Phrasal Verbs
Learn the verb + particle combinations that make English sound natural — and the separable vs. inseparable rule the exam tests.
What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or two small words (particles) like up, off, on, with — together they create a meaning that’s often completely different from the original verb. “Look” means to see, but “look after” means to take care of someone.
ما هو الفعل المركب (Phrasal Verb)؟
الفعل المركب هو فعل مدمج بكلمة أو كلمتين صغيرتين (particles) مثل up, off, on, with — يشكلان معًا معنى مختلفًا تمامًا عن الفعل الأصلي غالبًا. “Look” تعني “ينظر”، لكن “look after” تعني “يعتني بـ”.
Separable vs. inseparable — the key rule
This is exactly what the exam tests: some phrasal verbs let you split the verb and the particle; others never do.
The object can go between or after the two parts.
Fill out this form. / Fill this form out.
With a pronoun, it must go between: Fill it out. (not “Fill out it”)
The object always comes after — never in the middle.
We are counting on the president.
We are counting on him. (never “counting him on”)
Key phrasal verbs from this unit
These appear often in reading passages and writing tasks about culture and relationships.
call off
put up with
get on with
let (someone) down
run out of
take after
look after
cancel
tolerate
have a good relationship with
fail to help, disappoint
have none left
resemble (a family member)
take care of
She takes after her mother — same smile, same sense of humour.
It’s part of our tradition to look after older family members.
More useful phrasal verbs
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
She’ll come into a large inheritance after her father passes away.
Common mistakes to avoid
❌ Fill out it. → ✅ Fill it out. (with a pronoun, separable verbs must split)
❌ I can’t put with this noise. → ✅ I can’t put up with this noise. (don’t drop part of a three-word phrasal verb)
Your turn — choose the correct form
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1. The event was ___ due to the bad weather.
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2. She ___ her mother a lot in personality.
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3. Choose the correct sentence.
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4. I can’t ___ this noise any longer.
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5. Choose the correct sentence.
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6. It’s part of our tradition to ___ older people.
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7. Three-word phrasal verbs are always ___.
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8. She ___ a lot of money after her father’s passing.
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9. Choose the correct sentence.
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10. “Put off” means ___.
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11. Choose the correct sentence with a pronoun object.
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12. “Get on with” someone means ___.
Complete each sentence with the correct phrasal verb from this lesson:
- The wedding was ___ because of a family emergency.
- My brother and I ___ very well — we rarely argue.
- I promised to help her, and I don’t want to ___ her ___.
- We’ve ___ sugar — can you buy some?
- My grandmother always ___ ___ us when we were children.
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