English Phrasal Verbs: 300 With Grammar and Examples

Knowing what it means is not enough. You also have to know where the object goes.

300 cardsLast updated 2026-08-17

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Phrasal verbs are the point where advanced learners still sound wrong. Not because the meanings are hard to look up, but because each one carries a grammar rule that no dictionary entry makes obvious. You can turn the lights off or turn off the lights, but you can only turn them off — never turn off them. You look after a child, and you can never look a child after. Get away with takes its object after both particles. Learn the meaning without the pattern and you will produce sentences that are understandable and audibly non-native. This deck covers 300 phrasal verbs. Every card gives the meaning, states in one line whether the verb is separable, inseparable, intransitive or three-part, and shows an original sentence with the object in its correct place. Cards are tagged by that grammatical type and by theme — work, communication, relationships, money, travel, problems, daily life — so you can drill only the separable ones, or only what an office day needs. Import it and the deck joins your spaced-repetition schedule, and what stays in rotation is the set whose word order you still have to think about.

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What's inside

Showing 100 representative cards from the full 300-card deck.

Front	Back
bring about	to cause something to happen. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: The new rule brought about a big change.
bring back	to reintroduce; to return. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: The photo brought back memories of that summer.
bring out	to release a product. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: They brought out a new model in spring.
call back	to return a phone call. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: I will call you back after lunch.
call on	to visit; to ask someone to act. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: The teacher called on me to answer.
carry on	to continue. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Carry on, I am listening.
carry over	to postpone to a later period. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Unused holiday carries over to next year.
catch up	to reach the same level. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: I need to catch up on my reading.
check in	to register at a hotel or airport. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: We checked in two hours before the flight.
cheer up	to become happier. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Cheer up, it is not that bad.
come across	to seem; to find by chance. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: He comes across as very confident.
come back	to return. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: I will come back next week.
come out	to be published; to be revealed. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: The report comes out on Monday.
come up	to arise. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Something has come up, so I cannot make it.
cut back on	to reduce. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: We are cutting back on travel costs.
cut off	to disconnect; to isolate. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: The call was cut off halfway through.
deal with	to handle. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: I will deal with the complaint tomorrow.
do up	to fasten; to renovate. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: They did up the whole kitchen themselves.
draw up	to prepare a document. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: The lawyer drew up the contract.
drop in	to visit without arranging it. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: She dropped in on her way to work.
drop out	to leave a course or race. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: He dropped out after the first year.
face up to	to accept something difficult. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: He had to face up to the result.
fall behind	to fail to keep pace. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: I fell behind with the coursework.
fall out	to quarrel. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: They fell out over money.
figure out	to work out; to understand. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: I cannot figure out how it works.
fill out	to complete a form. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Fill out the top half only.
find out	to discover. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: I found out about it by accident.
get along	to have a good relationship. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: They get along very well.
get away	to escape; to take a holiday. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: We got away for a few days in May.
get back	to return; to recover. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: I got back late last night.
get in	to enter; to arrive. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: The train gets in at six.
get off	to leave a vehicle; to finish work. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: Get off at the next stop.
get on with	to continue; to relate well to. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: Get on with your homework.
get over	to recover from. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: It took a month to get over the flu.
get through	to finish; to make contact. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: I could not get through to the office.
get up	to rise from bed. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: I get up at half past six.
give back	to return something. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Give me back my pen.
give out	to distribute; to stop working. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: They gave out leaflets at the door.
go after	to pursue. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: She went after the promotion hard.
go along with	to agree to. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: I will go along with whatever you decide.
go down	to decrease; to sink. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Prices went down this winter.
go off	to explode; to go bad; to sound. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: The alarm went off at five.
go out	to leave home socially; to be extinguished. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: We went out for dinner.
go through	to experience; to examine. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: She went through a difficult year.
go up	to increase; to be built. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: The rent went up in April.
go without	to manage without. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: They went without heating all winter.
hand out	to distribute. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: The teacher handed out the papers.
hang on	to wait; to hold tightly. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Hang on, I am nearly ready.
hang up	to end a phone call. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: He hung up before I finished.
hold up	to delay; to rob. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: We were held up by traffic.
keep out	to stay outside. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Keep out of the kitchen while I cook.
keep up with	to stay level with. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: I cannot keep up with the news.
lay off	to make redundant. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: The factory laid off forty workers.
let down	to disappoint. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: I do not want to let you down.
let off	to excuse; to detonate. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: The judge let him off with a fine.
look ahead	to plan for the future. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Looking ahead, we need more staff.
look back	to think about the past. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Looking back, I should have said no.
look into	to investigate. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: We will look into the complaint.
look up	to search for information; to improve. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Look up the word in a dictionary.
move in	to start living somewhere. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: They moved in last month.
pass out	to lose consciousness; to distribute. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: He passed out in the heat.
pick out	to select; to distinguish. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Pick out any two you like.
pull through	to survive a crisis. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: He was very ill but pulled through.
put down	to write; to criticise; to set down. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Put your name down on the list.
put out	to extinguish; to inconvenience. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: It took an hour to put out the fire.
put up with	to tolerate. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: I will not put up with that noise.
run through	to rehearse; to use up. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: We ran through the presentation twice.
set out	to begin a journey; to state clearly. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: The letter sets out the conditions.
show off	to display in order to impress. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: He was showing off in front of the class.
sit down	to take a seat. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.
stand out	to be noticeable. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Her application stood out immediately.
take after	to resemble a relative. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: She takes after her mother.
take in	to absorb information; to shelter. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: There was too much to take in at once.
take over	to assume control. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: A larger firm took over the business.
talk over	to discuss thoroughly. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Let us talk it over tomorrow.
try on	to test clothing for fit. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Can I try on the blue one?
turn off	to switch off. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Turn off the lights when you leave.
turn up	to arrive; to increase volume. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: He turned up an hour late.
watch out	to be careful. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: Watch out for the ice on the path.
write off	to dismiss as worthless; to cancel a debt. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Do not write him off yet.
add up to	to amount to. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: The bills add up to four hundred.
ask after	to enquire about someone's health. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: Your mother asked after you.
back up	to support; to make a copy; to reverse. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Back up your files every week.
boil down to	to be essentially. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: It boils down to money in the end.
break off	to end suddenly; to detach. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: They broke off the engagement.
build up	to increase gradually. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: She built up the business slowly.
buy out	to purchase a whole share. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: A rival firm bought them out.
clear out	to empty; to leave. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: We cleared out the garage on Sunday.
come between	to damage a relationship. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: Do not let money come between you.
come to	to regain consciousness; to amount to. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: The total comes to fifty pounds.
crack down on	to enforce strictly. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: The city cracked down on illegal parking.
dress up	to wear formal clothes. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: You do not need to dress up.
fight back	to resist. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: She fought back against the decision.
give off	to emit. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: The engine gives off a strange smell.
heat up	to make warmer. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Heat up the soup for ten minutes.
hold off	to delay; to keep at a distance. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Let us hold off until we know more.
jot down	to write quickly. Separable: an object can sit between the verb and the particle, and a pronoun object must. Example: Jot down the number before you forget.
live on	to survive on; to continue to exist. Inseparable: the object always follows the particle. Example: They live on one modest salary.
make do with	to manage with what is available. Three-part: the object always follows both particles. Example: We made do with what was in the fridge.
open up	to become communicative; to start trading. Intransitive: it takes no object. Example: He opened up after a while.

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Yes. Imported cards are yours: you can edit both sides, delete cards you do not need, change tags, and move cards to another deck.

What is in the deck?

124 separable verbs, 50 inseparable verbs, 94 intransitive verbs and 32 three-part verbs, 300 in total. One phrasal verb per card, so nothing appears twice.

Why does separability matter so much?

Because it is the one thing you cannot guess and cannot avoid. With a separable verb a pronoun object must go in the middle: turn it off, not turn off it. With an inseparable verb it must not: look after them, never look them after. Get it wrong and the sentence is ungrammatical, however good your vocabulary is.

What about verbs with several meanings?

The card carries the meanings that share the same grammar, separated by a semicolon, so you learn them as one item rather than as unrelated cards. Where a second sense behaves differently enough to need its own pattern, it is written into the meaning line rather than split off, keeping one phrasal verb to one card.

Which exams is this useful for?

Phrasal verbs appear across IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge B2 and C1, and every business English test, because they are how fluent English actually talks. The deck is organised by grammar and theme rather than by exam, so the same 300 verbs serve whichever one you are sitting.