Phrasal Verbs | Basic English Grammar for Competitive Exams - Bank Exams PDF Download

Introduction of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are a group of two or more words that are formed using a common verb with a preposition or an adverb. They are used to express an action in a sentence.

Types of Phrasal Verbs

1. Intransitive Phrasal Verbs: These verbs do not require an object to complete their meaning. They are complete by themselves, and their meaning cannot be understood just by looking at the individual words.

Examples:

• Wake up 
• Show up 
• Give in

2. Transitive Phrasal Verbs: These verbs require an object to complete their meaning. The object can be a noun, pronoun, or a gerund.

Examples:

• Look after
• Turn down
• Bring up

3. Separable Phrasal Verbs: These verbs can be separated by an object. The object can be placed between the verb and the particle, or after the phrasal verb.

Examples:

• Take off- She took her coat off. / She took off her coat.
• Put on- He put on his shirt. / He put his shirt on.

4. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs: These verbs cannot be separated by an object. The object must always be placed after the phrasal verb.

Examples:

• Get over- She can't get over her fear of heights.
• Come across- I came across an old friend in the market.

Solved Exercise

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb.
John needs to ________ ________ his computer skills to improve his chances of getting a job. (improve)

John needs to brush up on his computer skills to improve his chances of getting a job.
"Brush up on" means to improve one's knowledge or skills in a particular area, so it fits the context of the sentence.

I didn't like the way he spoke to me, so I decided to ________ ________ with him about it. (confront)

I didn't like the way he spoke to me, so I decided to take it up with him about it.
"Take it up" means to confront someone about an issue, so it fits the context of the sentence.

Maria ________ ________ her old hobby of painting after she retired. (resumed)

Maria took up her old hobby of painting after she retired.
"Take up" means to start or resume an activity, so it fits the context of the sentence.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences using phrasal verbs.
They decided to postpone the meeting until next week.

They decided to put off the meeting until next week.
"Put off" means to postpone, so it fits the context of the sentence.

She accidentally found her old diary while she was cleaning the attic.

She accidentally came across her old diary while she was cleaning the attic.
"Come across" means to find something unexpectedly, so it fits the context of the sentence.

James took responsibility for taking care of his younger siblings.

James took responsibility for looking after his younger siblings.
"Look after" means to take care of, so it fits the context of the sentence.

She stopped trying to learn French after a few months.

She gave up trying to learn French after a few months.
"Give up" means to stop doing something, so it fits the context of the sentence.