30 Phrasal Verbs that are Essential For Effective English Communication

Phrasal verbs need to be learned so that you are able to communicate well in English with native English speakers. Many of these phrasal verbs are included in the developing world of technology. A phrasal verb is a phrase which includes a verb and/or a preposition and/or adverb and even both. Many of these phrasal verbs now also include nouns.

Here are 30 examples of phrasal verbs and how they are used by Native English speakers in real-life conversations:

 

Print off – To print off a document, excel spread sheet or power point presentation

Log in – Connect to a computer using a username and password

Set up – To install new software on a computer or laptop

Scroll up/down –  To move up and down a text

Back up – To make a copy of what is on a laptop/computer in either ICloud or on an external hard drive.

To call back – Return the call to the person who rang you earlier but you could not
speak to at that precise time

To rattle on – To talk too much

To point out – To make a point about an issue or discussion that needs to perhaps be clarified further

Speak up – To give your opinion about a situation

Believe in – When you believe in something or other people believe in you that you can achieve a certain goal or do a certain task

Check in – Show your ticket at the check in desk at the airport when you are flying by plane or check into a hotel where you are staying

Check out – To depart from a hotel on the day you are due to leave

Check on – To check on something or someone who may need help

To brush up – To brush up or improve a skill eg improve a language which you have learnt already but not used for a period of time

Hurry up – Be quick as we or you are in a rush and could be late

 

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Grow up – A child will grow up to become an adult or you can tell a teenager or an adult to grow up when they are not being sensible and need to behave better than they are doing at the precise moment in time

Look up –  This means to look up a word in a dictionary you do not understand or to see someone you have not seen for a long time

Be snowed under – This means you have far too much to do

Hang on – Wait a moment

To run out – To have nothing left eg I have run out of milk

Use (something) up – Finish up the item eg use up the milk as we are going away on holiday

Come across – To find something that you have not seen for a while

To take after – To be like his or her mother or father

To set off – To start a journey

Settle down – Live in one place after for example being away travelling

Turn down – To turn down (or refuse) an invitation or to turn a sound down

Look forward – Feeling excited about an event in the near future

To put off – To try and dissuade someone from doing something or putting off
doing something oneself

Account for – To explain a situation

Aim at – To aim at a certain market or to aim for promotion

Phrasal verbs are an important part of day to day life – both in spoken and written English. When you learn these phrasal verbs, you will then find that you will use them without even thinking. Learning these phrasal verbs will also help you learn to speak English more fluently as they are used in all areas of English – in both formal and informal situations and for business and socially.