Phrasal verbs are an important element of the English language. They are used in the spoken word by the native speakers. You need to know them to understand the native speakers.

Most phrasal verbs have two parts – the main verb and the particle. This particle may be a preposition or an adverb. Then you also find some three part phrasal verbs. Also, many phrasal verbs may have more than one meaning.

They are just like any other vocabulary but you need to pay special attention to them. Read a lot and observe the phrasal verbs as you come across them.

Do not try to memorise them. Learn them as you learnt your mother tongue – draw the picture and describe it. Make pictorial representations of thee phrasal verbs.

This list is a point of reference . It lets you know  how to recognise and use phrasal verbs.

Non-separable phrasal verbs are when you cannot insert any word between the verb and the particle.

Here are ten non-separable phrasal verbs for your ready reference.

Follow the pointers in our article to know how to split phrasal verbs.

 

back out of                      fail to keep a promise

She backed out of the promise to marry me because I was too short.

bear down on                   lean on

The management bore down on the unions to accept the proposal.

bear on                              have to do with

Your suggestion has no bearing on the current situation.

bear up under                   endure

The captive soldier bore up under torture but declined to reveal his secrets.

break in on                       interrupt

I’m sorry to break in on the conversation, but I’d like to add something.    

break into                          interrupt

The manager broke into the argument to calm down the situation.

call for                                   require

The situation called for more stringent measures to combat terrorism.

catch up with                      cover the distance between oneself and another

The newcomer took a week to catch up with his teammates.

check up on                        verify

The principal walked in on my class to check up on the students’ performance.          

come across                     find accidentally

I came across the diary I used to keep in my schooldays.