English Proficiency Programme

A collection of Phrasal Verbs


Root Verb

Derived Phrasal Verb

Meaning(s)

break

break away

leave, escape, secede

break down

fail, collapse, decompose, analyse

break in

enter by force/stealth, interrupt

break up

dissolve

break out

erupt

bring

bring about

cause

bring down

reduce

bring forth

produce

bring forward

show, highlight

bring in

introduce

bring out

reveal, publish

bring round

restore (to sense), convince, persuade

bring under

subdue

fall

fall away

leave/desert

fall back

retreat

fall back upon

seek recourse to

fall behind

lag

fall down

collapse

fall in

take correct position, agree

fall off

diminish

fall out

quarrel

fall through

fail

fall upon

assail

look

look after

take care of

look at

behold

look down on/upon

disdain/despise

look for

search

look forward to

expect eagerly

look into

investigate

look on

regard, spectate

look out

watch

look over

examine

look up

refer (to find)

look up to

respect

take

take aback
(used in third form)

astonish

take after

resemble

take away

remove

take back

retract (word or promise)

take down

write down

take in

admit, deceive

take for

assume, consider/regard

take off

remove (item of clothing),
move forward/upward suddenly with high speed

take on

hire, undertake, confront

take over

acquire control of

take up

occupy, start, accept

There are many others. Make an additional list.

For this list itself, try adding more phrasal verbs for the root verbs and completing the study by constructing illustrative sentences.


- Bhaskar Dasgupta