Grammar: B1 - 💡 Effective Word Choice & Style - Basics - Lesson 3: Basic Phrasal Verbs - Group 2 (e.g., related to actions: look for, pick up, turn off)

💡 Lesson 3: Basic Phrasal Verbs - Common Actions

Following our last lesson on daily routines, today we will learn another group of common phrasal verbs¹. These verbs are related to general actions that you might do every day, like searching for things, completing forms, or taking care of people.

Common Action Phrasal Verbs

• look for: to try to find something you have lost.
  Example: "I'm looking for my keys. Have you seen them?"
• look after: to take care of someone or something.
  Example: "My parents are away, so I have to look after my younger brother."
• pick up: to lift something from a surface; to collect someone.
  Example: "Please pick up your clothes from the floor." / "I need to pick up my friend from the bus station."
• turn on / turn off: to start or stop a machine, light, or water.
  Example: "Please turn on the fan, it's hot." / "Don't forget to turn off the lights when you leave."
• fill in / fill out: to complete an application form² with information.
  Example: "You must fill in this form to apply for the job."
• find out: to discover³ information.
  Example: "I need to find out what time the next bus to Phnom Penh is."

Separable vs. Inseparable Review

Remember that some phrasal verbs can be separated, while others cannot.

Separable⁴ (Object can go in the middle):
pick up, turn on, turn off, fill in
Example: "Please turn the light off." or "Please turn off the light."
Rule: If the object is a pronoun (it, them), it MUST go in the middle: "Please turn it off."

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Inseparable⁵ (Verb and particle must stay together):
look for, look after, find out
Example: "I will look after your cat."
Incorrect: "I will look your cat after."

🧠 Practice Quiz: What's the Action?

Choose the best phrasal verb or word order to complete each sentence.

1. I can't find my phone. Can you help me _______ it?
   Answer: look for
2. It's too loud! Please _______ the music _______.
   Answer: turn / down (Note: 'turn down' means to reduce the volume.)
3. My neighbour is on holiday, so I have to _______ her plants for a week.
   Answer: look after
4. I need to _______ when the Phare circus starts.
   Answer: find out
5. Your pen fell on the floor. You should _______. (pick up it / pick it up)
   Answer: pick it up (The pronoun 'it' must go in the middle.)

📝 Homework: Fill in the Gaps

Complete the sentences using a phrasal verb from this list: look for, look after, pick up, turn off, fill in.

1. Before you go to sleep, you should always _______ all the lights.
   Answer: turn off
2. I've lost my wallet! I have to _______ it everywhere.
   Answer: look for
3. To get a library card, you must _______ this application form.
   Answer: fill in
4. I can't go out tonight because I need to _______ my sick mother.
   Answer: look after
5. Your clothes are on the floor. Please _______ them _______.
   Answer: pick / up

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Phrasal Verb: (Noun Phrase) - កិរិយាស័ព្ទកន្សោម (kĕ'rĭ'ya'sâp kân'saom) - A phrase with a verb and a particle (e.g., up, on) that creates a new meaning. ↩
2. Application Form: (Noun Phrase) - ទម្រង់ពាក្យសុំ (tŭm'rɔng péak'sŏm) - An official document that you write information on to apply for a job, visa, etc. ↩
3. Discover: (Verb) - រកឃើញ (rôk'kheunh) - To find information, a place, or an object, especially for the first time. ↩
4. Separable: (Adjective) - ដែលអាចបំបែកបាន (dael aach bâm'baek'baan) - Able to be moved apart. The object can go in the middle of the phrasal verb. ↩
5. Inseparable: (Adjective) - ដែលមិនអាចបំបែកបាន (dael mĭn aach bâm'baek'baan) - Not able to be moved apart. The verb and particle must stay together. ↩