A2 — Common Phrasal Verbs
Level A2
Everyday English
Verb + little word
Goal
Learn 20 very frequent phrasal verbs like put on, turn off and work out, so you can understand and talk about everyday actions more naturally.
What is a phrasal verb?
- A phrasal verb = verb + a small word (up, on, off, etc.).
- The small word is called a particle. It can change the meaning: take ≠ take off.
- Many phrasal verbs are used in spoken English and informal writing.
When you learn a phrasal verb, always learn it as a chunk with a short example, not as two separate words.
Form & notes
- Some phrasal verbs can be split: take off your shoes / take your shoes off.
-
Others stay together:
look after (❌
look the children after). - Use the correct preposition or adverb: run out of, pick up, throw away.
Don’t try to translate each part. Think about the whole meaning.
20 common phrasal verbs (A2)
1. put on
= start wearing clothes, shoes, make-up, etc.
I put on a warm jacket before I went outside.
2. take off
= remove something you are wearing
Please take off your shoes at the door.
3. turn on
= make a machine, light or device start working
Can you turn on the light? It’s dark in here.
4. turn off
= stop a machine, light or device
Don’t forget to turn off your laptop.
5. break down
= stop working (about a car, machine, etc.)
Our car broke down on the way to the airport.
6. break up (with)
= end a romantic relationship
Mia broke up with her boyfriend last month.
7. bring back
= return something to the place it came from
Please bring back my book next week.
8. get up
= leave your bed or move from sitting to standing
I usually get up at seven o’clock.
9. get along (with)
= have a good, friendly relationship
Do you get along with your neighbours?
10. give back
= return something you borrowed
I’ll give back your pen after the lesson.
11. give up
= stop doing something completely
She wants to give up smoking this year.
12. go on
= continue to happen or continue doing something
The meeting went on for three hours.
13. hang out (with)
= spend free time relaxing (often with friends)
We usually hang out in the park after school.
14. look after
= take care of a person, animal or thing
Can you look after my cat this weekend?
15. look for
= try to find something or someone
I’m looking for my keys. Have you seen them?
16. pick up
= lift something from a surface or the floor
Please pick up your toys from the carpet.
17. run out (of)
= have no more of something
We ran out of milk, so I went to the shop.
18. take out
= move something to the outside or to another place
Don’t forget to take out the rubbish tonight.
19. throw away
= put something in the bin because you don’t need it
I threw away my old shoes last week.
20. work out
= do physical exercise to keep fit
He works out at the gym three times a week.
Tip: make your own mini-phrases with each verb (for example, work out at home, run out of time) and repeat them aloud to help your brain remember the whole chunk.
Exercises:
Common Phrasal Verbs
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
It’s very cold today. Please
your coat.
Correct: put on — start wearing something.
2
In our house we always
our shoes at the door.
Correct: take off — remove something you are wearing.
3
It’s dark in here. Can you
the light?
Correct: turn on — start the light or device.
4
Before you go to bed,
the TV.
Correct: turn off — stop the TV, light, etc.
5
Our car is very old. I’m afraid it might
on the way.
Correct: break down — a car or machine stops working.
6
They argued a lot and finally decided to
each other.
Correct: break up (with) — end a relationship.
7
This old photo really
happy memories of school.
Correct: bring back — make you remember something again.
8
On weekdays I
at 6:30 to go to work.
Correct: get up — get out of bed.
9
I really
my new classmates; they are very friendly.
Correct: get along (with) — have a good relationship.
10
This is your pen. I must
it to you today.
Correct: give back — return something to its owner.
11
Learning a language is hard, but don’t
!
Correct: give up — stop trying.
12
The rain will
all night, so stay at home.
Correct: go on — continue.
13
In the evening I like to
my friends in a café.
Correct: hang out (with) — spend free time together.
14
I’m going away for a week. Can you
my dog?
Correct: look after — take care of someone or something.
15
I can’t
my wallet. I think it is in the car.
Correct: look for — search for something.
16
Can you
the children from school at 3 o’clock?
Correct: pick up — go and collect someone or something.
17
We
sugar. There is none left in the bag.
Correct: run out (of) — have no more of something.
18
Every evening I
the rubbish and put it in the big bin outside.
Correct: take out — remove something from a place (e.g. rubbish from the house).
19
Don’t
that letter. It’s important.
Correct: throw away — put something in the rubbish bin.
20
She goes to the gym three times a week to
.
Correct: work out — do exercise to be strong and healthy.
Common Phrasal Verbs
Match the sentences with the words
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