Grammar: 💡 Effective Word Choice & Style - Intermediate/Advanced (B2) - Lesson 4: Expanding Range of Phrasal Verbs (separable, inseparable, multi-word)

💡 Lesson 4: Expanding Your Range of Phrasal Verbs

You are already familiar with common phrasal verbs¹ like 'get up' and 'turn on'. To advance your fluency, you need to expand² your vocabulary to include more nuanced and complex phrasal verbs. Today, we will review the basic types and introduce some powerful new ones, including three-word verbs.

New Phrasal Verbs: Discussion & Planning

Here is a new set of phrasal verbs common in conversation, meetings, and making plans.

• bring up (separable): to start talking about a subject.
  "She brought up an important point during the discussion."
• figure out (separable): to understand or solve a problem.
  "I need a moment to figure out how this machine works."
• call off (separable): to cancel³ an event.
  "They had to call off the football match because of the heavy rain."
• put off (separable): to postpone⁴ or delay an event to a later time.
  "The meeting was put off until next Friday."
• carry on (inseparable): to continue.
  "Please carry on with your work while I take this phone call."

Three-Word Phrasal Verbs

A key part of advanced English is understanding phrasal verbs that have three parts. These are almost always inseparable (the three words must stay together).

• look forward to (+ -ing): to be excited about a future event.
  "I'm really looking forward to my holiday next month."
• come up with: to think of an idea or plan.
  "My team came up with a great solution to the problem."
• get along with: to have a friendly relationship with someone.
  "Luckily, I get along with all of my colleagues."
• cut down on: to reduce the amount of something.
  "The doctor advised him to cut down on sugar and fried food."

🧠 Practice Quiz: Choose the Right Verb

Choose the best phrasal verb from the lesson to complete each sentence.

1. It took me a long time, but I finally _______ how to solve the puzzle.
   Answer: figured out
2. The outdoor concert was _______ due to the thunderstorm.
   Answer: called off (Cancelled, not just delayed).
3. I'm so excited for the Khmer New Year! I'm really _______ the holidays.
   Answer: looking forward to
4. My doctor told me I should _______ salty food for my health.
   Answer: cut down on
5. She _______ a fantastic idea for our new marketing campaign.
   Answer: came up with

📝 Homework: Complete the Idea

Complete the sentences with a phrasal verb from today's lesson in its correct form.

1. The discussion was going well until he _______ the sensitive topic of salaries.
   Answer: brought up
2. I don't have a good relationship with my manager. We don't _______ each other.
   Answer: get along with
3. Don't stop working because of me. Please _______ what you were doing.
   Answer: carry on with
4. Don't do the work now. We can _______ it _______ until next week when we have more time.
   Answer: put / off

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, off) that creates a new meaning. ↩
2. Expand: (Verb) - ពង្រីក (pâng'riek) - To increase in size, number, or importance. ↩
3. Cancel: (Verb) - បោះបង់ចោល (bâh'bâng'chaol) - To decide that an organized event will not happen. ↩
4. Postpone: (Verb) - ពន្យារពេល (pɔn'yie'peil) - To arrange for something to take place at a time later than that first scheduled. ↩
5. Three-Word Phrasal Verb: (Noun Phrase) - កិរិយាស័ព្ទកន្សោមបីពាក្យ (kĕ'rĭ'ya'sâp kân'saom bei'péak) - A phrasal verb made of a verb and two particles (e.g., look forward to). ↩