Phrasal verbs — a verb plus a particle like up, out, on, off — are everywhere in everyday Canadian English. "Turn it off," "I’ll look into it," "We ran out of milk." Avoiding them makes your English sound textbook-stiff; using them well makes you sound natural.
Why They Are Hard
The meaning often cannot be guessed from the words. "Give up" has nothing to do with "give." That is why you must learn each phrasal verb as its own vocabulary item, with its meaning, not by analysing the parts.
Separable vs Inseparable — The Key Grammar Trap
Separable: the object can go between the verb and particle. With a pronoun, it must:
- "Turn off the light." / "Turn the light off." — both fine.
- "Turn it off." ✓ "Turn off it." ✗ (pronoun must split)
Inseparable: the verb and particle never split:
- "I’ll look into the problem." ✓ "look the problem into" ✗
When you learn a new phrasal verb, note whether it is separable — this prevents a very common error.
High-Value Starter Set
| Phrasal verb | Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| find out | discover | "I’ll find out the schedule." |
| look into | investigate | "We’ll look into your complaint." |
| fill out | complete (a form) | "Fill out this application." |
| pick up | collect / learn informally | "I’ll pick up the kids." |
| get along (with) | have a good relationship | "I get along with my team." |
| run out of | have no more left | "We ran out of time." |
| set up | arrange / create | "Let’s set up a meeting." |
| follow up | check progress later | "I’ll follow up next week." |
| turn down | refuse / reject | "They turned down the offer." |
| figure out | solve / understand | "I figured out the issue." |
Register: Phrasal vs Formal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are common in speech and friendly writing. In formal writing, a single-word equivalent is often better:
- find out → determine
- look into → investigate
- set up → establish
Knowing both lets you sound natural in conversation and precise in a formal CELPIP/IELTS writing task.
How to Learn Them Efficiently
- Group by particle or topic, not alphabetically — e.g., work phrasal verbs (set up, follow up, take on).
- Learn in full sentences about your own life so they come out fluently.
- Add 3–5 per week, used actively — not 50 memorised passively.
- Tag each separable or inseparable when you record it.
Bottom Line
Phrasal verbs are not optional extras — they are core spoken English. Learn each as a whole unit, master the separable/pronoun rule, keep a formal equivalent for writing, and add a few at a time in real sentences. They are one of the fastest ways to sound genuinely fluent.
Tags:
Related Articles
Ready to Put This Into Practice?
LearnTelligent helps newcomers learn English, settle in, and build a career — all aligned to Canadian Language Benchmarks. Explore the curriculum, see the platform features, or book a demo for your agency.