Phrasal verbs

A verb + a particle that together mean something other than the parts. The heart of natural English.

What they are

A2verb + particle (= new meaning)

„get up”, „give up”, „turn on” — the particle changes the meaning. Learn them like vocabulary.

Examples

B1turn it on · turn the light on

With separable ones the object can go in the middle; a pronoun MUST: „turn it on”, not „turn on it”.

Examples

Turn the TV off. / Turn it off.
PLWyłącz telewizor. / Wyłącz go.
pronoun always in the middle
Fill in the form. / Fill it in.
PLWypełnij formularz. / Wypełnij go.

B1verb + particle (stay together)

Inseparable ones never split: „look after the kids”, „look after them”.

Examples

She looks after her parents.
PLOpiekuje się rodzicami.
I ran into an old friend.
PLWpadłem na starego znajomego.
run into = meet by chance

A2the ones you'll hear daily

A handful you'll hear every day — worth knowing from the start.

Examples

B2verb + adverb + preposition

Three-part ones are inseparable and always travel together: „put up with”, „look forward to”.

Examples

A2get up · turn off · throw away · run out of

Phrasal verbs for an ordinary day — you'll hear them in every home.

Examples

I wake up at six and get up at half past.
PLBudzę się o szóstej, a wstaję o wpół do siódmej.
wake up = stop sleeping; get up = leave the bed
Turn off the lights before you leave.
PLZgaś światła, zanim wyjdziesz.
turn off = switch off
Can you throw away the rubbish?
PLMożesz wyrzucić śmieci?
throw away = put in the bin
I need to tidy up the kitchen.
PLMuszę posprzątać kuchnię.
tidy up = make tidy

A2set off · get on · check in · pick up

Phrasal verbs for travel and moving about — from leaving home to arriving.

Examples

We set off early.
PLWyruszyliśmy wcześnie.
set off = start a journey
Get on the bus at the corner.
PLWsiądź do autobusu na rogu.
get on = board; get off = leave
We checked in at the hotel.
PLZameldowaliśmy się w hotelu.
check in = register on arrival
I'll pick you up at eight.
PLOdbiorę cię o ósmej.
pick up = collect someone

B1get on with · catch up · drop by · make up

Phrasal verbs about relationships and plans — very common in conversation.

Examples

I get on well with my colleagues.
PLDobrze dogaduję się z kolegami z pracy.
get on with = have a good relationship
Let's catch up next week.
PLSpotkajmy się i nadróbmy zaległości w przyszłym tygodniu.
catch up = meet and chat
She dropped by yesterday.
PLWpadła wczoraj z wizytą.
drop by = visit briefly
They argued but soon made up.
PLPokłócili się, ale szybko się pogodzili.
make up = reconcile

B1fill in · hand in · sort out · find out

Phrasal verbs for work, study and getting things done — handy in emails and meetings.

Examples