Common Phrasal Verbs (look up, get on) | English Grammar Guide for French Students

• 1 Consist of a verb + particle (adverb/preposition)
• 2 Meaning is idiomatic (not literal)
• 3 Very common in everyday English
• 4 Often have multiple meanings depending on context

1 Definition: To search for information in a dictionary, database, or other resource
2 Example: "I will look up the word in the dictionary"
3 Context: Used when seeking specific information
4 Structure: Subject + look up + object

1 Definition: To improve or become better
2 Example: "Things are starting to look up"
3 Context: Used to express optimism about future
4 Structure: Things look up (no object needed)

1 Definition: To visit someone or somewhere
2 Example: "I'll look up my old friend when I'm in town"
3 Context: Used when planning to meet someone
4 Structure: Subject + look up + person/place

1 Definition: To board a vehicle (bus, train, plane)
2 Example: "We need to get on the bus now"
3 Context: Used when entering public transportation
4 Structure: Subject + get on + vehicle

1 Definition: To continue with a task or activity
2 Example: "Let's get on with the presentation"
3 Context: Used when resuming or continuing work
4 Structure: Subject + get on + with + object

1 Definition: To have a relationship with someone
2 Example: "How do you get on with your classmates?"
3 Context: Used when asking about relationships
4 Structure: Subject + get on + with + person

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example	Context
look up	Search for information	Look up the definition	Research/study
look up	Improve situation	Things are looking up	Optimism
look up	Visit someone	Look up my friend	Social
get on	Board vehicle	Get on the bus	Transportation
get on	Continue with task	Get on with work	Productivity
get on	Have relationship	Get on with colleagues	Social dynamics

1 Separable: Object can go between verb and particle
2 Example: "Look up the word" OR "Look the word up"
3 When object is a pronoun: Must go between verb and particle
4 Example: "Look it up" (NOT "Look up it")

1 Non-separable: Particle must stay with verb
2 Example: "Get on with it" (cannot separate)
3 When object is a pronoun: Still cannot separate
4 Example: "Get on with it" (NOT "Get it on with")

• 1 Taking phrasal verbs literally: "look up" doesn't always mean looking upward
• 2 Separating non-separable phrasal verbs: "Get on with it" (not "Get it on with")
• 3 Using incorrect prepositions: "get on with" vs "get along with"
• 4 Confusing similar phrasal verbs: "look up" vs "look after"

1 ✓ Correct: "I'll look up the answer"
2 ✗ Incorrect: "I'll look up the answer" (thinking it means looking upward)
3 ✓ Correct: "How do you get on with your friends?"
4 ✗ Incorrect: "How do you get on your friends?" (missing "with")

1. Please _______ the meaning of this word in the dictionary. (look up/get on)

2. We need to _______ the bus before it departs. (get on/look up)

3. Things are finally starting to _______. (look up/get on)

4. How do you _______ with your new neighbors? (get on/look up)

5. Let's _______ with the presentation. (get on/look up)

6. I'll _______ my old friend when I visit Paris. (look up/get on)

7. The weather is _______ after yesterday's storm. (looking up/getting on)

8. We need to _______ the plane in 30 minutes. (get on/look up)

9. The student decided to _______ the definition in the online resource. (look up/get on)

10. How do you _______ with your study routine? (get on/look up)

1. look up (search for information)

2. get on (board the bus)

3. look up (improve)

4. get on (have relationship)

5. get on (continue with task)

6. look up (visit)

7. looking up (improving)

8. get on (board)

9. look up (search for)

10. get on (continue with)

1 English: Uses phrasal verbs with different meanings
2 French: Uses single verbs or verb + preposition combinations
3 English: "Look up" = "chercher" (single verb in French)
4 French: More consistent verb-preposition relationships

1 Look up (information): "chercher" or "rechercher"
2 Get on (transport): "monter dans"
3 Get on (relationship): "s'entendre avec"
4 Look up (improve): "aller mieux" or "s'améliorer"

1 Look up: Think "up" = elevate knowledge (research)
2 Get on: Think "on" = onto something (boarding)
3 Context clue: Consider the sentence context to determine meaning
4 Practice regularly: Use phrasal verbs in daily conversations

• 1 Practice with real-life scenarios
• 2 Focus on the context to determine meaning
• 3 Read English texts to see natural usage patterns
• 4 Create sentences using each meaning of the phrasal verbs

• Look up has multiple meanings: search for information, improve, visit someone
• Get on has multiple meanings: board vehicle, continue with task, have relationship
• Phrasal verbs have idiomatic meanings that differ from literal translations
• Context determines the correct meaning of phrasal verbs
• Some phrasal verbs are separable, others are not

Remember: Look up = research/visit/improve, Get on = board/continue/have relationship!

• Start with the most common meanings first
• Practice with real-life examples
• Pay attention to context clues