Check out - checked out - checked out

Check out - checked out - checked out

Meaning: If you check something out, you look at it or examine it to find out more about it.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

We're going to check out the new clubWe're going to check the new club outWe're going to check it out

We're going to check out it - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: There's a great movie on TV tonight you must check it out!

Synonyms: inspect, investigate, explore, examine, look into

Log on logged on logged on

Meaning: If you log on, you connect your computer to a system or network, usually by typing a username and password.

Grammar: This phrasal verb doesn't need an object. If you want to use an object, you need to use the preposition 'to'. The object must go after the preposition.

He logged onHe logged on to the network

He logged to the network on - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: I haven't finished my work because there was a fault in the network and I couldn't log on until 4 o'clock.

Synonyms: log in, get in, get into, connect, access

Hang on hung on hung on

Meaning: If you hang on, you wait for a short time.

Grammar: This phrasal verb doesn't usually take an object. If you want to say how long someone waited, or what they were waiting for, you can use the preposition 'for'.

I'm hanging onWe hung on for 20 minutes but the bus didn't comeWe can't leave yet we have to hang on for Peter

Example sentence: Mohammed can't talk right now he's on the other phone. Would you like to hang on?

Synonyms: wait, stick around

Mess up messed up messed up

Meaning: If you mess up, you do something wrongly or badly, or you damage or spoil something.

Grammar: This phrasal verb may or may not have an object. If there is an object, it can go after the particle or between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

She messed upShe messed up the plansShe messed them up

She messed up them - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: Sarah messed up and took the wrong documents to the presentation.

Synonyms: make a mistake, screw up, get (something) wrong

Pick up picked up picked up

Meaning: If you pick something up, you collect it.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

Joe picked up the messageJoe picked the message upJoe picked it up

He picked up - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: Don't forget to pick those letters up before you leave the house.

Synonyms: collect, get

Get rid of got rid of got rid of

Meaning: If you get rid of something, you dispose of or destroy something that you do not want, often because it is causing problems for you.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is not possible to put the object between the verb and particles: the object must go after the verb and particles.

She got rid of the insectsShe got rid of them

She got the insects rid of - NOT CORRECTShe got rid the insects of - NOT CORRECTShe got them rid of - NOT CORRECTShe got rid them of - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: I took antibiotics to get rid of my infection.

Synonyms: get shot of, dispose of, chuck out, throw out, dump

Go over went over gone/been over

Meaning: If you go over something, you examine or check it very carefully, often to make sure it does not have any faults or mistakes.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is not possible to put the object between the verb and particles: the object must go after the verb and particles.

He went over the arrangementsHe went over them

He went the arrangements over - NOT CORRECTHe went them over - NOT CORRECTHe went over - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: The writers went over the script several times before they gave it to the publishers.

Synonyms: check, discuss, go into, examine, look over, study, review, read, peruse

Get away with got away with got away with

Meaning: If you get away with something, you do something wrong or bad without being discovered or punished.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is not possible to put the object between the verb and particles: the object must go after the verb and particles. The object is often 'it' or a verb-ing.

He got away with stealing the cakesHe got away with it

He got away stealing the cakes with - NOT CORRECTHe got stealing the cakes away with - NOT CORRECTHe got it away with - NOT CORRECTHe got away it with - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: The police believe Jimmy killed his wife. But if they can't find any evidence, such as a murder weapon, he may get away with it.

Synonyms: escape punishment for, get off, get off scot-free

Pop up popped up popped up

Meaning: If something pops up, it appears suddenly or unexpectedly.

Grammar: This phrasal verb doesn't usually take an object.

A few problems have popped up

He popped up a birthday cake - NOT CORRECTHe popped up it - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: She's really famous now her photograph pops up everywhere on TV,magazines and the internet too.

Synonyms: appear, arise, happen, occur, crop up, turn up, come up

Turn up turned up turned up

Meaning: If something turns up, it arrives, happens or occurs.

Grammar: This phrasal verb doesn't usually take an object.

He turned up at 6 o'clock

He turned up it - NOT CORRECTHe turned it up - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: I looked all over the house for my keys: they finally turned up in my office!

Synonyms: appear, arise, happen, occur, crop up, pop up, come up

Send on sent on sent on

Meaning: If you send something on, you forward a message, object, or piece of information etc., that has been given to you, to another person.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

I sent on the parcelI sent the parcel onI sent it on

I sent on it - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: My mum gave me a t-shirt, but it was too big for me, so I sent it on to my brother.

Synonyms: forward, redirect, readdress, pass on, transfer

Sort out sorted out sorted out

Meaning: If you sort something out, you deal successfully with a problem or difficult situation.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

We sorted out the problemWe sorted the problem outWe sorted it out

We sorted out it - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: The filing system was so disorganised that it took two days to sort it out.

Synonyms: solve, resolve, reconcile, reorganise, tidy up, put in order, deal with

Set up - set up - set up

Meaning: If you set something up, you make it ready for use, often by putting different parts of it together.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

They set up the equipment They set the equipment up They set it up

They set up it

Example sentence: We took so much equipment to the exhibition that it took almost a full morning to set it all up.Synonyms: assemble, put up, Guild

Nod off - nodded off - nodded off

Meaning: If you nod off, you fall asleep, often during the day or when you are not supposed to be sleeping.

Grammar: This phrasal verb does not have an object. The verb and particle are not usually separated.

She nodded off

She nodded it off She nodded off it

Example sentence: The lesson was boring and the room was so hot that I couldn't stop myself from nodding off.

Synonyms: drop off, doze off, drift off, doze, snooze, fall asleep, have a catnap

Fall behind - fell behind - fallen behind

Meaning: If you fall behind, you fail to do something on time or as fast as necessary.

Grammar: This phrasal verb may or may not have an object. The verb and particle are not usually separated. If an object is used, it takes the preposition with.

She fell behind She fell behind with her car payments She fell behind with them

She fell with her car payments behind She fell with them behind

Example sentence: She had to work in her family's restaurant most evenings, and even though she tired to work on her studies at night, she often fell behind.

Synonyms: fall back, drop behind, fail to keep up

Chop up - chopped up - chopped up

Meaning: If you chop something up, you cut it into pieces (often of the same size) using a knife or other sharp tool.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

Susan chopped up the carrots Susan chopped the carrots up Susan chopped them up

She chopped up She chopped up them

Example sentence: In her job as a kitchen assistant, Paula spent most of her time chopping up vegetables.

Synonyms: cut up, dice, cube, cut into pieces

Mess about - messed about - messed about

Meaning: If you mess about, you behave in a silly way, often when you should be doing something serious or important.

Grammar: This phrasal verb may or may not have an object. The verb and particle are not usually separated. If an object is used, it often takes the preposition with.

The children were messing about The children were messing about with the computer

They messed with the computer about

Example sentence: The teacher got really angry with the children. She kept asking them to do their work quietly, but they wouldn't stop messing about.

Synonyms: goof around, goof off, kid around, fool about, carry on, clown around, lark around, play the fool, be silly

Plug in - plugged in - plugged in

Meaning: If you plug something in, you connect a piece of electrical equipment to the electricity supply.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

Max plugged in his computer Max plugged his computer in Max plugged it in

He plugged in He plugged in it

Example sentence: Max spent ages trying to figure out why the TV wasn't working, when he suddenly realised that he had forgotten to plug it in!

Synonyms: connect, hook upPut up with - put up with - put up with

Meaning: If you put up with something, you patiently accept or tolerate something unpleasant.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. The verb and particles are not usually separated.

Janie put up with the terrible weather Janie put up with it

Janie put up the terrible weather with Janie put the terrible weather up with Janie put it up with Janie put up it with

Example sentence: Holly put up with her colleague's rude comments for months before she finally complained to the boss about him.

Synonyms: tolerate, bear, endure, stand, suffer, swallow, submit to

Settle down - settled down - settled down

Meaning: If you settle down, you stop being active or excited and start to behave calmly and quietly.

Grammar: This phrasal verb may or may not have an object. If there is an object, it usually goes between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

The baby settled down Jack settled the baby down Jack settled her down

Jack settled down the baby Jack settled down her

Example sentence: The children were very excited after their game, but they soon settled down when I told them a story.

Synonyms: calm down, quieten down, relax, take it easy

Turn out - turned out - turned out

Meaning: We use turn out to talk about how a situation develops or ends.

Grammar: This phrasal verb does not usually have an object. It is often followed by an adverb or adjective.

The weather turned out fine The performance didn't turn out very well

Example sentence: She followed the recipe very carefully, but the cake still turned out really badly.

Synonyms: result, end up, finish up

Blow up - blew up - blown up

Meaning: If something blows up, it explodes violently into lots of small pieces.

Grammar: This phrasal verb may or may not have an object. If there is an object, it is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

The terrorists blew up the police station The terrorists blew the police station up The terrorists blew it up The gas canister blew up

The terrorists blew up it

Example sentence: Several people were injured when the building blew up.

Synonyms: explodeSit up - sat up - sat up

Meaning: If you sit up, you move from a lying or other position into a sitting position.

Grammar: This phrasal verb may or may not have an object. If there is an object, it must go between the verb and particle.

Jane sat up Jane sat the baby up Jane sat him up

Jane sat up the baby Jane sat up him

Example sentence: Yuki was lying on the sofa watching TV. She sat up suddenly when she heard a loud knock at the door.Throw up - threw up - thrown up

Meaning: If you throw up, the food and drink in your stomach comes up and out of your mouth.

Grammar: This phrasal verb may or may not have an object. If there is an object, it usually goes between the verb and particle.

Jack threw up Jack threw his dinner up Jack threw it up

Jack threw up it

Example sentence:I feel terrible. I have a really bad headache and I've thrown up 3 times today.

Synonyms: heave, gag, vomit, barf, be sick

GET BACK TO

Meaning: If you get back to someone, it means that you contact someone to continue an earlier conversation, or reply to a message, question or invitation. You can get back to someone face to face, by text, phone or email.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. You cannot separate the verb from its particles.

I'll get back to Keith I'll get back to him

I'll get back Keith to I'll get back him to I'll get Keith back to I'll get him back to I'll get back to

Example sentence: I'm still waiting for Marco to get back to me about the problems with the contracts.

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Synonyms: answer, respond, reply, return a call, get in touch with, let someone knowCOME UP

Meaning: If something comes up, it means that something happens, occurs or appears. It is often something that has to be dealt with straight away.

Grammar: This phrasal verb does not usually have an object. You cannot separate the verb from its particle.

Some problems came up

Came some problems up

Example sentence: I was going to apply for the job in Paris, but a better opportunity came up in my own company.

Synonyms: arise, occur, happen, appear, take place, crop up, transpire (formal)

PLAY AT

Meaning: If you ask someone what they are playing at, it means you are surprised by or unhappy about their behaviour. Although you seem to be asking a question, you do not always expect an answer!

Grammar: Here, this phrasal verb is used in a question structure as an exclamation. It cannot be separated from its particle.

What is he playing at? What is he playing at, spending so much money?

What is he playing spending so much money at?

Example sentence: I don't know what they are playing at, losing all of those computer files.

Synonyms: get up to, think ofCALM DOWN

Meaning: If you calm down, you stop being angry or excited and become more relaxed.

Grammar: This phrasal verb can be used with or without an object. The verb can be separated from its particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.

He's calmed down Can you calm the children down? Can you calm them down? She calmed down the children (this is rare)

She calmed down them

Example sentence: Since you left last month, the situation is getting better and things have calmed down.

Synonyms: relax, quieten down, settle down, ease off, take it easy, subdue

Make up

Meaning: If you and another person make up, it means you renew a relationship after an argument or, misunderstanding. It usually means that you have talked to the person and are on good terms now.

Grammar: This phrasal verb cannot usually be separated from its particle, except by the pronoun it, where it is used to refer to a friendship or relationship.

Jo and Lisa made up They made up They made it up

They made up it

Example sentence: I'm so glad that you two have talked about your differences and decided to make up.

Synonyms: repair a friendship, make amends, make good, start over, settle your differences, renew a friendship, bury the hatchet

Feel up to

Meaning: If you feel up to doing something, it means that you want to do something, or feel enthusiastic or excited about doing it. It is often used with the negative don't, meaning that you don't want to do the activity, or you don't feel well enough to do it.

Grammar: This verb needs an object (often verb?ing). It cannot be separated from its particles.

He didn't feel up to meeting his new colleagues He didn't feel up to the meeting He didn't feel up to it

He didn't feel meeting his new classmates up to He didn't feel up meeting his new classmates to He didn't feel meeting them up to He didn't feel up meeting them to

Example sentence: If we all feel up to it, we could go hiking next weekend.

Synonyms: feel like, want to, would like to, fancy, be inclined to (formal).

Freak out

Meaning: If you freak out, you become very upset, excited, angry or crazy about something.

Grammar: This phrasal verb cannot be separated from its particle. If you want to use a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.

She freaked out. That scary film freaked Sarah out. That scary film freaked her out.

That scary film freaked out Sarah. That scary film freaked out her.

Example sentence: My flatmate freaked out when she got a strange phone call at 2 o'clock in the morning.

Synonyms: be upset, be distressed, be angry, be out of control, be uncontrolled, be / go wild, be / get hystericalBump into

Meaning: If you bump into someone, you meet them by chance or unexpectedly.

Grammar: This phrasal verb must take an object. You cannot separate the verb from its particle.

We bumped into Sally. We bumped into her.

We bumped Sally into. We bumped her into. We bumped into.

Example sentence: Although we hadn't been in touch for years, it was wonderful to bump into John and Lucy the other day.

Synonyms: meet, see, come across, run into

Go back

Meaning: If you go back (for) years with someone, it means that you have known them for a very long time.

Grammar: This phrasal verb is usually followed by a time expression. The verb and particle can sometimes be separated by an adverb/adverbial phrase.

Luis and Michal go back a really long time.

Luis and Michal go a really long time back.

They go back a long way. They go a long way back. They go way back.

Example sentence: You might think that Yuki and Miho are just co-workers in the office, but actually they go back for years...

Synonyms: know well, have a long history (with), have a long acquaintance (with)

Butt in

Meaning: If you butt in, you rudely interrupt or join in a conversation without waiting for the other person to finish speaking.

Grammar: This phrasal verb does not take an object. You cannot separate this phrasal verb from its particle.

Tim butted in.

Tim butted in Mark. Tim butted Mark in.

Example sentence: I enjoyed talking to Maria so much, but Helena butted in so many times...

Synonyms: interrupt, cut someone short, cut in

Work out

Meaning: If you work out problems, or problems in a relationship it means that you try to find a positive solution to them.

Grammar: The verb and particle can be separated by a noun or pronoun.

Chris and Jane have worked out their problems. Chris and Jane have worked their problems out. They've worked their problems out. They've worked them out.

They've worked out them.

Example sentence: I thought the project could never succeed, but the team worked out all of the problems.

Synonyms: smooth out, solve, sort out, get to the bottom of, resolve

Get through to

Meaning: If you get through to someone, it means that you explain yourself clearly so that they understand what you are saying.

Grammar: This phrasal verb must be followed by an object. The verb can not be separated from its particles.

Joanne got through to the kids. Joanne got through to them.

Joanne got through the kids to. Joanne got through them to. Joanne got through to.

Example sentence: I had a long conversation with John after lunch, and I think I got through to him.

Synonyms: explain, make someone understand, make something clear, clarifyFIND OUT ABOUT

Meaning: if you find out about something, you discover a fact or information that you did not know before, often because someone was keeping it secret.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. You can not separate the verb from its particles.

He found out about the theft - RIGHT He found out about it - RIGHT

He found the theft out about - WRONG He found it out about - WRONG He found out the theft about - WRONG He found out it about - WRONG

Example sentence: Jonathan didn't find out about the missing money until the police wrote to him.

Synonyms: discover, catch on to, detect, unearth

CHEAT ON

Meaning: if you cheat on somebody, (your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend) you secretly have a sexual or romantic relationship with someone else.

Grammar: This phrasal verb must have an object. You can not separate the verb from its particle.

He cheated on his wife - RIGHT He cheated on her - RIGHT

He cheated her on - WRONG He cheated his wife on - WRONG

Example sentence: Juliet finally decided to divorce her husband when she caught him cheating on her with their next-door neighbour.

Synonyms: betray, be unfaithful to, do the dirty on, mess around, two-time

TELL ON

Meaning: if you tell on somebody, you give information about someone, usually about something bad that they have said or done, to a person in authority (like a teacher, boss or parent), knowing that this will probably result in punishment.

Grammar: This phrasal verb must have an object. You can not separate the verb from its particle.

He told on his sister - RIGHT He told on her - RIGHT

He told her on - WRONG He told his sister on - WRONG

Example sentence: When I was a child I used to steal apples from the tree in the neighbour's garden but my brother told on me and my father grounded me for a month.

Synonyms: inform (on), grass (on), sneak (on)

CATCH OUT

Meaning: if you catch somebody out, you find evidence to show that they have secretly been doing something wrong or bad.

Grammar: This phrasal verb must have an object. The object can go between the verb and particle, or after the particle. If you want to use a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

I caught my son out - RIGHT I caught him out - RIGHT I caught out my son - RIGHT

I caught out him - WRONG

Example sentence: George had successfully cheated in quite a few exams, but the examiner finally caught him out when some notes fell out of his sleeve and onto the floor.

Synonyms: discover, expose, reveal, uncover, find out, bust

LOOK AFTER

Meaning: if you look after something or someone, you take care of them and make sure they have what they need.

Grammar: This phrasal verb must have an object. You can not separate the verb from its particle.

She looked after the baby - RIGHT She looked after it - RIGHT

She looked the baby after - WRONG She looked it after - WRONG

Example sentence: I can't come to the cinema tonight - my sister's ill, so I'm going to stay at home and look after her.

Synonyms: take care of, tend (to)

TURN INTO

Meaning: If something turns into something, it becomes something different.

Grammar: This phrasal verb must have an object. You can not separate the verb from its particle. The object is not usually a pronoun.

The water turned into ice - RIGHT The water turned into it - RIGHT (this is rare)

The water turned ice into - WRONG The water turned it into - WRONG

Example sentence: I'm scared of him. When he drinks too much beer he turns into a crazy madman.

Synonyms: become, change (into) transform (into), evolve (into), develop (into), metamorphosise (into)

HANG UP

Meaning: If you hang up, you end a telephone call by breaking the connection between yourself and the person you are speaking to.

Grammar: This phrasal verb does not usually have an object (except telephone or phone). You can separate the verb from its particle, but not if the object is a pronoun.

She hung up - RIGHT She hung up the telephone - RIGHT (this is rare) She hung the phone up - RIGHT (this is rare)

She hung up it - WRONG

Example sentence: How rude - I was in the middle of telling her a story and she just hung up!

Synonyms: ring off

FACE UP TO

Meaning: If you face up to something, you accept the existence of a difficult situation.

Grammar: This phrasal verb must have an object. You can not separate the verb from its particles.

She faced up to the problem - RIGHT She faced up to it - RIGHT

She faced the problem up to - WRONG She faced it up to - WRONG She faced up the problem to - WRONG She faced up it to - WRONG She faced up to - WRONG

Example sentence: Jane, it's time to face up to your son's behavioural problems and get him the help he needs.

Synonyms: confront, accept, deal with, take on, take on board, tackle, come to terms with, stop hiding from

TAKE BACK

Meaning: If you re-start a romantic relationship that you had previously decided to end because of a problem in the relationship, you take somebody back.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. If the object is a pronoun, you always separate the verb from its particle. If it is a noun, you can either separate the verb from its particle or use it after the whole phrasal verb.

She took her husband back - RIGHT She took him back - RIGHT She took back her husband - RIGHT

She took back him - WRONG

Example sentence: Pauline had accepted that her husband was occasionally unfaithful, but when he became violent, she threw him out and refused to take him back.

Synonyms: get back together with, make up with

GIVE UP ON

Meaning: If you give up on someone or something, you stop trying to achieve something, usually because you have tried and failed in the past, or because it is too difficult.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. You can not separate the verb from its particles.

I gave up on algebra - RIGHT I gave up on it - RIGHT

I gave algebra up on - WRONG I gave it up on - WRONG I gave up algebra on - WRONG I gave up it on - WRONG

Example sentence: I have asked him so many times to arrive on time, but he is still at least 30 minutes late every morning. I give up on him!

Synonyms: reach the end of the line with

GO OUT WITH

Meaning: If you go out with someone, you have a romantic relationship with them.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. You can not separate the verb from its particles.

She's going out with Mark - RIGHT She's going out with him - RIGHT

She's going out Mark with - WRONG She's going out him with - WRONG She's going him out with - WRONG She's going Mark out with - WRONG

Example sentence: She went out with Mark for 18 months before he asked her to marry him.

Synonyms: date, see, be involved with, have a relationship with

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