PHRASAL VERBS are a very important and frequently occurring feature of the English language. They consist of a verb and at least one other word, usually a preposition. Generally it is more or less impossible to see any obvious connection between the various parts of the verb and the meaning. They are therefore best learnt in whole sentences. Quite often speakers of Latin based languages can make themselves understood using a Latin alternative, but to understand native speakers it is essential to know phrasal verbs as these are nearly always the chosen form for a native speaker. 

You will see that the object pronoun comes in the middle some phrasal verbs but that if the object is a noun it follows. Objects are shown in red to draw your attention to them. There are owhichther phrasal verbs are never split. You should always learn them as phrases so that you instinctively get the word order right as there is really no logical rule.

 Click on letter to go to that list

B  C  D  E   F  G  H  J K L M N O P Q R S T U  V  W  X  Y  Z

New additions will be on coloured background. Scroll down to see new ones.

catch up with s.o. 

to reach s.o. who was ahead of one.

 

She saw George walking down the street ahead of her and ran and caught up with him.

cater for  

to provide what is required for particular people

 

That restaurant doesn't cater for large parties

cater to  

to to give in to someone's  [usually undesirable] wishes

 

Her father spoils her. He caters to her every whim

check sth. out  

to have a look at sth. to see if it will be useful etc.

 

Have you seen that new garage that is offering petrol at cut price?

No, I'll check it out when I go to town.

come through

 survive

come through - trans

 pull through - intrans

 

Although she is old, she is tough. She came through pleurisy last year

 

 

come across sth.

to find sth. when not actually looking for it.

When I was cleaning the house yesterday I came across my school report that I got when I was nine.

 

 

cool down  [intrans]

to become less angry

  

He was furious at first but after a while he cooled down.

cope with     

deal with sth that might be difficult

 

She is coping very well with her difficult mother-in-law

 to cough up

 to pay unwillingly. Usually an instruction.

 

 Come on, you asked me to buy it so cough up.

 

You owe me ten pounds and I'm still waiting to be paid. So cough up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued

 When the next selection is added, new verbs will appear with a green background.

 

 

 

Index of other hints and practice for learners of English

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