The million dollar question... How can I sound more like a native English speaker? You've been taking English classes for years and have a pretty decent level but there's still a clear difference between you and native speakers, right? Everyone wants that magic solution... Well, there are no miracles but part of the answer definitely lies in phrasal verbs. These will open up a whole new world of English speaking and vocabulary and really allow you to elevate your level to as close to native as possible. Phrasal verbs are essential to master because they are used in everyday conversation all the time. So let's start with the basics and go from there.
Why is learning phrasal verbs so important to sounding native?
Have you ever heard a native English speaker when they are speaking naturally and you hear and know all of the words but don't necessarily understand the full meaning of what they are saying? Well, they probably used a phrasal verb or two in their sentences. Being able to use these verbs fluently is what will really set you apart from other foreigners learning English. Of course, there are normal verbs and words that can take the place of a phrasal verb, but a native speaker rarely chooses those other “conventional” verbs. Instead, we tend to opt for the phrasal verb.
Knowing some of these phrasal verbs will get you speaking like a native in no time. They will also make understanding English for traveling or moving abroad much easier. Even if you watch television or movies in English, knowing these phrases will make oral comprehension much easier! Then once you hear them, take them out to the real world! Don’t be afraid to try them out yourself and make them your own!
So what is a phrasal verb?
Sometimes when you add or change a tiny little word such as a preposition or an adverb after a verb, the meaning of it all changes completely. Crazy, right? Phrasal verbs can be a bit tricky so let's take a look at a quick example and find out what what they really are:
Phrasal verbs are simply short two or three word phrases, usually a verb plus one or two prepositions, that change the meaning of the verbs. Depending on the context the meaning of the phrasal verb can also change. Sounds a bit scary, but don't worry, once you start recognizing and listening for these phrases you'll catch on in no time!
First you start with a normal verb. Let's say the verb “pick” for example. The meaning of this word usually means to choose. Have a look at this example:
Verb: Pick
“I can't pick between the burger and the salad.”
But what happens if we add the word “up” to our verb pick? We then get the phrasal verb “pick up”. Pick up... sounds great but what does that mean?
Phrasal Verb: Pick Up
So this phrasal verb has multiple meanings, but generally it means to collect something or someone.
“Can you pick up a pizza on your way home?”
“I have to pick up the kids from school today at 4PM!”
“I dropped my pencil, will you pick it up for me?”
Complicated, huh? Well, sometimes yes and sometimes no. A lot times the best way to learn phrasal verbs is to just memorize them and practice them in context in relation to you. Are you traveling and trying to sounds like a native English speaker at the same time? Let's take a look at 35 essential phrasal verbs to speak like a native during your travels.
35 essential English phrasal verbs to speak like a native
1. Look up - to search for something such as information that you need to know. This could be when you're searching for definitions of words in the dictionary, restaurants, apartments, facts about a city, a random irrelevant questions or really anything.
*Q: “Do you of any good restaurants in the area?”
A: “No, you could look them up online though.”
“When I don’t know the meaning of a new word in English, I look up the definition in an online dictionary.”
2. Pack up - a casual way to say “to pack” and can be used in the same way. Also, to get everything together and organized, usually to leave.
He packed his bag. = He packed up his bag.
“Pack up your things, we have to leave in 30 minutes.”
3. Set out - to start a trip or adventure. It can also mean to begin something new.
She set out on her 2 week trip to the mountains yesterday.
4. Head out - to leave or to start to travel.
*They had to head out at 5 am to catch their early flight.
“We have to head out now, the reservation is in 30 minutes.”
5. Hail down - a casual way to say “hail” or try to get someone’s attention. This is anytime you need to get someone's attention who is not near to you or paying attention. This is the most common way to say you need to get a taxi.
*“Hail down a taxi, we are in a hurry!”
They tried to hail down the terrible waitress.
6. Hop on - to jump onto something that is moving or will soon be moving, like a train, bus or cable car. Cities commonly have tour buses that go all over the city called 'hop on hop off tours'.
*They hopped on the cable car as it passed.
“Hop on the back of my motorbike, it’s faster than walking.”
7. Drop off - to leave someone or something at a destination.
*“I need to drop off my bag at the hotel before we go sightseeing.”
His mother dropped him off at the airport to catch his flight.
8. Look around - to investigate or examine the surroundings. Generally it means to be aware of what is around you, but not necessarily in search of something specific.
*“I like to walk around new cities and look around, it’s the best way to see everything.”
He walked into many shops and looked around to find a good souvenir to buy his family.
9. Figure (something) out - to find out the solution to a problem.
*It took him a little bit of time to figure out what the Chinese sign meant.
“I can’t figure out the answer to number 7, will you help me?”
10. Check in - to register or sign in for a flight, hotel or other service. Also, to simply acknowledge that you are there or will be there.
*“Have you checked in for your flight yet?”
The hotel said that check in is at 3 pm.*
**11. Take off- to leave the ground and start to fly. Also, means that you or something has already left or needs to leave.
*He can't stay long = He has to take off soon.
*“Sorry I arrived so late, my plane took off really late!”
12. Run up - to accumulate debt or start to owe money.
*They ran up a big bill at the fancy restaurant last night.
13. Touch down - to come back down to the ground after a flight.
*The plane finally touched down three hours behind schedule.
14. Hit up (something) - a casual way to say to go and see or experience something. It is often used similarly to ‘go to’
*“I don’t feel like going to the museum. Why don’t we hit up some of these souvenir shops instead?”
15. Get in – When someone arrives somewhere. Most commonly used for when a plane arrives on an airport.
*“Their plane should get in at 7:30 tonight if they touch down on time.”
16. Get away - To leave to go somewhere for a break or holiday. In another meaning, it can also be used imperatively to tell someone to move away from you, similar to go away.
*“I've been working so much lately and really need to get away!”
“Please get your cat away from me, I’m very allergic.”
17. Get on - To climb on board. Typically means to physically get on something such as a plane. Can also be used similarly to ‘hop on’.
*“I can't stay and chat because I need to get on the plane now.”
*“Get on my back, I will carry you up the hill.”
18. Speed up - To increase speed of a vehicle or something that is physically moving.
*“I wish this car in front of me would speed up, I'm in a hurry!”
19. Hurry up - To rush and not waste time. Usually this is used imperatively when you are telling someone to do something faster.
*“Hurry up and finish your homework so we can watch this movie!”
20. Go back - To return to where you were before. This is mostly used for a location.
*“Italy is so beautiful and I had a great visit, I can't wait to go back!”
*“Go back to the beginning of the movie, I wasn’t paying attention.”
21. See off - To go the place someone is leaving from to say goodbye. Also, to accompany someone for their departure.
*My whole family always goes with me to the airport to see me off.
22. Look forward - To be excited about something that is going to happen in the future. Usually for an event of some sort.
*“I'm really looking forward to my trip to South America next summer!”
*No one ever looks forward to Mondays…
23. Put away - to put things back where they belong or to be tidy.
*“Doing laundry isn't the difficult part, it's putting away the clothes that I don't like to do.”
*“Katie please put away your shoes when you walk in the door.”
24. Try on - this is when you are shopping for clothes and would like to see if they fit properly.
*Before you buy new jeans you should probably try them on first.
25. Fed up - to be finished with or sick of something. This is when you are frustrated with a situation of some sort and want things to change.
*“It has been raining for 5 weeks straight and I am fed up with it, I need the sun!”
26. Get along - when people are friendly and like each other.
*“I really get along great with my new roommates, they are wonderful people and we have no problems!”
*“Do you get along well with your siblings?”
27. Hang on - to keep something or to wait. This one depends on the context.
*He was lucky enough to hang on to his job while many people were fired during the crisis.
*“We're leaving now!” “Hang on, I need to finish this really fast.”
28. Hang out - a very casual way to say you are spending time with people. To relax and enjoy time with others.
*My friends and I used to hang out at the park together after school.
*“Can you hang out this weekend, I haven’t seen you in so long!”
29. Look out - to watch out or be aware and cautious of something or someone.
*“I always tell my children to look out for cars when they are crossing the street.”
*“Look out! The ball is about to hit you!”
30. Pay for - this means to pay money for something for other people or to suffer the consequences of something you did.
*“This week is my turn to pay for dinner for everyone.”
*He'll eventually pay for all of the problems he caused us last year.
31. Work out - to do physical exercise such as going to the gym to stay in shape (healthy).
*“I haven't worked out all winter and I’ve put on a lot of weight. I need to stop being lazy and get back in shape!”
32. Work (something) out - to come up with a solution or a compromise with someone.
*At first no one agreed during the meeting, but finally we worked out all of the problems in the contract.
*“They haven’t been getting along lately, but I’m sure eventually they will work it out.”
33. Call off - to cancel and activity or event.
*She decided to call of the party this weekend because she wasn't feeling well.
34. Come up (with something) - to think of an idea for something.
*They came up with some great ideas for the new team name!
*“Wow, you came up with this recipe on your own? It’s amazing!”
35. Come over - to move/go to someone or to visit.
*My friends are going to come over to watch a movie tonight.
Bonus! Cheer up - this is used for encouragement when someone is sad to try and make them happier.
*“The students were very stressed about the exams, so their teacher brought in some treats to help cheer them up.”
*“Cheer up! The sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day, no reason to be sad about little things!”
Phew! A lot to remember, right? Each of the phrasal verbs above are essential to know and to use if you really want to sound like a native speaker. All of them are very commonly used amongst natives on a daily basis. Remember to practice using them as much as you can, as putting them in real life context is by far the best way to really learn them and eventually use them without thinking. Don't try to translate them from your native language because with phrasal verbs, there is very rarely a direct translation.
Guest post by David from Break Into English
At Break Into English is an English academy specialized in 1 to 1 classes via Skype with qualified native teachers. They believe helping students to start thinking in English is one of the keys to becoming as close to a native as possible and mastering phrasal verbs are an essential part of that journey. Go for it, you won’t be let down!
You might also like: