Adam
Alex
Benjamin
Emma
Gill
Jade
James
Rebecca
RonnieLiteral phrasal verbs are easy to learn because their meanings are usually clear from context. For example: “Put your shoes on.” If you are just beginning to learn phrasal verbs, literal phrasal verbs are a good starting point. This English resource page will teach you 30 common literal phrasal verbs.
First, here are some important details you need to know about phrasal verbs:
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A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and an adverb or preposition, or both.
The adverb or preposition part of a phrasal verb is called a particle. come back add up get out of -
Phrasal verbs can be transitive or intransitive.
Transitive phrasal verbs need a direct object.
Intransitive phrasal verbs do not have a direct object.
Bring in the groceries. Please come back. -
Phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable.
Separable phrasal verbs are transitive phrasal verbs that can have their object placed in the middle or at the end.
Put your pencils down. Put down your pencils.Inseparable phrasal verbs are transitive verbs that cannot be separated. Their object must always come at the end.
Log in to your account. Log your account in to.
Most of the phrasal verbs below also have other, idiomatic meanings, but in this resource, only the literal meanings are discussed.
This resource also encourages you to practice by answering conversation questions. Try to answer by yourself first, but if you are not sure how to answer a question, use the answer prompt to help you.
To learn more phrasal verbs, my book 100 Practical English Phrasal Verbs is a good next step. For now, here are 30 common literal phrasal verbs:
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add up
Meaning to add numbers or things together Usage transitive, separable Examples I added up our money, and we have enough to stay at this hotel. What do you get when you add up 10 and 12? Practice If you added up all of the apps on your phone, how many do you think there would be? Answer If I added up all of the apps on my phone, I would probably have (around)… -
bring in
Meaning to bring something inside Usage transitive, separable Examples Could you help me bring in the groceries? It’s raining. We should bring the toys in. Practice What was the last thing you brought in to your house/apartment/etc.? Answer The last thing I brought in to my house/apartment/etc. was/were… -
come back
Meaning to return (moving toward the direction of the speaker or point of origin) Usage intransitive Examples What time did you come back home last night? She’s never coming back here, is she? Practice When you were a kid, what time did you usually come back home from school? Answer I usually came back home at/around… -
come in
Meaning to enter a space Usage intransitive Examples It’s cold outside. Please come in. He came in without permission. Practice What can you say if you want to invite someone to enter your home? Answer You can say, ‘Please,…’ -
get down
Meaning to lower your head or body Usage intransitive Examples I don’t want them to see us. We need to get down behind these bushes. Get down. I can’t see the movie. Practice Has someone ever commanded you to get down? Why? Answer Someone told me to get down when… -
get in
Meaning to enter (a car, a taxi, or any enclosed space) Usage intransitive Examples The door was locked, so I couldn’t get in. We’re in a rush! Get in! Practice What can you say if you want someone to enter your car? Answer I can say… -
get out (of)
Meaning to exit (a car, a taxi, or any enclosed space) Usage intransitive, or must be separated for transitive usage Examples I don’t want you in my room. Get out. I’m going to call security so they can get you out of the building. Practice Have you ever told someone to get out of your room? What happened? Answer One time, I told __________ to get out of my room. -
get up
Meaning to rise from a seated or lying position Usage intransitive, or must be separated for transitive usage Examples Get up from that couch. You’ve been lying there all day. Help me get your grandma up from her chair. Practice Has someone ever helped you to get up from the ground/a bed/a chair/etc., or have you ever helped someone to get up from the ground/a bed/a chair/etc.? What happened? Answer _____ helped me to get up from… I helped _____ to get up from… -
give away
Meaning to give freely or donate something Usage intransitive, separable Examples Companies don’t just give money away. You have to work for it. I gave away all of my old toys to my baby cousin. Practice Do you ever give your old clothes or belongings away to others? Answer Sometimes, I give away my old clothes/belongings to… -
go out
Meaning to go outside Usage intransitive Examples I need to go out to get some fresh air. He usually stays indoors. He doesn’t go out often. Practice Do you go out every day? Answer Yes, I go out at least _____ time(s) per day. No, I don’t go out every day. -
hold up
Meaning to hold something in an elevated position Usage transitive, separable Examples I held the book up for everyone to see. Hold up your hand if you think we should listen to Daniel. Practice How long do you think you could hold up 100 pounds above your head? Answer I think I could hold up 100 pounds above my head for… -
log in · log on
Meaning to complete the procedures to enter a computer system, a website, etc. Usage intransitive Examples I can’t log in. I don’t know the password. Have you logged in to your account yet? Practice What is a website that forces you to log in before you can start using it? Answer I have to log in to __________ before I can start using it. -
log out · log off
Meaning to complete the procedures to exit a computer system, a website, etc. Usage intransitive Examples Don’t forget to log out when you’re done. Did you log off before shutting down the system? Practice Do you always remember to log out of your online accounts? Answer I usually (don’t) log out of my online accounts when/if/because… -
look at
Meaning to move one’s eyes to focus on someone/something Usage transitive, inseparable Examples Stop looking at me like that. Mika’s always looking at news websites. Practice How often do you think you look at your phone? Answer I probably look at my phone _____ time(s) per day. -
look back (at something/someone)
Meaning to look behind oneself Usage intransitive Examples Just keep running and don’t look back. You’re almost there. Max kept looking back at me in the movie theatre. Practice Have you ever been in a situation where someone kept looking back at you? Answer One time, I was at _____, and _____ kept looking back at me. -
look up
Meaning to follow a vertical path with one’s eyes Usage intransitive Examples I looked up the tree, but I couldn’t see the bird. I could only hear it. He’s looking up and down the page to find the information. Practice Look up the nearest wall. What do you see? Answer As I look up the wall, I see… -
pay for
Meaning to exchange something (usually money) for goods and services Usage transitive, inseparable. Only separate if you mention the person/establishment who receives your payment. Examples How much did you pay for that? We paid the hotel for our stay. Practice When was the last time you paid for food? How much did you spend? Answer I paid for my breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack. It cost _____. -
pick up
Meaning to grasp and lift something/someone Usage transitive, separable Examples Did you pick up that pizza from the ground? Yuck! Pick me up, mommy! Pleeeaaase? Practice Have you ever picked up food from the ground and eaten it? Answer Yes, I have. Once, I picked up… No, I haven’t. I don’t pick up food from the ground. -
put down
Meaning to place something/someone onto a surface, or to lower it/them Usage transitive, separable Examples You can put your hand down now. There will be no more questions. You’ve been staring at your phone for the past 20 minutes. Put it down. Practice Why do you think it is so difficult for some people to put their phones down? Is it difficult for you? Answer I think it is difficult for some people to put their phones down because… -
put on
Meaning to place a piece of clothing, jewelry, etc. on one’s body Usage transitive, separable Examples Put a hat on. It’s a little chilly outside. I’ll be there in a minute. I just need to put on my earrings. Practice What time do you normally put on your pajamas? Answer I normally put on my pajamas at/around… -
put out (similar: take out)
Meaning to put outside Usage transitive, separable Examples Did you remember to put the cat out? I have to put out and hang the laundry. Practice Have you ever had a pet that you needed to put out sometimes? Answer I once had a _____ that I had to put out in the morning/afternoon/evening/etc. -
run out of
Meaning to exit a place while running Usage intransitive Examples There was a small fire, so we had to run out of the theatre. He got scared by my Halloween costume and he ran out of the room. Practice Have you ever run out of a public place? Answer Once, I ran out of… -
sit down
Meaning to sit Usage intransitive For transitive usage, must be separated with the person whom you are assisting in sitting or forcing to sit placed in the middle. Examples Is it okay if I sit down here? Could you sit your grandfather down at the end of the table? Practice How many hours per day do you sit down? Answer I usually sit down for _____ hours per day. -
stand up
Meaning to stand Usage intransitive For transitive usage, must be separated with the person whom you are assisting in standing or forcing to stand placed in the middle. Examples Are you able to stand up? He’s not feeling well. We’ll have to stand him up and carry him to the car. Practice Have you ever had a job where you had to stand up almost the entire time? Answer Yes, I have. I had to stand up when I worked at/in/for… No, I haven’t. -
take off
Meaning to remove a piece of clothing, jewelry, etc. from one’s body Usage transitive, separable Examples Why don’t you take your jacket off? It’s warm in here. I can’t wait to take off my shoes when I get home. My feet are killing me. Practice In your culture, is it customary for people to take their shoes off in people’s homes? Answer In my culture/country/region, you (don’t) have to take your shoes off when you visit someone’s home. -
take out (similar: put out)
Meaning to take something or an animal outside Usage transitive, separable Examples Could you take out the garbage? I’ve already taken Fido out for a walk today, but he wants to go out again. Practice Who normally takes out the garbage in your house/apartment/etc.? Answer _____ usually take(s) out the garbage in my house/apartment/etc. -
try on
Meaning to put on a piece of clothing, jewelry, etc. to see how it looks and fits Usage transitive, separable Examples This dress looks nice. Why don’t you try it on? I tried on a couple of different watches at the store, but I didn’t like any of them. Practice Do you usually try on clothes before you buy them, or do you wait to see how they fit when you get home? Answer I (don’t) usually try on clothes before I buy them. -
turn around
Meaning to turn (usually 180 degrees) Usage transitive or intransitive, separable Examples We have to turn the car around. We’re going the wrong way. The front of the shirt looks good. Could you turn around so I can see the back? Practice Turn around. What do you see? Answer When I turn around, I see… -
turn off
Meaning to stop or deactivate a machine, electronic device, etc. Usage transitive, separable Examples Don’t forget to turn the stove off. Could you turn off the lights in the kitchen? Thanks. Practice Have you ever forgotten to turn off the stove? What happened? Answer Yes, I have. Once I forgot to turn off the stove while/because… -
turn on
Meaning to start a machine, electronic device, etc. Usage transitive, separable Examples Did someone turn on the heater? It’s boiling in here. I’ll send you the email in a couple of minutes. I just turned my computer on. Practice What are some things that you turn on almost every day? Answer Every day, I turn on…
Want to learn more phrasal verbs? Pick up a copy of my book, 100 Practical English Phrasal Verbs. It has only high-frequency language, over 900 examples, and I wrote it with English learners and teachers in mind.
