✅ give up
✅ turn down
✅ break down
📝 give up smoking
Thematic Phrasal Verbs
📚 Common Phrasal Verbs by Theme
Grouped by semantic categories
Work/Study
Travel/Movement
✅ get off
✅ put up
✅ take off
📝 take off clothes
✅ put up
✅ take off
📝 take off clothes
Definition: Phrasal verbs consist of a verb + particle (adverb/preposition) with different meanings than individual words.
Thematic Grouping: Organizing phrasal verbs by semantic field improves memorization and usage.
Separable/Inseparable: Some phrasal verbs can be separated by objects, others cannot.
Transitive/Intransitive: Some require objects, others don't.
Tip: Learn phrasal verbs by theme rather than individually
Attention: Some phrasal verbs are separable, others inseparable
Rule: Separable phrasal verbs: verb + object + particle or verb + particle + object
Method: Create thematic vocabulary lists with example sentences
WORK THEME
give up (quit)
turn down (refuse)
break down (fail)
turn down (refuse)
break down (fail)
EMOTION THEME
calm down (relax)
cheer up (feel better)
look forward (anticipate)
cheer up (feel better)
look forward (anticipate)
HOUSE THEME
tidy up (clean)
throw away (discard)
put away (store)
throw away (discard)
put away (store)
TRAVEL THEME
set off (depart)
check in (register)
check out (leave)
check in (register)
check out (leave)
Thematic Exercises
1 Work Theme Phrasal Verbs
Instructions :
Complete the sentences with appropriate phrasal verbs from the work theme.
Step 1: "She decided to ___ her job" (quit)
Looking for phrasal verb meaning "quit": "give up"
Complete: "She decided to give up her job"
Step 2: "He ___ the offer" (refuse)
Looking for phrasal verb meaning "refuse": "turn down"
Complete: "He turned down the offer"
Step 3: "The machine ___ during the meeting" (fail)
Looking for phrasal verb meaning "fail/stop working": "break down"
Complete: "The machine broke down during the meeting"
Step 4: "Please ___ the report by Friday" (submit)
Looking for phrasal verb meaning "submit": "hand in"
Complete: "Please hand in the report by Friday"
Step 5: "I need to ___ my presentation" (prepare)
Looking for phrasal verb meaning "prepare": "work on"
Complete: "I need to work on my presentation"
Answers :
1. give up, 2. turned down, 3. broke down, 4. hand in, 5. work on
Work Theme Rules :
• Give up: Stop doing something permanently
• Turn down: Refuse an offer
• Break down: Stop functioning
2 Travel Theme Phrasal Verbs
Instructions :
Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings.
Step 1: "check in" → Meaning
At airport/hotel: register arrival → "arrive and register"
Step 2: "check out" → Meaning
At hotel: pay and leave → "leave after paying"
Step 3: "set off" → Meaning
Begin journey → "depart/start traveling"
Step 4: "get off" → Meaning
Leave vehicle → "exit bus/train/plane"
Step 5: "put up" → Meaning
Provide accommodation → "provide lodging"
Meanings :
check in: arrive and register, check out: leave after paying, set off: depart, get off: exit vehicle, put up: provide lodging
Travel Theme Rules :
• Check in/out: Registration processes at hotels/airports
• Set off: Begin a journey
• Get off: Exit transportation
3 Emotion Theme Phrasal Verbs
Instructions :
Complete the emotional situations with appropriate phrasal verbs.
Step 1: "The baby started crying, so his mother tried to ___ him ___" (calm)
Need phrasal verb meaning "make calm": "calm down"
Complete: "calm him down"
Step 2: "After the bad news, she needed to ___" (feel better)
Need phrasal verb meaning "become happier": "cheer up"
Complete: "she needed to cheer up"
Step 3: "I'm really ___ Christmas" (excited about)
Need phrasal verb meaning "anticipate with pleasure": "look forward to"
Complete: "I'm really looking forward to Christmas"
Step 4: "Stop ___ me" (bother)
Need phrasal verb meaning "bother/disturb": "bother with"
Complete: "Stop bothering me"
Answers :
1. calm him down, 2. cheer up, 3. looking forward to, 4. bothering
Emotion Theme Rules :
• Calm down: Become less agitated
• Cheer up: Become happier
• Look forward to: Anticipate with pleasure
Advanced Exercises
4 Separable vs Inseparable
Instructions :
Identify whether phrasal verbs are separable or inseparable and use correctly.
Step 1: "turn down" (separable)
Can separate: "turn the offer down" OR "turn down the offer"
Step 2: "get off" (separable)
Can separate: "get the bus off" OR "get off the bus"
Step 3: "look after" (inseparable)
Cannot separate: "look after the children" (NOT "look the children after")
Step 4: "depend on" (inseparable)
Cannot separate: "depend on you" (NOT "depend you on")
Step 5: "pick up" (separable with object)
Can separate: "pick up the book" OR "pick the book up"
Separability :
Separable: turn down, get off, pick up | Inseparable: look after, depend on
Separability Rules :
• Separable: Object can come between verb and particle
• Inseparable: Particle always follows verb
• Object Pronouns: Often require separation
5 House Theme Phrasal Verbs
Instructions :
Complete daily household activities with appropriate phrasal verbs.
Step 1: "Please ___ your room" (tidy)
Need phrasal verb meaning "organize/clean": "tidy up"
Complete: "Please tidy up your room"
Step 2: "___ those old magazines" (discard)
Need phrasal verb meaning "throw away": "throw away"
Complete: "Throw away those old magazines"
Step 3: "___ your toys after playing" (store)
Need phrasal verb meaning "store properly": "put away"
Complete: "Put away your toys after playing"
Step 4: "___ the dishes" (wash)
Need phrasal verb meaning "wash": "wash up"
Complete: "Wash up the dishes"
Step 5: "___ the lights when leaving" (turn off)
Need phrasal verb meaning "switch off": "turn off"
Complete: "Turn off the lights when leaving"
Answers :
1. tidy up, 2. throw away, 3. put away, 4. wash up, 5. turn off
House Theme Rules :
• Tidy up: Organize and clean
• Throw away: Discard as waste
• Put away: Store in proper place
Key Points Summary
Thematic Learning: Grouping phrasal verbs by theme improves retention and usage
Separability: Some phrasal verbs can be separated by objects, others cannot
Transitivity: Some phrasal verbs require objects, others don't
Practice Strategy: Use phrasal verbs in context with example sentences
Work Theme
give up, turn down
break down
Travel Theme
set off, check in
get off
Emotion Theme
calm down, cheer up
look forward to
