Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language and play a significant role in everyday communication. For students preparing for the IELTS exam, mastering phrasal verbs can greatly enhance both their speaking and writing skills. Phrasal verbs consist of a verb combined with one or more prepositions or adverbs, which together change the original meaning of the verb.
Understanding phrasal verbs can help IELTS test-takers sound more natural and fluent, as they are commonly used in both formal and informal English. This blog will guide you through some of the most important phrasal verbs, their meanings, and examples to boost your IELTS vocabulary.
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or an adverb, forming a new meaning different from the original verb. For example, the verb “give” has a straightforward meaning, but when combined with “up,” it becomes “give up,” meaning to stop trying or surrender.
Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important for IELTS?
Speaking and Writing: Using phrasal verbs can make your language sound more natural and fluent. In IELTS Speaking, using the right phrasal verbs shows a good grasp of English idiomatic usage.
Listening and Reading: Phrasal verbs appear frequently in listening and reading sections, especially in conversations or informal texts.
List of Important Phrasal Verbs for IELTS
Common phrasal verbs that will help you prepare for the IELTS exam:
Phrasal Verb
Meaning
Example
Break down
Stop functioning (machine)
The car broke down in the middle of the highway.
Carry on
Continue
Despite the rain, we carried on with the event.
Come across
Find or meet by chance
I came across an interesting article online.
Cut down on
Reduce the amount of
He’s trying to cut down on sugar to improve his health.
Drop off
Leave something or someone
I’ll drop you off at the station on my way to work.
Figure out
Understand, find the answer
I finally figured out how to use this software.
Get along with
Have a good relationship with
She gets along well with her colleagues at work.
Give up
Stop trying
He gave up smoking after 10 years of addiction.
Look after
Take care of
Can you look after my dog while I’m away?
Look into
Investigate
The company is looking into the complaint.
Make up
Invent a story or excuse
She made up an excuse for being late to the meeting.
Put off
Postpone
We decided to put off the meeting until next week.
Run into
Meet unexpectedly
I ran into my old school friend at the mall yesterday.
Take off
Leave the ground (airplane)
The plane took off an hour late due to technical issues.
Turn down
Reject an offer or proposal
She turned down the job offer because of the low salary.
Turn up
Appear or arrive unexpectedly
He turned up at the party even though he wasn’t invited.
Work out
Exercise, solve a problem
I try to work out at the gym every morning.
Bring up
Mention or introduce a topic
He brought up the issue during the meeting.
Call off
Cancel
They had to call off the event due to bad weather.
Run out of
Use up completely
We ran out of milk, so we need to buy more.
Mastering phrasal verbs is a great way to boost your IELTS vocabulary and improve your overall fluency in English. With regular practice and usage, you can naturally incorporate them into your communication. Remember, phrasal verbs are commonly used by native speakers, so including them in your IELTS test can demonstrate a higher level of language proficiency.
