phrasal verbs
2 synonyms for phrasal verbs, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Verbs made up of a main verb plus one or two small words such as up, off, out or with, where the combination carries a meaning you could not work out from the parts alone — for example give up, look after, put up with.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
multi-word verbs
particle verbs
How to use phrasal verbs
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
separable phrasal verbs
common phrasal verbs
phrasal verb list
learn phrasal verbs
Grammar terminology; the singular is 'a phrasal verb'.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a phrasal verb and a prepositional verb?
A phrasal verb combines a verb with an adverb particle, which can often move to the other side of the object: 'turn the light off'. A prepositional verb combines a verb with a preposition that must stay before its object: 'look after the baby', never 'look the baby after'.
Are phrasal verbs informal?
Most are neutral in speech and writing, but many have a more formal one-word equivalent — put off / postpone, find out / discover. Academic writing tends to prefer the single verb.
Can you always split a phrasal verb?
No. Separable ones allow the object between verb and particle, and require it when the object is a pronoun: 'turn it off'. Inseparable ones, such as 'run into', never split.
