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Reference Guide
Phrasal Verbs by Category
62 essential phrasal verbs organized by topic, with type indicators and meanings.
Particle Core Meanings — The pattern behind phrasal verbs
up
complete, increase, improve
down
decrease, stop, record
out
completely, discover, disappear
off
disconnect, leave, cancel
💡 Separable vs Inseparable
Separable : Object can go between verb & particle — "turn it off" or "turn off the light"Inseparable : Object MUST go after the particle — "look after the kids " (NOT "look the kids after")Rule : When the object is a pronoun (it, them, him, her), separable verbs MUST split — "pick it up" (NOT "pick up it")
🏠 Everyday Life — 18 phrasal verbs
wake up stop sleepingdespertarse
intrans get up rise from bedlevantarse
intrans turn on/off activate/deactivateencender/apagar
separable pick up lift / collect someonerecoger
separable put on wear clothingponerse (ropa)
separable take off remove clothing / departquitarse / despegar
separable throw away discardtirar/botar
separable clean up tidylimpiar/ordenar
separable look for searchbuscar
inseparable find out discover informationdescubrir/enterarse
separable run out of have no more leftquedarse sin
inseparable go on continuecontinuar
intrans come back returnvolver
intrans sit down take a seatsentarse
intrans lie down reclineacostarse
intrans set up arrange / installinstalar/configurar
separable fill in/out complete a formrellenar
separable look after take care ofcuidar
inseparable
💼 Work & Study — 16 phrasal verbs
give up stop trying / quitrendirse
separable carry on continueseguir/continuar
intrans hand in submit workentregar
separable work out solve / exerciseresolver / ejercitarse
separable figure out understand after thinkingdescifrar/entender
separable put off postponeposponer
separable go over reviewrepasar
inseparable look up search in referencebuscar (en diccionario)
separable write down note on paperapuntar/anotar
separable point out indicate / mentionseñalar
separable take on accept responsibilityasumir
separable bring up mention a topicmencionar/sacar tema
separable come up with think of an ideaidear/inventar
inseparable keep up with maintain same pacemantenerse al día
inseparable deal with handle a situationlidiar con
inseparable cut down on reducereducir
inseparable
🤝 Relationships — 14 phrasal verbs
get along have a good relationshipllevarse bien
intrans break up end a relationshipterminar (relación)
intrans make up reconcile after a fightreconciliarse
intrans ask out invite on a dateinvitar a salir
separable let down disappointdecepcionar
separable cheer up make happieranimar
separable calm down become less upsetcalmarse
intrans fall out have an argumentpelearse
intrans grow up become an adultcrecer
intrans hang out spend time casuallypasar el rato
intrans look up to admire / respectadmirar
inseparable put up with toleratetolerar/aguantar
inseparable tell off scold / reprimandregañar
separable stand up for defenddefender
inseparable
✈️ Travel — 14 phrasal verbs
set off begin a journeypartir/salir de viaje
intrans check in register at hotel/airportregistrarse
intrans check out leave hotel / examinesalir del hotel / revisar
intrans get on/off board / exit transportsubir/bajar (transporte)
inseparable drop off deliver someone somewheredejar (en un lugar)
separable see off say goodbye at departuredespedir
separable get in/out enter/exit car or taxisubir/bajar (carro)
intrans speed up go fasteracelerar
intrans slow down go slowerreducir velocidad
intrans look around explore a placeexplorar/recorrer
intrans stop over stay briefly mid-journeyhacer escala
intrans turn around go in opposite directiondar la vuelta
intrans hold up delay / cause a waitretrasar
separable call off cancelcancelar
separable
🎯 'Get' Verbs — 12 phrasal verbs
get by manage with what you havearreglárselas
intrans get over recover fromsuperar
inseparable get through manage to finish/survivelograr terminar
inseparable get away escape, have a breakescaparse
intrans get around move about / avoid a problemmoverse / evitar
inseparable get down to start focusing onponerse en serio con
inseparable get out of avoid an obligationlibrarse de
inseparable get across make an idea understoodhacer entender
separable get together meet sociallyreunirse
intrans
eat out have a meal at a restaurantcomer fuera
intrans warm up heat food againcalentar
separable wolf down eat quicklydevorar
separable cut down on reduce consumptionreducir
inseparable polish off finish food completelyterminarse todo
separable live on survive mainly on (food)alimentarse de
inseparable
🚀 Advanced — 12 phrasal verbs
boil down to be reducible to the essencereducirse a
inseparable chip in contribute money/helpcontribuir
intrans iron out resolve details/problemsresolver
separable own up to admit faultadmitir
inseparable brush up on refresh a skillrepasar
inseparable weigh up consider options carefullysopesar
separable live up to meet expectationsestar a la altura de
inseparable