Frequent Phrasal Verbs

Here you have a list of 53 phrasal verbs. You will find the definitions or synonyms. They are not translated. Try to use them in a sentence.

NOTE: "Sth" means "something" and "Sb" means "somebody".

Call off: to cancel

Bring up: to take care of a child who is growing up

Come across: meet or find sth/sb by chance

Come up with: to get sth that is needed or wanted / to produce an idea

Put off: to postpone / to cause dislike

Look after: to take care of sth/sb

Look forward to: to expect with pleasure

Look up to: to admire

Take care of: to supervise sth/sb

Blow up: to fill sth with air / to explode / to become angry

Back up: to make a security copy / to support sb

Be away: stay on holiday

Be down: be sad / upset

Be fed up: to be bored or upset of sth

Wake up: to stop being sleeping

Get up: to get out of bed

Call up: to make a phone call

Book in: to make a reservation

Calm down: to stop being angry or emotionally excited

Carry on: to continue

Die for: to want something a lot

Give up: to stop an activity

Hold on: to keep a position or condition / to keep your hands around sth

Log in: to enter a restricted area in a computer system

Log out: to exit a computer system

Look up: to search for sth in a dictionary or reference site

Mix up: to confuse

Move into: start living in a place

Pass away: to die

Pass by: to go past without stopping somewhere

Pay back: repay money

Plug in: connect machines to electricity supplies

Point out: make sb aware of sth

Turn up: to be found unexpectedly / to increase volume

Watch out: to be aware of sth dangerous

Turn on: to start a machine

Turn off: to finish the activity of a machine

Go on: To continue

Check out: to look at or find new information

Move on: to start talking or doing something else (new)

Run out off: to not have sth

Keep up: to maintain same speed as other

Get off: leave a train, bus or plane

Carry out: to do and finish a task

Turn (a)round: to move to the other direction

Get back: to return somewhere

Figure out: to think about something until you understand

Stand up – Sit down

Show off: to behave arrogant

Find out: to get information

Set up: to arrange or create

Take on: to be responsible for

Come in(to): to enter

COLLOCATIONS

Here you have some collocations. It is important to remember them. There are some expressions that need compulsory only one verb.
Have a look to the verbs KEEP, HAVE, COME, TAKE and MAKE.

KEEP

Keep a promise
Keep in touch
Keep someone
Keep quiet
Keep calm
Keep score
Keep a diary
Keep a secret
Keep a journal
Keep records
Keep away
Keep safe
Keep tabs on
Keep in mind
Keep your job


TAKE

Take a shower
Take a chance
Take a seat
Take part
Take time
Take a bite
Take notes
Take it apart
Take a vacations
Take a picture
Take an exam
Take a taxi
Take care
Take a risk
Take a survey
Take medicine


COME

Come to power
Come prepared
Come on time
Come to life
Come last
Come direct
Come cheap
Come up with
Come first
Come to a stop
Come close
Come late
Come into something
Come to an end


MAKE

Make a decision
Make lunch
Make an effort
Make room
Make clear
Make a noise
Make a choice
Make trouble
Make a mistake
Make an offer
Make a wish
Make love
Make payment


HAVE

Have a shower
Have a party
Have rest
Have a baby
Have a break
Have a dream
Have a fight
Have lunch
Have a meeting
Have fun
Have a talk

SOLUTIONS Phrasal Verbs for COMMUNICATION: EXERCISES

Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs. Use them only once.

1. I will CALL BACK when you are not so busy.

2. HANG ON a minute, I am not ready.

3. We always COME BACK TO the same point.

4. Please, leave a message and I will GET BACK TO you.

5. She wanted to ask his name, but something HELD her BACK.

6. HOLD ON a moment, please, I will put you through the marketing department.

7. He rang the office and ASKED FOR Martha.

8. The radio station had an open line on which listeners could CALL UP to discuss issues.

9. He asked me to help and I couldn't TURN him DOWN.

10. These are the sort of questions that I will be PUTTING TO the politicians.

11. The essay was full of complex ideas and it was hard to MAKE them OUT.

12. Hi there! How are you? I just wanted to TALK TO you.

13. Have you HEARD anything FROM Oliver since he went to university?


Exercise 2
Replace the underlined phrasal verbs with one from the list with the same meaning.


1. Can we go back to the point you raised earlier?   GET BACK TO

2. I can't work out why he did it.   MAKE OUT

3. I rang Stefan back the following day.   CALL BACK

4. Can you hold on for a minute or two?   HANG ON

5. Can I talk with you about this?   TALK TO

6. You can phone up and speak to an adviser at any time.   CALL UP

Exercise 3
Complete the sentences choosing the correct option.

1. Would you mind holding ON while I call Mr Smith?

2. He is not here at the moment. Can I ask him to call you BACK?

3. I will get BACK to you soon with my decision.

4. The photo is very unclear - I can't make it OUT very well.

5. He asked her to go to the cinema with him but she turned him DOWN.

6. I've got a proposal I would like to put TO you.

Phrasal Verbs for COMMUNICATION: EXERCISES

Exercise 1
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the phrasal verbs. Use them only once.

ASK FOR     CALL BACK     CALL UP     COME BACK TO     GET BACK TO     HANG ON     HEAR FROM     HOLD BACK     HOLD ON     MAKE OUT     PUT TO     TALK TO     TURN DOWN

1. I will __________ when you are not so busy.

2. __________ a minute, I am not ready.

3. We always __________ the same point.

4. Please, leave a message and I will __________ you.

5. She wanted to ask his name, but something _____ her _____.

6. __________ a moment, please, I will put you through the marketing department.

7. He rang the office and __________ Martha.

8. The radio station had an open line on which listeners could __________ to discuss issues.

9. He asked me to help and I couldn't _____ him _____.

10. These are the sort of questions that I will be __________ the politicians.

11. The essay was full of complex ideas and it was hard to _____ them _____.

12. Hi there! How are you? I just wanted to __________ you.

13. Have you _____ anything _____ Oliver since he went to university?


Exercise 2
Replace the underlined phrasal verbs with one from the list with the same meaning.

CALL ___BACK      CALL UP      GET BACK TO      HANG ON      MAKE OUT     TALK TO

1. Can we go back to the point you raised earlier?

2. I can't work out why he did it.

3. I rang Stefan back the following day.

4. Can you hold on for a minute or two?

5. Can I talk with you about this?

6. You can phone up and speak to an adviser at any time.

Exercise 3
Complete the sentences choosing the correct option.

1. Would you mind holding   OUT / ON / BACK  while I call Mr Smith?

2. He is not here at the moment. Can I ask him to call you   UP / BACK / OUT?

3. I will get BACK / OUT / ON to you soon with my decision.

4. The photo is very unclear - I can't make it OUT / UP / OVER very well.

5. He asked her to go to the cinema with him but she turned him  OUT / BACK / DOWN.

6. I've got a proposal I would like to put TRHOUGH / TO / WITH you.

Phrasal verbs for COMMUNICATION

Here you have a list of some phrasal verbs for communication. These are the most common ones.

Ask for
1. If you ASK FOR STH, you say you would like to have it.
2. If you ASK FOR SB when you are making a phone call, you say you would like to speak to him.


Call back ("Ring back" is a mainly British synonym)
1. If you CALL BACK, you go to see someone briefly for a second time.
2. If you CALL BACK, you telephone someone for a second time.
3. If you CALL SB BACK, you telephone them again in return for a telephone call they have made to you.


Call up ("Phone up" or "Ring up" are synonyms)
1. If you CALL UP or CALL SB UP, you telephone someone.


Come back to
1. If you COME BACK TO a particular subject, you mention or start to discuss it again.


Get back to
1. If you GET BACK TO someone, you contact them again after a short period of time.
2. If you GET BACK TO what you were doing or talking about before, you start doing it again. ("Go back to" is a synonym)


Hang on ("Hold on" is a synonym)
1. If you HANG ON, you wait for a short time. (INFORMAL).


Hear from
1. If you HEAR FROM someone or HEAR STH FROM them, you receive a phone call from them.


Hold back
1. If you HOLD BACK, or if STH HOLDS YOU BACK, you do not do or say something you want to do or say.


Hold on
1. If you HOLD ON, you wait or stop what you are doing for a short time.
2. If you ask someone you are speaking to on the phone to HOLD ON, you want them to wait.


Make out
1. If you MAKE STH OUT, you manage to see or hear it.  ("Pick out" is a synonym)
2. If you MAKE STH OUT, you manage to understand it.  ("Work out" is a synonym)
3. If you MAKE OUT that something is true, you try to make people believe it.


Put to
1. If you PUT STH TO SB, you say it to them in order to find out how they react to it.


Talk to ("Talk with" is a synonym from American English)
1. If you TALK TO SB, you have a conversation with them.


Turn down
1. If you TURN STH/SB DOWN, you refuse a request or offer.

SOLUTIONS FCE Use of English PART 2.1

1   One

2   Far

3   It

4   Every / each

5   Because

6   Like

7   Which / that  (remember "that" can be used instead of "which" or "who" when there are no commas in the clause)

8   As

FCE Use of English PART 2.1

After the tips we have read, here you have an exercise to practise. Good luck. Tomorrow the answers.

SOLUTIONS CAE Use of English PART 2

Remember in this kind of exercises it is used relatives pronouns, auxiliary verbs...
Here you have now the answers. If you still have doubts write a comment and I will help you.

9      anybody / anyone
10    like
11    make
12    for
13    by
14    have / stand
15    up
16    out / on

CAE Use of English PART 2

Continuing with the USE OF ENGLISH here it is the second exercise.
It consists in one text with gaps. You will have to fill in the text with ONE WORD but this time, there are no choices. Remember to pay attention to the whole sentence.
Phrasal verbs, collocations, verb patterns or auxiliary verbs are needed. Tomorrow you will have the answers.

FCE Use of English PART 2

Continuing with the USE OF ENGLISH here it is the second exercise.
It consists in one text with gaps. You will have to fill in the text with ONE WORD but this time, there are no choices. Remember to pay attention to the whole sentence.
Phrasal verbs, collocations, verb patterns or auxiliary verbs are needed. Tomorrow you will have the answers.

50 Phrasal Verbs

Break down – to fall apart; to have a physical or mental collapse; to itemize; to

decompose.

Bring about – to make something happen.

Bring back – to return; to return to consciousness.

Bring in – to yield as profit or income; to present (for consideration) formally; to

submit. (Also literal.)

Bring up – to mention a person or thing; to raise a child; to vomit; to (cause to) stop

quickly.

Come back –to (have) return(ed) to one’s origin/previous location; to retort; a

return success

Come down- to drop; to descend to someone through inheritance; to attack/scold

vigorously. (Also literal.)

Come in – to receive or acquire something. (Also literal.)

Come on – to hurry up; to follow; to flirt aggressively

Come out – to become; to turn out; to be presented/released to the public. (Also

literal.)

Come up – to happen unexpectedly. (Also literal.)

Carry on – to continue with something; to make a great fuss over sby or sth; to cry

and become out of control about sby or sth.

Carry out – to perform a task or an assignment.

Get back – to return; to repay one for a bad deed; to continue communicating with

someone at a later time.

Get on – to make progress; to agree or be friendly; to advance in age. (Also literal.)

Get out – to get free/away; to produce or complete.

Get up – to arise; to ascend

Give up – to quit; to surrender; to abandon hope

Go in – to take part in something; to make an approach, as before an attack. (Also

literal.)

Go off – to explode; to leave; to happen (as planned). 

Go back – to return to one’s origin/previous location; to break a promise

Go down – to be accepted; to happen. (Also literal.)

Go on – continue

Go out – to try out for something (usually sports); to go out of fashion; to go out

with someone for entertainment; to date someone. (Also literal.)

Go up – to increase; happening; to be in the process of construction. (Also literal).

Find out - discover; learn of; to discover facts about someone or something; to learn

a fact

Hold up –to rob someone; to offer; to expose; to support; to hinder; to wait. (Also

literal.)

Look back – to review past events; to return in thought. (Also literal.)

Look down – to regard with disdain or scorn; have contempt for. (Also literal.) 

Look up – to search for information; to become more prosperous. (Also literal.)

Make up – to put makeup on oneself; to repay or redo something; to create a story

or a lie from no facts at all; to compensate for 

Pick up – to clean/to learn/obtain/ to go faster

Point out – to select or indicate someone or something (from a group).

Put down- to write down, record; to attribute; to mercifully kill an animal.

Put out – irritated, bothered; to extinguish; to publish; to exert/apply.

Put up – to provide lodging for someone; to display or show; to offer something; to

build/erect something.

Set off – to cause to be ignited/exploded; to anger someone; to begin. 

Set out – to begin a journey or course; to define/describe; to design/plan; to

undertake/attempt.

Set up – to organize

Sit down – to encamp or besiege. (Also literal.)

Take on – to undertake/assume; to employ; to acquire; to show great emotion.

Take out – to take someone on a date; something made to be taken away (as in

food)/a restaurant that performs this service. (Also literal.)

Take over –to take charge; to assume control

Take off – to leave the ground and begin to fly; to become popular and successful; to

begin to chase something; to take a break from something; to withdraw or remove

from; to deduct.

Take back – to withdraw or cancel one’s statements; to regain ownership; to cause

to remember. (Also literal.) 

Take up – to accept someone’s offer; to begin to deal with an issue; to shorten a

skirt, dress or pants.

Turn out – to end satisfactorily; to send someone out of somewhere; to

manufacture/produce something; to be present/attend; to turn off/extinguish

Turn up – to appear; to search for and find something; to intensify or increase; to

happen/occur.

Work out – to settle/solve a problem; to turn out/to happen. (Also literal).

Phrasal Verbs: BE

BE

Be about to - Be on the point of doing something (Estar próximo a algo): "He's about to leave Spain"

Be after - Search for (Andar detrás de algo): "I am after the truth of this problem"

Be against - Be opposed to (Estar en contra): "He's against bullying"
Be along - Arrive (Llegar): "The next bus will be along in the next hour or so"

Be away - Be far from a place (Estar fuera, ausentado): "Sheila is away for the weekend"

Be back - Have returned after an absence (Volver): "Mr. Barter will be back in half an hour"

Be behind with - Be late with (Estar atrasado): "You are really behind with your rent"
Be down- Being depressed (Estar bajo de ánimo): "He's being down since his partner left him"

Be down to sb - Be sb's decision (Ser responsabilidad de alguien): "It's down to me to find a job"

Be down with - Be ill (Estar malo): "Steve is down with some bug. He won't come to work"

Be for - Be in favour of (Estar por algo a favor): "He's about to leave Spain"

Be fed up - Be bore, sick of something (Estar harto): "I am fed up of your complaints"

Be in - Be at home or at work (Estar en casa ): "They're never in. I always get their answerphone"

Be off - Be free from duty (Estar libre de obligaciones): "He promised to see me when he was off"
           - Go away (Irse, estar ausente): "She is off now. Call her later"
           - Have gone bad (Estropearse): "The milk is off; throw it away"
           - Be cancelled (Cancelarse): "The meeting for tonight is now off"
Be on - Be on duty (Estar con obligaciones): "They are on from 2pm to 6pm"
           - Agree (Estar de acuerdo): "We are swimming soon. Are you on?"

Be onto - Pursue (Perseguir): "He's very careful because the police is onto him"
Be out - Be away from home (Estar fuera e casa): "Mrs. Dennys is out at the moment"
            - Be mistaken, wrong (Estar equivocado): "The thief was out in the plan. He was caught"
            - Be published (Publicarse): "The book is already out"
Be out of - Have finished (Quedarse sin): "We are out of sugar and coffee. We need to go shopping"
Be over - Be finished (Acabarse): "The storm is over now"
Be up - Have risen (Levantarse): "She won't be up till 11am today"
           - Be happening (Estar pasando): "What's up?"
           - Be finished (Terminarse): "Time is up! Bring your exams"
Be up to - Be busy (Estar ocupado): "Mat is very quiet. Go and see what he is up to"
               - Feel able to (Sentirse dispuesto y capaz): "I'm not up to dealing with this issue again"
               - Be someone's responsibility (Ser responsable): "It is up to you to teach your children"


DO NOT HESITATE IN CONTACT IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT OR SUGGESTION
           

Modal Verbs

- They form the negative adding not to the modal verb.
- They form the interrogative without the auxiliary verb (They are their own auxiliary).
- They don't add -s/-es of third person.
- They are followed by infinitive without TO.

TYPES:

• ADVICE: Should, ought to, had better, be supposed to.

- For logic and advice or instructions: Should, ought to (they have the same meaning).
- To say the best option in a situation (stronger than the previous): Had better.
- To say the correct way of doing something: be supposed to.

• PERMISSION: Can, could, may, be allowed to.

- Asking for permission: can, could, may (very formal).
- Giving permission: can, may (not usually).          Note: couldn't is not used.
- About rules: Be allowed to.

• OBLIGATION: Must, have to, don't have to, needn't.

- Obligation by the person who speaks: must.
- When you oblige yourself: have to.               Note: both "must" and "have to" use HAD TO in past.
- Lack of obligation: don't have to, needn't.

• PROHIBITION: Mustn't.

• NECESSITY: Need to, didn't need to, didn't have to.

- Possitive form: Need to.
- Negative form: Didn't need to, didn't have to.

• ABILITY: Can, could, be able to.

- Present: Can.
- Past: Could.
- Other tenses: Be able to.

• POSSIBILITY/PROBABILITY: Must, may, might, could, can't, couldn't.

- 100% sure: must.        Note: past tense form is "must+have+Vparticiple" & "mustn't is not used.

- 50% sure, possible: may, might, could.     Note: past tense form is "modal+have+Vparticiple".

COULDN'T = IMPOSSIBLE                    MAY NOT/MIGHT NOT = POSSIBLE

- 100% impossible: can't, couldn't.     Note: past tense form is "can't/couldn't+have+Vparticiple".


Links to exercises:
Modal Verbs Advice
Modal Verbs Permission
Modal Verbs Ability
Modal Verbs Obligation
Modal Verbs Probability 1
Modal Verbs Probability 2
Modal Verbs Necessity
Modal Verbs Mix 1
Modal Verbs Mix 2
Modal Verbs Text Quiz
Modal Verbs Final Test

Infinitives Vs Gerund

GERUNDS
We use gerunds (verb+ ing):
- After prepositions
- As the subject or object of a sentence
- After certain verbs: enjoy, fancy, discuss, dislike, finish, mind, suggest, recommend, keep, avoid, miss, appreciate, delay, postpone, practise, consider, can't stand, can't help, risk, admit, deny, mention, imagine, tolerate, understand, involve, complete, report, anticipate, recall.

TO + INFINITIVE
We use to + infinitive:
- After many adjectives.
- To show purpose
- After certain verbs: agree, ask*, decide, help*, plan, hope, learn, want*, would like*, promise, can afford, manage, prepare*, demand, choose, offer, wait, would hate*, would love*, seem, expect*, intend, pretend, refuse, tend, would prefer*, deserve, appear, arrange, claim.

*We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.

BARE INFINITIVE 
We use bare infinitive (without TO):
- After modal verbs
- After "let" and "make" and sometimes "help"
- After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, feel, sense)
- After expressions with "why"

Video

Links to exercises:
Infinitive Vs Gerund 1
Infinitive Vs Gerund 2
Infinitive Vs Gerund 3

Statives Verbs

Some verbs are only used in simple tenses (not continuous tenses). These verbs are called stative or state verbs. They are verbs about liking or disliking something, mental states... but not actions. The verbs which show action are called dynamic.

Some verbs have both functions:

• BE: Is usually a stative verb but it can be used to show behaviour or acts. 

You are stupid (as a part of your personality)    -    You are being stupid (only now, not usually)

• HAVE: Used as a stative verb means own. Used as a dynamic verb is part of an expression.

I have a car (I own it)          -         I am having a great time (To spend time in a funny way)

• SEE: As a stative verb, see means with your eyes, understand. As a dynamic verb it means meet or have a relationship.

I see what you mean / It's dark. I can't see anything.      -      I'm seeing Rob tomorrow.

• THINK: It can mean opinion as a stative verb or consider as a dynamic verb.

I think the coffee is great.          -          I'm thinking about my next holiday destination. 

• TASTE: It can mean certain taste as a stative verb or the action of tasting as a dynamic verb. (It happens the same with smell, feel and look.)

This soup tastes delicious.          -          The chef is tasting the soup.

Here you have a list with the stative verbs and examples.

Video

Links to exercises:
Stative Verbs 1
Stative or Dynamic 1
Stative or Dynamic 2
Stative or Dynamic 3
Both Meanings

Regular Verbs

There are three different ways to pronounce the final –ed of regular verbs in past simple: /-t/, /-d/ and /-ɪd/. The pronunciation depends on the final sound of the verb in the base form.

After unvoiced/voiceless sounds such as /p/, /f/, /s/, /k/, /ʃ/, and /ʃt/ the final -ed is pronounced like /t/ as in the word cat. Note that the -e remains silent.

After voiced sounds such as /b/, /g/, /v/, /z/, /ʓ/, /dʓ/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /đ/, /r/ and vowel sounds the final –ed sound is pronounced like /d/ as in good. Note that the –e remains silent.

For verbs ending in /d/ and /t/ the final -ed is pronounced /Id/ as in the final two letters of the word did. Note here that the -e is not silent and this final /-ed/sound adds another syllable to the end of the verb.

Regular Verbs Pronunciation (Click to video)

Irregular verbs

83 MOST USED IRREGULAR VERBS: 

https://englishforgeniuses.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/lista-de-verbos-irregulares-en-inglecc81s.pdf

Links to list:
Irregular verbs 1
Irregular verbs 2
Irregular verbs 3
Irregular verbs 4
Irregular verbs 5
Irregular verbs 6
Irregular verbs 7
Irregular verbs 8
Irregular verbs 9
Irregular verbs 10
Irregular verbs 11
Irregular verbs 12
Irregular verbs 13
Irregular verbs 14
Irregular verbs 15
Irregular verbs 16
Irregular verbs 17
Irregular verbs 18
Irregular verbs 19


Links to exercises:
Irregular verbs exercise 1
Irregular verbs exercise 2
Irregular verbs exercise 3
Irregular verbs exercise 4
Irregular verbs exercise 5
Irregular verbs exercise 6
Irregular verbs exercise 7


Link to video:
Irregular verbs YOUTUBE