
Phrasal verbs are essential for the PTE Listening and Speaking sections because they are commonly used in conversations, lectures, and essays. In the PTE exam, listening tasks often include phrasal verbs in interviews and academic talks, while speaking tasks reward natural and fluent responses that incorporate these expressions. Using phrasal verbs correctly can demonstrate a strong command of English, helping you score higher for lexical range and fluency. They also show that you understand informal and idiomatic expressions, which are important for both understanding questions and giving effective responses.
For more examples and practice activities, explore the Comprehensive PTE Vocabulary List under ‘PTE Vocabulary Essentials.’
Table of Contents
- What Are Phrasal Verbs?
- Why Phrasal Verbs Improve Your PTE Score
- How to Use Phrasal Verbs in Context
- PTE Listening: Spotting Phrasal Verbs in Audio
- PTE Speaking: Using Phrasal Verbs in Responses
- Important Phrasal Verbs for PTE With Examples
- Extra Practice Resources
- List of PTE Vocabulary Phrasal Verbs
- FAQs About Phrasal Verbs for PTE
- Final Thoughts
1. What Are Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs give verbs new meanings that are frequently distinct from the original verb by combining them with prepositions or adverbs. They can succinctly convey activities, emotions, or changes and are frequently used in everyday English. The phrasal word “give up,” for instance, signifies “to quit” and is not the same as “give.” Since phrasal verbs are commonly used in lectures, conversations, and instructions, mastering them is crucial to comprehending and reacting appropriately on the PTE exam.
Furthermore, phrasal verbs are crucial for speaking fluency and listening comprehension because they can have several meanings depending on the situation.
Examples
- Look after – To care for – She looks after her dog.
- Break down – To stop working – The car broke down.
- Bring up – To mention – He brought up a question.
Find more examples in the Comprehensive PTE Vocabulary List under ‘Common Verb Forms.’
Types of Phrasal Verbs
- Separable: The object can be placed between the verb and the particle – Look up the word or Look the word up.
- Inseparable: The object must follow the phrasal verb – She looks after her cat.
2. Why Phrasal Verbs Improve Your PTE Score
- Wider Vocabulary: Shows you understand natural expressions.
- Better Listening: Helps you identify common phrases in audio recordings.
- Fluent Speaking: Makes your answers sound more natural.
- Stronger Essays: Adds variety and style to your writing.
3. How to Use Phrasal Verbs in Context
1. Create PTE-Style Sentences
- The teacher pointed out the error. Meaning: highlighted
- The meeting was called off because of rain. Meaning: canceled
2. Practice Synonyms
- The plane took off at 7 PM. → The plane departed at 7 PM.
Took off and departed both mean leaving, but ‘departed’ sounds more formal. - The meeting was called off due to rain. → The meeting was canceled due to rain.
‘Called off’ and ‘canceled’ are synonyms, with ‘called off’ being more conversational. - She looked after her younger brother. → She cared for her younger brother.
‘Looked after’ is informal, ‘cared for’ is more general. - We ran into an old friend at the mall. → We met an old friend at the mall. ‘Ran into’ is more casual, ‘met’ is neutral.
3. Use Phrasal Verbs in PTE Tasks
- Listening Summarize Spoken Text
The lecturer went over the main points. - Speaking Describe Image
The graph shows sales that went up quickly.
4. PTE Listening: Spotting Phrasal Verbs in Audio
Common Situations
- Interviews, academic talks, and conversations.
Example:
- The speaker brought up a new topic. Introduced
Listening Practice Tips
- Watch videos with subtitles to catch phrasal verbs.
- Take PTE listening mock tests that include dialogues.
- Keep a phrasal verb journal and review it regularly.
5. PTE Speaking: Using Phrasal Verbs in Responses
Examples in PTE Speaking
- Sales went up after the discount.
- The teacher pointed out
Speaking Practice Tips
- Record yourself and listen for phrasal verbs.
- Use at least two phrasal verbs when describing charts or trends.
- Make flashcards with phrasal verbs and their meanings.
6. Important Phrasal Verbs for PTE With Examples
For Listening and Summaries
- Bring up: To mention She brought up the topic.
- Look into: To investigate We are looking into the issue.
- Call off: To cancel The game was called off.
For Speaking and Descriptions
- Get through: To finish I got through my homework.
- Put forward: To suggest He put forward an idea.
- Go over: To review Let’s go over your work.
Practice Activity
Write five sentences using different phrasal verbs. Need more? See Comprehensive PTE Vocabulary List under ‘PTE Vocabulary Essentials.’
7. Extra Practice Resources
- Find more phrasal verbs in the Comprehensive PTE Vocabulary List.
- Use PTE mock tests to practice using phrasal verbs under timed conditions.
- Try vocabulary apps with phrasal verb quizzes.
8. List of PTE Vocabulary Phrasal Verbs
Below is a comprehensive table of 100 phrasal verbs with their meanings and example sentences.
S.No. | Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Account for | To explain the reason behind something | The report must account for all discrepancies in the data. |
2 | Add up | To calculate or to make logical sense | Her explanation just doesn’t add up with the evidence provided. |
3 | Back down | To withdraw from a conflict or concede | Despite pressure, he refused to back down during the discussion. |
4 | Bring about | To cause something to happen | New policies can bring about significant change. |
5 | Bring up | To introduce a topic or mention something | She brought up an interesting point during the meeting. |
6 | Call off | To cancel or abandon something | They had to call off the event due to unforeseen circumstances. |
7 | Calm down | To relax or become less agitated | Take a deep breath and calm down before you speak. |
8 | Carry on | To continue or persist | Despite the challenges, the team carried on with the project. |
9 | Carry out | To execute or perform a task | The scientists carried out a series of experiments. |
10 | Catch on | To become popular or understand | It took a while for the new trend to catch on. |
11 | Check in | To register or report one’s arrival | Don’t forget to check in at the hotel reception. |
12 | Check out | To leave a hotel or verify something | We should check out the new exhibit at the museum. |
13 | Come across | To find or meet by chance | I came across a rare book in the old library. |
14 | Come along | To accompany someone or to progress | Why don’t you come along on our trip? |
15 | Come by | To obtain or visit briefly | Opportunities like this don’t come by often. |
16 | Come up with | To produce or generate an idea | They came up with an innovative solution for the problem. |
17 | Count on | To rely or depend on | You can count on me for support during the exam. |
18 | Cut down on | To reduce the amount of something | We need to cut down on unnecessary expenses. |
19 | Cut off | To interrupt or remove completely | The phone call was cut off due to poor signal. |
20 | Do over | To repeat or redo something | If you’re not satisfied, you can always do the assignment over. |
21 | Do without | To manage or survive without something | During the power outage, we had to do without many modern comforts. |
22 | Figure out | To understand or solve something | It took me a while to figure out the math problem. |
23 | Fill in | To complete a form or provide missing details | Please fill in the application form completely. |
24 | Fill out | To complete by supplying required information | He filled out the survey accurately. |
25 | Find out | To discover or learn something | I need to find out the meeting time. |
26 | Get along | To have a friendly relationship | They get along well despite their differences. |
27 | Get by | To manage or survive | I can get by on a small salary if I budget wisely. |
28 | Get in | To enter or arrive | What time did you get in last night? |
29 | Get off | To leave a vehicle or disembark | We got off the bus at the next stop. |
30 | Get over | To recover from or overcome something | It took him months to get over the setback. |
31 | Give in | To surrender or yield | After long negotiations, they finally gave in to the demands. |
32 | Give up | To quit or stop trying | Don’t give up on your dreams despite the challenges. |
33 | Go ahead | To proceed or begin | You can go ahead and start the presentation. |
34 | Go along with | To agree or comply with | She decided to go along with the new proposal. |
35 | Go back | To return to a place or previous state | He went back home after the long journey. |
36 | Go on | To continue or proceed | The show must go on despite the technical difficulties. |
37 | Go over | To review or examine carefully | Let’s go over the report one more time. |
38 | Hang on | To wait or hold tightly | Hang on for a moment while I grab my coat. |
39 | Hang up | To end a phone call or suspend something | She had to hang up abruptly when the call became unproductive. |
40 | Hold on | To wait briefly or keep a firm grasp | Hold on; I’ll be with you in just a minute. |
41 | Look after | To take care of or be responsible for | Can you look after the children while I run errands? |
42 | Look for | To search or seek | I am looking for my keys; have you seen them? |
43 | Look forward to | To anticipate with pleasure | I look forward to our vacation next month. |
44 | Look into | To investigate or examine | They will look into the cause of the accident. |
45 | Look out | To be cautious or watch for | Look out! There’s a car coming. |
46 | Make out | To discern or understand; to kiss passionately | I couldn’t make out what he was saying. |
47 | Make up | To invent a story or reconcile | They made up after their argument. |
48 | Move on | To progress or leave behind | After the breakup, she decided it was time to move on. |
49 | Pass away | To die or cease to exist | Sadly, her grandmother passed away last year. |
50 | Pass out | To faint or distribute | The heat was so intense that he almost passed out. |
51 | Pick up | To collect, learn, or improve | Could you pick up some groceries on your way home? |
52 | Point out | To indicate or draw attention to something | He pointed out the errors in the draft. |
53 | Put away | To store or tidy up | Please put away your toys after playing. |
54 | Put down | To place something or belittle someone | She put down the heavy box carefully. |
55 | Put off | To postpone or delay | Don’t put off your homework until the last minute. |
56 | Put on | To dress oneself or organize an event | He put on his jacket before heading out. |
57 | Run into | To meet by chance or collide | I ran into an old friend at the grocery store. |
58 | Run out | To deplete the supply of something | We ran out of milk this morning. |
59 | Set up | To arrange or establish | They set up a new system for online learning. |
60 | Show off | To display proudly or boast | He loves to show off his skills on stage. |
61 | Show up | To appear or arrive | She showed up late to the meeting. |
62 | Shut down | To close or stop operating | The factory was shut down for renovations. |
63 | Sign up | To register or enroll | I signed up for a photography class last week. |
64 | Slow down | To decelerate or reduce speed | Slow down; you’re driving too fast. |
65 | Speak up | To talk louder or express an opinion | Please speak up if you have any questions. |
66 | Stand out | To be noticeable or exceptional | Her creative ideas make her stand out in a crowd. |
67 | Stand up | To rise or defend oneself | It’s important to stand up for what you believe in. |
68 | Start over | To begin again or restart | After the error, they decided to start over. |
69 | Start out | To begin a journey or endeavor | He started out as an intern before becoming a manager. |
70 | Take after | To resemble or inherit traits from someone | She takes after her mother in her artistic skills. |
71 | Take back | To retract a statement or reclaim something | I had to take back my words after realizing the mistake. |
72 | Take off | To depart, become successful, or remove something | The plane will take off shortly. |
73 | Take out | To remove or invite someone on an outing | He took her out for dinner last night. |
74 | Talk over | To discuss or review thoroughly | Let’s talk over the details before finalizing the plan. |
75 | Throw away | To discard or dispose of | Don’t throw away those old magazines—they might be useful. |
76 | Throw up | To vomit or abandon quickly | The smell was so strong it made him throw up. |
77 | Turn around | To reverse direction or improve suddenly | A change in strategy helped the company turn around its fortunes. |
78 | Turn back | To return or reverse course | They had to turn back because of the storm. |
79 | Turn down | To refuse or lower the volume | She turned down the job offer after careful consideration. |
80 | Turn in | To submit or go to bed | Don’t forget to turn in your assignment by Friday. |
81 | Turn off | To switch off or cause dislike | Please turn off the lights when you leave the room. |
82 | Turn on | To activate or excite | The new advertisement really turns on the audience. |
83 | Turn up | To appear or increase in volume | He turned up unexpectedly at the party. |
84 | Warm up | To heat or prepare oneself | Always warm up before exercising to avoid injury. |
85 | Watch out | To be cautious or alert | Watch out for the slippery floor. |
86 | Work out | To exercise or resolve a problem | I need to work out a solution for this technical issue. |
87 | Wipe out | To destroy completely or eliminate entirely | The hurricane wiped out the coastal town. |
88 | Zone out | To lose concentration or become inattentive | During the long lecture, he began to zone out. |
89 | Wrap up | To finish or conclude something | Let’s wrap up the meeting with a quick summary. |
90 | Break down | To collapse emotionally or analyze in detail | The car broke down on the highway. |
91 | Break in | To force entry or to get used to something | Thieves broke in through the window. |
92 | Break up | To end a relationship or disperse a group | They decided to break up after years together. |
93 | Bring back | To return something or revive a memory | That song brings back many memories. |
94 | Bring forward | To advance to an earlier time or propose an idea | They brought forward the meeting to Tuesday. |
95 | Bring in | To introduce or generate revenue | The new product helped bring in more customers. |
96 | Break out | To escape or begin suddenly | A fire broke out in the building late last night. |
97 | Break through | To overcome an obstacle or make a breakthrough | The research team finally broke through in their study. |
98 | Chip in | To contribute or help out | Everyone chipped in to buy a gift for their teacher. |
99 | Come forward | To volunteer or offer information | Several witnesses came forward with new details. |
100 | Cross out | To delete or cancel something | Please cross out any incorrect answers on your test paper. |
9. FAQs About Phrasal Verbs for PTE
Q: Why are phrasal verbs important for the PTE exam?
A: Phrasal verbs are commonly used in conversations and academic contexts, so understanding them helps you score higher in listening and speaking sections.
Q: How many phrasal verbs should I learn for the PTE?
A: Aim to learn at least 50 common phrasal verbs, focusing on those likely to appear in PTE tasks.
Q: How can I remember phrasal verbs easily?
A: Use them in sentences, create flashcards, and practice daily with listening and speaking exercises.
Q: Do phrasal verbs help in the writing section?
A: Yes, using phrasal verbs in essays can show a range of vocabulary, especially when summarizing or explaining ideas.
Q: Can I use phrasal verbs in the speaking test?
A: Absolutely! Using phrasal verbs naturally during your answers will make your speech sound fluent and native-like.
10. Final Thoughts
Learning phrasal verbs is a key skill for PTE success. Practice daily using examples from the Comprehensive PTE Vocabulary List under ‘Daily Vocabulary Practice.’ With regular use, you’ll gain confidence and improve your PTE scores. Keep practicing—every bit of progress counts!