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The Most Essential Phrasal Verbs in English for Advanced Learners to Use in Daily Life

Writer's picture: ebalabanfarukebalabanfaruk

Updated: Jan 29

 

Introduction

Mastering the English language involves more than just understanding grammar and vocabulary. For advanced learners, the key to sounding natural and fluent lies in the use of phrasal verbs. These combinations of verbs with prepositions or adverbs can completely change the meaning of the original verb, adding depth and nuance to your communication. In this article, we will explore the most essential phrasal verbs that advanced learners should incorporate into their daily conversations.

 

Understanding Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are an integral part of the English language, often used in informal settings. They consist of a verb and one or more particles, which can be prepositions or adverbs. The meaning of a phrasal verb is not always obvious from the individual words, making them challenging for non-native speakers. However, mastering these can significantly enhance your English fluency.

 

Why Phrasal Verbs Matter

  1. Natural Communication: Native speakers frequently use phrasal verbs in conversation, so understanding them can help you follow and participate in discussions more effectively.

  2. Expressiveness: Phrasal verbs often convey meanings that single-word verbs cannot, allowing for more precise and expressive communication.

  3. Cultural Understanding: Many phrasal verbs are idiomatic, reflecting cultural nuances that are important for full language comprehension.


 


Phrasal Verb

Russian

German

Turkish

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Get Along

Ладить

Sich verstehen

İyi geçinmek

I get along well with my colleagues at work.

My siblings and I always get along during the holidays.

Do you get along with your neighbors?

Look After

Присматривать

Sich kümmern um

Bakmak, ilgilenmek

Could you look after my dog while I'm on vacation?

She looks after her younger brother every afternoon.

It’s important to look after your health.

Run Into

Случайно встретить

Begegnen, zufällig treffen

Karşılaşmak

I ran into an old friend at the supermarket yesterday.

You might run into some issues with the new software.

We ran into our teacher at the mall last weekend.

Come Across

Натолкнуться, случайно найти

Finden, stoßen auf

Rastlamak, tesadüfen bulmak

I came across an interesting article while browsing the internet.

She came across some old photos in the attic.

I came across this restaurant by accident.

Give Up

Сдаться

Aufgeben

Vazgeçmek

I decided to give up smoking for my health.

He gave up trying to fix the old car.

Don’t give up on your dreams.

Put Off

Откладывать

Aufschieben

Ertelemek

I often put off doing my homework until the last minute.

They put off the meeting until next week.

She put off making a decision until she had more information.

Turn Down

Отклонить

Ablehnen

Reddetmek

She turned down the job offer because it didn't meet her expectations.

He turned down the invitation to the party.

I had to turn down the offer due to prior commitments.

Break Down

Ломаться

Kaputtgehen, zusammenbrechen

Bozulmak

My car broke down on the way to the meeting.

The washing machine broke down yesterday.

The negotiations broke down at the last minute.

Figure Out

Разобраться, понять

Herausfinden, verstehen

Anlamak, çözmek

I need to figure out how to fix this issue with my computer.

She finally figured out the solution to the problem.

Can you figure out what went wrong?

Catch Up

Нагонять

Aufholen

Yetişmek, telafi etmek

I need to catch up on my reading for class.

Let’s catch up over coffee this weekend.

He stayed late at work to catch up on emails.

Drop By

Заскочить, зайти

Vorbeikommen

Uğramak

I’ll drop by your place later.

She dropped by the office to say hello.

Why don’t you drop by for a chat?

Look Forward To

Ждать с нетерпением

Sich freuen auf

Dört gözle beklemek

I look forward to our trip next month!

She’s looking forward to meeting you.

We’re looking forward to the holidays.

Make Up

Мириться, выдумывать

Sich versöhnen, erfinden

Barışmak, uydurmak

We argued, but we made up.

She made up a story to explain why she was late.

They made up after the disagreement.

Take Off

Взлететь, стать успешным

Abheben, erfolgreich werden

Havalanmak, başarılı olmak

My business took off last year!

The plane took off on time.

His career really took off after that big project.



 

Phrasal Verb

Russian

German

Turkish

Example Sentences

Get Along

Ладить

Sich verstehen

İyi geçinmek

"I get along well with my colleagues at work." "My siblings and I always get along during the holidays." "Do you get along with your neighbors?"

Look After

Присматривать

Aufpassen auf

Bakmak, ilgilenmek

"Could you look after my dog while I'm on vacation?" "She looks after her younger brother every afternoon." "It’s important to look after your health."

Run Into

Случайно встретить

Begegnen

Rastlamak

"I ran into an old friend at the supermarket yesterday." "You might run into some issues with the new software." "We ran into our teacher at the mall last weekend."

Come Across

Натолкнуться, случайно найти

Auf etwas stoßen

Karşılaşmak, rastlamak

"I came across an interesting article while browsing the internet." "She came across some old photos in the attic." "I came across this restaurant by accident."

Give Up

Сдаться

Aufgeben

Vazgeçmek

"I decided to give up smoking for my health." "He gave up trying to fix the old car." "Don’t give up on your dreams."

Put Off

Откладывать

Verschieben

Ertelemek

"I often put off doing my homework until the last minute." "They put off the meeting until next week." "She put off making a decision until she had more information."

Turn Down

Отклонить

Ablehnen

Reddetmek

"She turned down the job offer because it didn't meet her expectations." "He turned down the invitation to the party." "I had to turn down the offer due to prior commitments."

Break Down

Ломаться

Kaputtgehen

Bozulmak

"My car broke down on the way to the meeting." "The washing machine broke down yesterday." "The negotiations broke down at the last minute."

Figure Out

Разобраться, понять

Herausfinden

Anlamak, çözmek

"I need to figure out how to fix this issue with my computer." "She finally figured out the solution to the problem." "Can you figure out what went wrong?"

Catch Up

Нагонять

Aufholen

Yetişmek

"I need to catch up on my reading for class." "Let’s catch up over coffee this weekend." "He stayed late at work to catch up on emails."

Drop By

Заскочить, зайти

Vorbeikommen

Uğramak

"I’ll drop by your place later." "She dropped by the office to say hello." "Why don’t you drop by for a chat?"

Look Forward To

Ждать с нетерпением

Sich freuen auf

Dört gözle beklemek

"I look forward to our trip next month!" "She’s looking forward to meeting you." "We’re looking forward to the holidays."

Make Up

Мириться, выдумывать

Sich versöhnen, erfinden

Barışmak, uydurmak

"We argued, but we made up." "She made up a story to explain why she was late." "They made up after the disagreement."

Take Off

Взлететь, стать успешным

Abheben, durchstarten

Kalkmak, başarıya ulaşmak

"My business took off last year!" "The plane took off on time." "His career really took off after that big project."

Carry On

Продолжать

Weitermachen

Devam etmek

"Despite the difficulties, they decided to carry on with the project." "She carried on talking even though no one was listening." "After the interruption, he carried on with his presentation."

Cut Down On

Сокращать

Reduzieren

Azaltmak

"I’m trying to cut down on sugar for a healthier diet." "They decided to cut down on expenses to save more money." "You should cut down on watching TV and spend more time outdoors."

Get By

Сводить концы с концами

Über die Runden kommen

İdare etmek

"Even though times are tough, we manage to get by." "He gets by on just a few hours of sleep." "I don’t have much money, but I get by."

Give In

Уступать

Nachgeben

Boyun eğmek

"After a long argument, she finally gave in." "Don’t give in to peer pressure." "He refused to give in and kept fighting for his rights."

Hold On

Держаться

Festhalten

Beklemek, dayanmak

"Hold on a second, I need to grab my keys." "He told her to hold on during the difficult times." "Hold on tight, this ride is going to be bumpy!"

Look Up To

Восхищаться, равняться

Bewundern

Hayran olmak

"I’ve always looked up to my older brother." "She looks up to her mentor for guidance." "Many people look up to successful entrepreneurs."

Run Out Of

Заканчиваться

Etwas geht aus

Tükenmek

"We’ve run out of milk, can you buy some more?" "He ran out of patience and left the meeting." "They ran out of time before finishing the exam."

Settle Down

Осесть, успокоиться

Sich niederlassen

Yerleşmek

"After years of traveling, they decided to settle down in a small town." "He’s ready to settle down and start a family." "Once you settle down, everything will fall into place."

Take Up

Начать заниматься чем-то

Anfangen mit

Başlamak

"She decided to take up painting as a hobby." "I’m thinking of taking up yoga to improve my flexibility." "He took up golf after retiring from work."

Turn Up

Появляться

Auftauchen

Ortaya çıkmak

"He turned up late to the meeting." "You never know who might turn up at the party." "The missing document finally turned up in a drawer."

Back Up

Поддерживать, делать резервную копию

Unterstützen, sichern

Desteklemek, yedeklemek

"Make sure to back up your files regularly." "I’ll back you up if anyone questions your decision." "He asked his friend to back him up during the argument."

Come Up With

Придумывать

Sich etwas einfallen lassen

Bulmak, fikir üretmek

"She came up with a brilliant idea for the project." "Can you come up with a solution to this problem?" "He always comes up with creative ways to solve issues."

Turn Out

Оказываться

Sich herausstellen

Sonuçlanmak, ortaya çıkmak

"It turned out that he was right all along." "The event turned out to be a huge success." "She turned out to be the best candidate for the job."

 

Conclusion

Phrasal verbs are a vital component of advanced English learning, providing richness and variety to your language skills. By incorporating these essential phrasal verbs into your daily life, you can enhance your communication abilities and connect more deeply with English speakers. Remember, practice and exposure are key to mastering these versatile expressions.


Learning phrasal verbs can feel like trying to find your way through a maze. With so many expressions out there, it can be hard to know where to start. But mastering these phrases can really boost your English skills, helping you sound more natural in conversations! Let’s jump into some of the most essential phrasal verbs that will serve you well in daily interactions.


Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs and prepositions or adverbs. They often have meanings that aren’t easy to guess. Understanding these can help you communicate more effectively. Let's break down some key ones that you’ll use all the time.


Integrating these phrasal verbs into your speech can feel like adding vibrant colors to a black-and-white drawing. It brings life to your communication! Whether you’re chatting with friends, writing emails, or even discussing plans at work, these expressions can fit in seamlessly.


Remember, the more you practice using them, the more natural they’ll feel. Just like learning to ride a bike, it might feel awkward at first, but soon, you’ll glide with confidence!


Phrasal verbs add spice to your language skills, making your conversations flow effortlessly. By familiarizing yourself with these essential phrases, you’ll be ready to engage in meaningful discussions. So, grab an opportunity to use them! Whether you’re asking for clarification or sharing excitement, these expressions will elevate your English skills dramatically. Start practicing today, and watch your confidence soar!

 

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