Hook

What time do you get up? Do you look forward to work? English speakers use tiny two-word combinations like these constantly — they’re called phrasal verbs.

Notice

“I get up at 7am.” — “She looks after her little brother.” — “Can you turn off the lights?” — “He’s looking for a new job.”

Rule

A phrasal verb is a verb + a small word (up, on, off, for, after) that together create a new meaning, often different from the individual words. get up = wake and leave bed; look after = take care of; turn off = switch off; look for = search for. Most are learned individually, like vocabulary, not by grammar rules.

Practice

  1. I usually ______ (get up) at 6:30. Answer: get up
  2. Can you ______ (turn off) the TV, please? Answer: turn off
  3. She’s ______ (look after) her grandmother this week. Answer: looking after
  4. He’s ______ (look for) his keys — have you seen them? Answer: looking for
  5. What time do you usually ______ (get up) on weekends? Answer: get up

Connect

Test your phrasal verb knowledge with our Phrasal Verbs Quiz.

Try our Phrasal Verbs Quiz →

This lesson supports: I can use a series of phrases to describe my daily routine in simple terms.

Azizul Hakim