Welcome to your comprehensive guide to English phrasal verbs! If you’re aiming for a B2 level in English, understanding and using phrasal verbs is crucial. They are everywhere in spoken and written English, and mastering them will significantly boost your fluency and comprehension. In this lesson, we’ll break down what phrasal verbs are, why they are important, and how to use them effectively in your everyday English conversations. Let’s dive in and learn phrasal verbs together!

What are Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or two particles. These particles are usually prepositions or adverbs, and when combined with a verb, they create a new meaning – often one that isn’t immediately obvious from the individual words. Think of it like this: the verb and the particle team up to create a special English expression. For example, you know the verb “get” and the preposition “up” separately. But put them together as “get up,” and it means “to get out of bed” or “to stand.” This is just one example of how common phrasal verbs work.
Let’s look at some key aspects of phrasal verbs:

• Structure: Verb + Particle (preposition or adverb)
• Meaning: The combination creates a new meaning that is often idiomatic and not directly deducible from the individual words.
• Importance: Essential for understanding and speaking natural, fluent English.

Why are Phrasal Verbs Important for B2 English Learners?

At the B2 level, you’re likely comfortable with basic English grammar and vocabulary. However, to truly sound natural and understand native speakers, especially in informal settings, you need to conquer English phrasal verbs in use. Here’s why they are so important:

1. Natural English: Native English speakers use phrasal verbs constantly in everyday conversation. Ignoring them will make your English sound less natural and potentially formal in casual situations.
2. Comprehension: Movies, TV shows, podcasts, and everyday conversations are packed with phrasal verbs. Understanding them is key to fully grasping the meaning.
3. Fluency: Using phrasal verbs correctly makes your spoken English sound more fluent and sophisticated. It’s a hallmark of advanced English proficiency.
4. Vocabulary Expansion: Learning phrasal verbs significantly expands your English vocabulary and provides you with more nuanced ways to express yourself.
5. Practical Communication: Phrasal verbs are incredibly practical and cover a wide range of actions, states, and situations. They are essential for effective communication.

Don’t be intimidated! While there are many phrasal verbs, learning the most common phrasal verbs and understanding how they work will make a huge difference in your spoken English practice and overall English pronunciation tips.

Common English Phrasal Verbs in Use (B2 Level)

Let’s explore some essential phrasal verbs that are frequently used at the B2 level. We’ll look at their meanings and see them in action with example sentences to help you understand their practical usage.

1. Carry on

• Meaning: To continue doing something.
• Example: “Please carry on with your work while I’m gone.” (Continue working)
• Speaking Application: Use this to encourage someone to continue or to talk about continuing an activity yourself. “I’ll carry on studying even if it’s difficult.”

2. Look forward to

• Meaning: To feel happy and excited about something that is going to happen.
• Example: “I’m really looking forward to the weekend.” (Excited about the weekend)
• Speaking Application: Perfect for expressing anticipation and excitement. “We are looking forward to seeing you soon!”

3. Get along with

• Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
• Example: “She gets along with her colleagues really well.” (Has a good relationship with colleagues)
• Speaking Application: Use this to talk about relationships with people. “Do you get along with your neighbors?”

4. Come up with

• Meaning: To think of or create an idea, plan, or solution.
• Example: “He came up with a brilliant idea for the project.” (Thought of a brilliant idea)
• Speaking Application: Useful when discussing ideas and problem-solving. “Let’s come up with a plan to improve our English.”

5. Take after

• Meaning: To resemble a family member in appearance or character.
• Example: “She takes after her mother in her artistic abilities.” (Resembles her mother)
• Speaking Application: Use when talking about family resemblances. “You really take after your father!”

6. Fall behind

• Meaning: To fail to keep up with others or a schedule.
• Example: “If you miss too many classes, you might fall behind.” (Fail to keep up)
• Speaking Application: Useful for discussing progress and deadlines. “I need to work harder or I’ll fall behind in my studies.”

7. Look up to

• Meaning: To admire and respect someone.
• Example: “Many young athletes look up to professional sports stars.” (Admire sports stars)
• Speaking Application: Use when talking about admiration and role models. “I really look up to my teacher.”

8. Put off

• Meaning: To postpone or delay doing something.
• Example: “Don’t put off your homework until the last minute.” (Delay doing homework)
• Speaking Application: Useful for discussing procrastination and delays. “I always put off cleaning my room.”

9. Run out of

• Meaning: To have no more of something.
• Example: “We’ve run out of milk, we need to buy some more.” (Have no more milk)
• Speaking Application: Use when discussing supplies and necessities. “I’m going to run out of time if I don’t hurry.”

10. Find out

• Meaning: To discover information.
• Example: “I need to find out what time the movie starts.” (Discover the time)
• Speaking Application: Useful when asking for or giving information. “Let’s find out more about phrasal verbs!”

These are just a few examples to get you started. As you continue to improve English vocabulary, you’ll encounter many more. The key is to learn them in context and practice using them regularly.

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s your turn to practice using these phrasal verbs! Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb from the list below. Change the form of the verb if necessary.
Phrasal Verb List: carry on, look forward to, get along with, come up with, take after, fall behind, look up to, put off, run out of, find out

1. She really ___________ her grandmother, especially her sense of humor.
2. We are ___________ our vacation next month. We’re so excited!
3. If you don’t study regularly, you might ___________ in class.
4. They ___________ a great solution to the problem during the meeting.
5. I ___________ my English teacher; she’s so knowledgeable and helpful.
6. Don’t ___________ your chores; do them now!
7. Please ___________ with your presentation; we are all listening.
8. Do you ___________ your neighbors? Is your relationship friendly?
9. We’ve ___________ sugar; can you buy some from the store?
10. I need to ___________ the train schedule before we go to the station.

Answers

1. takes after
2. looking forward to
3. fall behind
4. came up with
5. look up to
6. put off
7. carry on
8. get along with
9. run out of
10. find out

Keep Practicing and Expand Your Vocabulary

Congratulations on taking another step towards mastering English! Phrasal verbs are a key part of fluent English, and with practice, you’ll become more comfortable using them in your speaking and writing. Remember to pay attention to phrasal verbs when you read and listen to English, and try to use them in your own conversations.

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