Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them as you come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once.

1. Phrasal verbs
PHRASAL VERBS ARE A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE, ESPECIALLY FOR SPOKEN ENGLISH. IN OUR PHRASAL VERBS
REFERENCE SECTION YOU CAN FIND HUNDREDS OF THE MOST COMMONLY
USED PHRASAL VERBS CLEARLY EXPLAINED WITH EXAMPLE SENTENCES AND
FUN QUIZ QUESTIONS TO TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

2. • Phrasal verbs with letter A
If you account for something, you explain how it
came to be the way it is.
Meaning: Nouns often used as objects with
account for: costs, expenses, delays, behaviour,
failure, success

3. Act as
TO PERFORM THE SAME FUNCTION AS A PARTICULAR
PERSON OR THING
Act for
IF YOU ACT FOR SOMEONE, YOU
REPRESENT THEM.
Act on
IF YOU ACT ON SOMEBODY'S ADVICE, YOU DO AS
THEY SUGGEST.

4. Act out
IF YOU ACT OUT, YOU EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS THROUGH
ACTS OR WORDS.
Act up
IF A PART OF YOUR BODY OR A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT ACTS UP, IT DOESN'T WORK
PROPERLY.
Add to
IF SOMETHING ADDS TO SOMETHING, IT MAKES IT BETTER, GREATER,
STRONGER OR MORE EXTREME IN SOME WAY.

5. Appeal to
IF SOMETHING APPEALS TO YOU, YOU LIKE IT.
Ask after
IF YOU ASK AFTER SOMEONE, YOU ASK
ABOUT THEM WHEN YOU TALK TO
SOMEONE WHO'S SEEN THEM RECENTLY.
Attend to
TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING OR SOMEONE

6. • Phrasal verbs with letter F
Face up to
IF YOU FACE UP TO A DIFFICULT OR CHALLENGING
SITUATION, YOU ACCEPT THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT,
AND THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Factor in
TO INCLUDE A CERTAIN ITEM WHEN CALCULATING OR
PLANNING SOMETHING
Fade away
TO SLOWLY BECOME WEAKER, SOFTER OR DIMMER

7. Fall back on
TO USE OR DO SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE WHAT YOU USED
OR DID FIRST HAS FAILED
Fall behind
IF YOU HAVE FALLEN BEHIND OTHER PEOPLE, THEY HAVE
ADVANCED FASTER THAN YOU AND THEY ARE AHEAD OF YOU.
Fall for
IF YOU FALL FOR SOMETHING LIKE A TRICK OR A SCAM, YOU
BELIEVE IT'S REAL OR GENUINE EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT.

8. Flick through
IF YOU FLICK THROUGH A BOOK OR A MAGAZINE, YOU HAVE A QUICK
LOOK AT A FEW OF THE PAGES.
Freak out
IF SOMEONE FREAKS OUT, THEY GET VERY SCARED OR UPSET BY
SOMETHING.
Function as
TO BE USED FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR TO WORK IN A
PARTICULAR WAY
Fuss over
TO GIVE SOMEONE LOTS OF ATTENTION TO SHOW HOW MUCH YOU
LIKE THEM OR HOW IMPORTANT YOU THINK THEY ARE

9. • Phrasal verbs with letter Y
Yank at
IF YOU YANK AT SOMETHING, YOU PULL IT REPEATEDLY.
Yearn for
TO WANT SOMETHING VERY MUCH
Yell out
TO SHOUT LOUDLY

10. • Phrasal verbs with letter S
See out
IF YOU SEE SOMEONE OUT, YOU ACCOMPANY THEM OUT OF A ROOM
OR A BUILDING WHEN THEY'RE LEAVING.
TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF A PARTICULAR PERIOD OF TIME OR
UNTIL THE END OF A CONTRACT OR AN ACTIVITY
See off
IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY OFF, YOU GO TO THE PLACE FROM WHERE
THEY'RE BEGINNING A JOURNEY, LIKE AN AIRPORT OR A RAILWAY
STATION, AND WISH THEM WELL AS THEY LEAVE.

11. Stand down
TO RESIGN OR RETIRE FROM A JOB OR A POSITION
Show up
TO ARRIVE AT AN EVENT OR A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE ARE GATHERING
Set off
TO BEGIN A JOURNEY
TO MAKE SOMETHING EXPLODE OR BLOW UP
Set down
IF YOU SET SOMETHING DOWN, YOU PUT IT
IN WRITING.