50 Essential Phrasal Verbs Every English Learner Should Know
Published: June 17, 2026 · 15 min read
Phrasal verbs—combinations of verbs with prepositions or adverbs—are one of the most challenging yet essential aspects of English. Native speakers use them constantly in everyday conversation, but they can be confusing for Myanmar learners because their meanings often can't be guessed from the individual words. This guide covers 50 of the most common phrasal verbs you'll hear and use in daily English.
What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb combines a verb with a preposition or adverb (or both) to create a new meaning different from the original verb. For example:
look (to use your eyes) → simple verb
look up (to search for information) → phrasal verb
look after (to take care of) → phrasal verb
Myanmar doesn't have an equivalent structure, which is why these are particularly challenging. You must learn them as complete units, not as separate words.
Daily Life & Routines
1. Wake up
Meaning: Stop sleeping
Example: I wake up at 7 AM every morning.
2. Get up
Meaning: Get out of bed
Example: I woke up at 7, but didn't get up until 7:30.
3. Get dressed
Meaning: Put on your clothes
Example: She got dressed quickly and left for work.
4. Go out
Meaning: Leave home for social activities
Example: Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?
5. Come back
Meaning: Return to a place
Example: What time will you come back home?
6. Sit down
Meaning: Take a seat
Example: Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.
7. Stand up
Meaning: Rise to your feet
Example: Everyone stood up when the teacher entered.
8. Take off
Meaning: Remove clothing or items
Example: Please take off your shoes before entering.
9. Put on
Meaning: Wear or place on your body
Example: Don't forget to put on your coat—it's cold outside.
10. Turn on/off
Meaning: Start/stop a device or light
Example: Can you turn on the light? / Turn off the TV when you're done.
Work & Study
11. Look up
Meaning: Search for information in a reference
Example: If you don't know the word, look it up in a dictionary.
12. Write down
Meaning: Record something on paper
Example: Write down the important points from the lecture.
13. Fill out
Meaning: Complete a form
Example: Please fill out this application form.
14. Hand in
Meaning: Submit work to a teacher or authority
Example: Don't forget to hand in your homework tomorrow.
15. Figure out
Meaning: Solve or understand something
Example: I can't figure out how to use this software.
16. Work out
Meaning: Calculate or solve; also: exercise
Example: Can you work out the total cost? / I work out at the gym three times a week.
17. Carry out
Meaning: Perform or complete a task
Example: The team will carry out research on this topic.
18. Go over
Meaning: Review or examine
Example: Let's go over the lesson one more time before the test.
19. Catch up
Meaning: Reach the same level as others
Example: I was sick last week, so I need to catch up on my work.
20. Keep up
Meaning: Continue at the same pace
Example: The teacher speaks fast, and it's hard to keep up.
Communication
21. Speak up
Meaning: Speak louder or express your opinion
Example: Could you speak up? I can't hear you.
22. Bring up
Meaning: Mention or introduce a topic
Example: She brought up an interesting point in the meeting.
23. Point out
Meaning: Draw attention to something
Example: He pointed out several errors in the report.
24. Find out
Meaning: Discover information
Example: I need to find out what time the meeting starts.
25. Get across
Meaning: Communicate successfully
Example: It's difficult to get my ideas across in English.
Relationships & Social
26. Get along/on
Meaning: Have a good relationship
Example: I get along well with my classmates.
27. Fall out
Meaning: Have an argument and stop being friends
Example: They fell out over money and haven't spoken since.
28. Make up
Meaning: Become friends again after an argument
Example: They had a fight but made up the next day.
29. Look after
Meaning: Take care of
Example: Can you look after my dog while I'm away?
30. Grow up
Meaning: Become an adult; also: behave more maturely
Example: I grew up in Yangon. / Stop acting childish and grow up!
Decision & Action (Continued in full article...)
This article covers 30 essential phrasal verbs. The remaining 20 phrasal verbs include: give up, take up, pick up, drop off, run into, come across, set up, break down, call off, put off, look forward to, deal with, count on, run out of, get rid of, cut down, show up, go through, come up with, and think over.
Tips for Learning Phrasal Verbs
Learn in context: Study phrasal verbs in complete sentences, not in isolation
Group by theme: Study related phrasal verbs together (daily routines, work, relationships)
Practice daily: Use 2-3 new phrasal verbs each day in your own sentences
Keep a notebook: Record phrasal verbs with examples and Myanmar translations
Listen actively: Notice phrasal verbs in movies, songs, and conversations
Be patient: Native speakers spend years learning these—don't expect to master them overnight
Start Using Them Today
Phrasal verbs are essential for natural, fluent English. While they may seem overwhelming at first, focusing on the most common ones and using them regularly will make them feel natural. Start with the daily life verbs (wake up, get up, go out) and gradually add more to your vocabulary. Soon you'll find yourself using phrasal verbs automatically, just like native speakers do.