Grammar: Phrasal verbs

We're going to summary some of the most common phrasal verbs:

BELIEVE IN

1. When you believe in something or somebody you are sure that
something or somebody exists.
Examples of use:
a) Do you believe in God?
b) I didn't believe in ghosts until I stayed in an old castle in Romania: now
I'm certain they exist.
c) My children still believe in fairies.

CHECK IN

1. To check in is to show your ticket at an airport so that the airline knows
you have arrived, and they can put your bags on the aircraft.
Examples of use:
a) We have to check in at 8 o'clock.
b) Please check in at least one hour before your flight leaves.
The check-in (noun) is the place at the airport where you show your ticket
and let the airline know that you have arrived.

FALL OUT

1. To fall out with someone is to become upset or angry with them, and
stop being friendly with them.
Examples of use:
a) We fell out over something very small.
b) I fell out with my sister because she broke my necklace.
c) Ingrid and Beatrice fell out when Ingrid crashed Beatrice's car.
d) Marcus and Akos have fallen out.
A falling-out (noun) is an argument or disagreement.

GIVE UP

1. If you give up something (or give something up) that is bad for you (for

example alcohol, smoking, and eating fatty foods) you stop doing it or

having it.

Examples of use:

a) Eric gave up smoking two years ago.

b) We're trying to lose weight so we've given up eating cakes.

c) He had to give up drinking alcohol because it made him ill.

GROW UP

1. To grow up is to become older or to become an adult.

Examples of use:

a) When I grow up I want to be a doctor.

b) He grew up in Thailand.

c) She's growing up fast.

2. Grow up is something you say to someone who is behaving in a childish

or immature way.

HANG AROUND

1. To hang around somewhere is to spend time there doing very little.

Informal English.

This phrasal verb can also be hang round and hang about.

Examples of use:

a) Will you stop hanging around the kitchen and go and do something

useful!

b) You go on ahead. I'll hang around here and wait for William to arrive.

c) I've been hanging round all day waiting for the plumber to arrive.

HURRY UP

When you hurry up you do something more quickly.

Examples of use:

a) Can you hurry up and put your coat on, please?

b) It's nearly time for bed so hurry up and finish your homework.

c) Hurry up. Our taxi is here.

d) If you don’t hurry up we’ll miss the train.

JOIN IN

To join in something is to become involved in an activity with other people.

Examples of use:

a) Your brother is playing football. Why don't you go and join in?

b) We're playing cards tomorrow night. Come and join in. Everyone is

welcome.

c) Amelia is very shy. She never joins in with the other children's games

LOOK AFTER

If you look after somebody or something, you do whatever is needed to

keep them healthy and well, or in good condition.

Examples of use:

a) Eric looks after his family very well.

b) Look after your new shoes.

c) Can you look after your sister while I'm busy with the housework,

please?

d) Look after yourself while I'm away.

Take care of has the same meaning. 

SETTLE DOWN

1. To settle down is to start living in a place where you plan stay for a long

time, especially after living in many different places or travelling a lot.

Example of use:

I worked in many different countries when I was younger, but I came back

to the UK in 2005 and settled down and got married.

2. When two people settle down together they set up a life together and

perhaps get married, buy a house and start a family.

THROW AWAY

1. To throw away something (or throw something away) is to dispose of
something you don't want by putting in a rubbish bin, waste-paper basket,
waste-disposal unit etc.
Examples of use:
a) I threw my old coat away.
b) Why don't you throw away those smelly old shoes?
c) He has thrown away all of his rusty tools, and bought new ones.
d) She doesn't like throwing things away.