Purpose
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to correctly use six common English phrasal verbs in context.
Lesson Explanation
A phrasal verb combines a verb with a preposition or particle to create a meaning genuinely different from the individual words:
give up — to quit: Don't give up. look for — to search: I'm looking for my keys. turn on/off — to activate/deactivate: Turn on the light. get up — to rise from bed: I get up at 7am. run into — to meet by chance: I ran into an old friend. find out — to discover: I found out the truth.
The meaning of a phrasal verb genuinely cannot be guessed just from its individual words — run into has nothing to do with literally running, and must be learned as a complete phrase.
Practice Questions
1. What does “give up” mean?
View Answer
To quit.
2. What does “look for” mean?
View Answer
To search.
3. What does “turn on” mean?
View Answer
To activate.
4. What does “get up” mean?
View Answer
To rise from bed.
5. What does “run into” mean?
View Answer
To meet by chance.
6. What does “find out” mean?
View Answer
To discover.
7. Complete: “I am ___ my keys.” (searching)
View Answer
looking for
8. Complete: “Please ___ the light.” (activate)
View Answer
turn on
9. Complete: “I ___ at 7am every day.” (rise from bed)
View Answer
get up
10. Complete: “I ___ an old friend at the store.” (met by chance)
View Answer
ran into
11. Can the meaning of “run into” be guessed just from the words “run” and “into”?
View Answer
No — phrasal verb meanings must be learned as a complete phrase.
12. Complete: “I ___ the truth yesterday.” (discovered)
View Answer
found out