Phrasal Verbs for IELTS Vocabulary
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.
Good luck with your IELTS preparation!
