignment by Friday.)
- Look up: Search in reference (Look up the meaning in dictionary.)
- Read up on: Research (Read up on this topic for exam.)
- Take up: Start studying (I took up French this year.)
💼 Work & Business
- Carry out: Execute (Carry out the project plan.)
- Call off: Cancel (The strike was called off.)
- Set up: Establish (They set up a new branch.)
- Take over: Assume control (She took over as CEO.)
- Work out: Solve; succeed (We worked out a solution.)
💻 Technology
- Back up: Make copy (Back up your data regularly.)
- Log in/on: Enter with credentials (Log in to your account.)
- Log out/off: Exit (Don't forget to log out.)
- Shut down: Turn off computer (Shut down the system.)
- Turn on/off: Start/stop device (Turn on the computer.)
🏠 Daily Life
- Clean up: Tidy (Clean up your room.)
- Get up: Rise from bed (I get up at 6 AM.)
- Put on: Wear (Put on your coat.)
- Take off: Remove clothing (Take off your shoes.)
- Wake up: Stop sleeping (Wake up early tomorrow.)
Important Rules & Usage Guidelines
📌 Rule 1: Pronoun Placement
With separable phrasal verbs, pronouns MUST go between the verb and particle.
- ✓ Turn it off. (Correct)
- ✗ Turn off it. (Wrong)
- ✓ Pick them up. (Correct)
- ✗ Pick up them. (Wrong)
📌 Rule 2: Literal vs Idiomatic Meanings
Many phrasal verbs have both literal and idiomatic meanings.
- Look up (literal): Look in an upward direction
- Look up (idiomatic): Search for information
- Break down (literal): Demolish physically
- Break down (idiomatic): Stop functioning; collapse emotionally
📌 Rule 3: Three-word Phrasal Verbs are Always Inseparable
Never separate three-word phrasal verbs.
- ✓ I look forward to the meeting. (Correct)
- ✗ I look forward the meeting to. (Wrong)
- ✓ We ran out of time. (Correct)
- ✗ We ran out time of. (Wrong)
📌 Rule 4: Passive Voice
Transitive phrasal verbs can be used in passive voice.
- Active: They called off the match.
- Passive: The match was called off.
- Active: Someone broke into our house.
- Passive: Our house was broken into.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence:
1. Please _______ the form before submitting it. (fill out / fill in / fill up)
2. I _______ an old friend at the mall yesterday. (ran into / ran out / ran over)
3. The plane will _______ at 9 PM. (take off / take on / take up)
4. She _______ her mother in appearance. (takes after / takes off / takes up)
5. Don't _______ your dreams no matter what. (give in / give up / give away)
6. Could you _______ the children while I'm out? (look after / look for / look into)
7. The meeting was _______ due to bad weather. (called on / called off / called up)
8. I need to _______ my notes before the exam. (go over / go on / go through)
9. It took me months to _______ the illness. (get over / get on / get by)
10. We _______ a brilliant solution to the problem. (came up with / came across / came along)
Exercise 2: Correct the Errors
Identify and correct the errors in these sentences:
1. Please turn off it. ❌
2. I look forward the vacation to. ❌
3. She looks children after at weekends. ❌
4. They gave the secret away. ✓ or ❌?
5. Pick up them from school. ❌
💡 Answers
Exercise 1: 1. fill out, 2. ran into, 3. take off, 4. takes after, 5. give up, 6. look after, 7. called off, 8. go over, 9. get over, 10. came up with
Exercise 2: 1. Turn it off, 2. look forward to the vacation, 3. looks after children, 4. Correct (separable), 5. Pick them up
CBSE Board Exam Tips
🎯 Top 5 Exam Strategies
- Learn in Context: Don't memorize lists. Learn phrasal verbs through sentences and stories.
- Practice Daily: Use 3-5 new phrasal verbs in your daily conversations.
- Focus on Common Ones: Master the top 50 most frequently asked phrasal verbs first.
- Understand Patterns: Identify whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.
- Create Flashcards: Make cards with phrasal verb on one side, meaning and example on the other.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Don't separate inseparable phrasal verbs
- ❌ Don't put pronouns after separable phrasal verbs
- ❌ Don't confuse similar-looking phrasal verbs (look for vs look after)
- ❌ Don't ignore the context – same phrasal verb can have multiple meanings
- ❌ Don't use phrasal verbs in very formal writing unless appropriate
📚 Recommended Practice
- Solve NCERT textbook exercises thoroughly
- Practice previous year board exam questions
- Read English newspapers and highlight phrasal verbs
- Watch English movies with subtitles
- Maintain a phrasal verb journal
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