Learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging, especially when it comes to mastering phrasal verbs. These combinations of verbs and particles are essential for effective communication in English. For EFL/ESL learners at levels A1 and A2, getting a grasp on some of the most common phrasal verbs can significantly enhance your language skills. In this blog post, we’ll cover 50 essential phrasal verbs for beginners along with example sentences to help you understand their usage in context.
50 Phrasal Verbs for Beginners
1. Call off – to cancel something
Example: The outdoor picnic was called off due to the rain.
2. Run out of – to use up all of something
Example: We need to buy milk; we’ve run out of it.
3. Look after – to take care of someone or something
Example: She looks after her younger brother after school.
4. Set up – to establish or create something
Example: They are planning to set up a new business next year.
5. Turn on – to start a machine, light, or device
Example: Can you please turn on the air conditioner? It’s too hot.
6. Turn off – to stop a machine, light, or device
Example: Remember to turn off the lights when you leave the room.
7. Take off – to remove something, like clothes or accessories
Example: It’s polite to take off your shoes when you enter someone’s house.
8. Put on – to wear something, like clothes or accessories
Example: She always puts on a jacket before going outside in the cold.
9. Wake up – to stop sleeping and become conscious
Example: I usually wake up at 7 o’clock in the morning.
10. Get up – to leave your bed after sleeping
Example: I need to get up early tomorrow for an important meeting.
11. Give up – to stop doing something, especially a habit or activity
Example: He decided to give up smoking for his health.
12. Take care of – to look after someone or something
Example: She takes care of her elderly grandmother.
13. Bring up – to raise a topic or a child
Example: He didn’t want to bring up that sensitive issue during the meeting.
14. Put away – to tidy up and store things
Example: After dinner, remember to put away the dishes.
15. Look for – to search for something
Example: I need to look for my keys; I can’t find them anywhere.
16. Look forward to – to anticipate something with excitement
Example: She looks forward to her summer vacation every year.
17. Break down – to stop functioning or lose control emotionally
Example: The car broke down on the way to the airport.
18. Pick up – to lift something from a surface or to collect someone
Example: Can you please pick up the books from the floor?
19. Show up – to appear or arrive, especially unexpectedly
Example: He didn’t show up for the party last night.
20. Turn up – to increase the volume or intensity
Example: Can you turn up the music a bit? I can’t hear it well.
21. Give in – to surrender or agree, especially reluctantly
Example: After a long argument, she finally gave in and agreed to the plan.
22. Take off – to become successful or popular quickly
Example: The new smartphone app took off and gained millions of users.
23. Calm down – to relax and become less agitated
Example: He needed a few minutes to calm down after the stressful meeting.
24. Find out – to discover information
Example: I need to find out when the next train departs.
25. Turn on – to start a machine, light, or device
Example: Can you please turn on the TV? I want to watch the news.
26. Turn off – to stop a machine, light, or device
Example: Remember to turn off the computer before you leave.
27. Carry on – to continue doing something
Example: Even in the face of challenges, they decided to carry on with their project.
28. Give back – to return something to its owner
Example: Don’t forget to give back the book you borrowed from me.
29. Look up – to search for information in a reference source
Example: You can look up unfamiliar words in the dictionary.
30. Turn down – to decrease the volume, intensity, or to refuse an offer
Example: She had to turn down the job offer because of the low salary.
31. Bring up – to mention or introduce a topic in a conversation
Example: He didn’t want to bring up his personal problems during the meeting.
32. Call back – to return a phone call or request someone’s return
Example: I missed his call, so I need to call him back.
33. Hang up – to end a phone call
Example: She accidentally hung up before I could finish talking.
34. Set off – to start a journey or trigger something
Example: They set off on their road trip early in the morning.
35. Give out – to distribute something, usually to a group of people
Example: They gave out free samples of the new product.
36. Take out – to remove something from a place or to go out to eat
Example: Let’s take out the trash before it starts to smell.
37. Run into – to encounter someone unexpectedly
Example: I ran into an old friend at the mall yesterday.
38. Show off – to display something proudly to impress others
Example: He likes to show off his new car to everyone.
39. Look after – to take care of someone or something
Example: She looks after her younger sister while their parents are at work.
40. Take after – to resemble or inherit traits from someone, usually a family member
Example: She takes after her mother; they both have the same eyes.
41. Break up – to end a relationship or separate into smaller parts
Example: They decided to break up after years of dating.
42. Turn in – to go to bed or to submit something
Example: I’m tired; I think I’ll turn in early tonight.
43. Hold on – to wait or keep something for a short time
Example: Please hold on for a moment; I’ll be right back.
44. Run out of – to deplete the supply of something
Example: We need to go grocery shopping; we’ve run out of milk and bread.
45. Look up to – to admire or respect someone
Example: She has always looked up to her older sister as a role model.
46. Take up – to start a new hobby or activity
Example: During lockdown, he decided to take up painting to pass the time.
47. Point out – to draw attention to something or someone
Example: She was quick to point out the mistake in the report.
48. Hand in – to submit something, usually an assignment or document
Example: Don’t forget to hand in your essay by Friday.
49. Get on – to have a good relationship with someone
Example: He gets on well with his coworkers; they often have lunch together.
50. Look out – to be vigilant and watchful
Example: Look out for cars when you’re crossing the street.
Phrasal Verbs for Beginners: Conclusion
Mastering these 50 phrasal verbs for beginners can significantly enhance your ability to communicate in English at the A1 and A2 levels. Remember, practice makes perfect, so try using these phrasal verbs in your conversations and writing to become more comfortable with their usage. As you continue your language journey, you’ll find that incorporating these essential phrasal verbs for beginners into your vocabulary will greatly improve your overall English language skills. Happy learning!
Learning phrasal verbs can be a bit challenging, but with consistent practice and exposure, you’ll become more confident in using them effectively. Keep in mind that context plays a crucial role in understanding the meaning of phrasal verbs, so pay attention to how they’re used in different situations. As you advance in your language journey, you’ll encounter more complex phrasal verbs, but building a strong foundation with these basics will set you on the path to successful communication in English.
