Basics. Common Phrasal Verbs for Daily Life: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓The anatomy of a phrasal verb
A phrasal verb is a combination of a normal verb (like turn, look, or put) and one or two particles (like on, off, up, or for). Together, they create a completely new meaning. For example, looking means using your eyes, but looking for means searching for something you lost. Native speakers use these constantly to describe their everyday routines and chores.
Separable vs. inseparable verbs
One of the biggest challenges with daily phrasal verbs is knowing where to put the object: the thing you are acting upon, like your shoes, the TV, or the trash.
Some phrasal verbs are inseparable. The verb and the particle must stay together, no matter what. ✅ I am looking for my car keys. ✅ I am looking for them. ❌ I am looking them for.
However, many common chore and routine verbs are separable. This means the object can go between the verb and the particle, or after the particle. Both are perfectly fine when using a regular noun. ✅ Please turn off the oven. ✅ Please turn the oven off.
The Pronoun Exception: If a phrasal verb is separable and you replace the noun with a pronoun (like it, them, him, her), the pronoun must go in the middle. It cannot go at the end. This is a very common trap for learners! ✅ The alarm is ringing. Please turn it off. ❌ The alarm is ringing. Please turn off it.
Three-part phrasal verbs
Sometimes, everyday situations require a verb with two particles. A very common daily life example is run out of, which means to use all of your supply of something so there is none left. Three-part phrasal verbs are always inseparable. ✅ We ran out of milk this morning. ❌ We ran out milk of this morning.
Common mistakes with daily routines
Learners often confuse phrasal verbs that sound similar but describe very different parts of a routine. Pay close attention to the particle, as it completely changes the action.
Wake up vs. Get up Wake up means to stop sleeping and open your eyes. Get up means to physically leave your bed and stand up. ✅ I wake up at 7:00 AM, but I don't get up until 7:15 AM. ❌ I get up at 7:00 AM, but I don't wake up until 7:15 AM.
Look at vs. Look for Look at means directing your eyes toward something you can already see. Look for means searching for something you cannot find. ✅ I need to look for my glasses. (I lost them and am searching). ❌ I need to look at my glasses. (This means you are just staring at them while holding them).
Put on vs. Try on Put on is the everyday action of getting dressed. Try on is only used when testing clothes (usually in a store) to see if they fit. ✅ It's freezing outside, so put on your heavy jacket. ❌ It's freezing outside, so try on your heavy jacket.
Correct answers
Question 1
Help the forgetful professor finish his text message by dragging the right phrasal verbs to the blanks.
I am trying to look for my missing glasses. If you find out where my cat hid them, please tell me! We need to hurry up so we don't miss the bus.
I am trying to look for my missing glasses. If you find out where my cat hid them, please tell me! We need to hurry up so we don't miss the bus.
Look for means to search for something that is lost or needed.
Find out means to discover information or a fact.
Hurry up means to do something more quickly.
Question 2
The correct answers are Please take out the trash; it is starting to smell like a swamp in here. and You need to clean up this mess in the kitchen before dinnertime.
"Take out" means to remove something from inside to outside (like the trash).
"Clean up" means to make a place neat and tidy.
You "put away" (store in their proper place) clean clothes, rather than "throw away" (discard) them.
You "throw away" things in the trash can, rather than "put away" dishes there.
Question 3
Help the sleepy student complete his morning diary entry by dragging the correct phrasal verbs into the blanks.
I always turn off my loud alarm clock at 7:00 AM, but I refuse to get up until 7:15. Then, I quickly put on my school uniform and run to the kitchen for pancakes.
I always turn off my loud alarm clock at 7:00 AM, but I refuse to get up until 7:15. Then, I quickly put on my school uniform and run to the kitchen for pancakes.
Turn off means to stop a machine or device from operating (like silencing an alarm).
Get up means to rise from bed after sleeping.
Put on means to dress yourself in clothing.
Question 4
The correct answers are I always turn off my alarm as soon as it rings. and I put on my favorite sweater because it is chilly today.
"Turn off" means to stop a machine or device (like an alarm) from operating.
"Put on" means to dress yourself in clothing.
"Wake up" means to stop sleeping, not to dress yourself.
"Get up" means to rise from bed, while you would "turn off" the lights to go to sleep.
Question 5
ran out of, pick up, throw away
ran out of means to use all of something so that there is none left.
pick up in this context means to buy or collect something from a shop.
throw away means to put something in the trash because you no longer need it.
Question 6
The correct answers are We just ran out of milk, so please buy some at the store! and Can you pick up the birthday cake from the bakery at noon?
"Run out of" means to use all of your supply of something so that there is none left.
"Pick up" means to collect something or someone from a place.
"Look after" means to take care of someone/something. If you lost your keys, you need to "look for" (search for) them!
"Drop off" means to deliver someone or something to a destination, but you would "hang up" balloons on the ceiling.
Question 7
Help the shivering student decide what to do before stepping into the snow. Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentence.
"It's absolutely freezing outside!" shivering Sam said. "Make sure you _____ your heavy winter jacket before you leave the house."
The correct answer is put on.
The phrasal verb "put on" means to dress yourself with a piece of clothing.
Here is why the other options don't work:
• Take off is the exact opposite; it means to remove clothing. (Not a great idea in a snowstorm!)
• Try on means to wear something briefly to see if it fits, usually when shopping.
• Look for means to search for a lost item.
Question 8
turn on, plug in, turn down
turn on means to start a machine or device.
plug in means to connect an electrical device to a power source.
turn down means to decrease the volume or intensity of something.
Question 9
Complete the anxious roommate's text message by choosing the correct phrasal verb.
Hey! I'm already on the bus, but I can't remember if I touched the stove this morning. Could you please check the kitchen and _____ the oven if I left it running?
The correct answer is turn off.
The phrasal verb "turn off" means to stop a machine, appliance, or light from working by using a switch or button.
Here is why the other options are incorrect:
• Turn on means to start the machine (which would make the roommate even more anxious!).
• Turn up means to increase the power, heat, or volume.
• Turn down means to decrease the heat or volume, but it doesn't stop the machine entirely.
Question 10
Complete the frustrated roommate's sticky note by dragging the correct phrasal verbs into the spaces.
Please clean up your massive mess in the kitchen. You need to throw away the expired milk and take out the trash before it starts a new civilization in our apartment!
Please clean up your massive mess in the kitchen. You need to throw away the expired milk and take out the trash before it starts a new civilization in our apartment!
Clean up means to make a place neat and tidy.
Throw away means to put something in the garbage because you no longer need it.
Take out is used when moving something outside, such as removing the trash from a house.
Question 11
Finish the panicked student's morning complaint by selecting the correct phrasal verb.
I am going to be so late for my morning class! I have been _____ my car keys for twenty minutes, and they are nowhere to be found.
The correct answer is looking for.
The phrasal verb "look for" means to search for something that is lost or missing.
Here is what the other "look" phrasal verbs mean:
• Look at means to direct your eyes toward something.
• Look after means to take care of someone or something (like a pet or a child).
• Look up means to search for information, like finding a word in a dictionary or a business's phone number online.
Question 12
put on, look for, clean up
put on means to dress yourself in something (like shoes or a coat).
look for means to search for something you have lost.
clean up means to make a space neat and tidy.