PHRASAL VERBS are a very important and frequently occurring feature of the English language. They consist of a verb and at least one other word, usually a preposition. Generally it is more or less impossible to see any obvious connection between the various parts of the verb and the meaning. They are therefore best learnt in whole sentences. Quite often speakers of Latin based languages can make themselves understood using a Latin alternative, but to understand native speakers it is essential to know phrasal verbs as these are nearly always the chosen form for a native speaker. 

You will see that the object pronoun comes in the middle some phrasal verbs but that if the object is a noun it follows. These are shown in blue to draw your attention to them. Other phrasal verbs are never split.

Click on a letter to go to that list.

B  C  D  E   F  G  H  J K L M N O P Q R S T U  V  W  X  Y  Z

New additions will be on coloured background. Scroll down to see new ones.

 make do [intrans]

Since we have no other income,  we must make do on our pension

make  for

head towards

 make good [intrans]     

 succeed in life

 

He had a bad start in life but he made good.

make good [trans]  

repair or replace (a defect or deficiency) [legal obligation]

 

The company shall make good any defects in this appliance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 make off with

 steal / take away without permission

 

 the thieves made off with the jewellery

 make out [a bill / cheque]

make out [a report]

 write out

make out

  assert, maintain

 

 they made out he was drunk

you make  me out to be a liar

make out

argue

 

he made out a good case for it

make out

understand

 

I can’t make  him out

 

we can’t make  out what he wants

make out

discern, distinguish

 

 how do you make that out?

 

I can't make out his handwriting

 make sth over to s.o.

to sign a document allowing ownership to be transferred

 

 he made the money over to me

 make sth. up

 to mix to recipe

 

 he made up the mixture to the right consistency

make up a total of money

 pay the residue of an amount

 

I saved half the cost and my father made up the rest.

I shall make up the difference out of my own pocket

make up

 put on make-up / use cosmetics

make up [with s.o.] 

become friends again after a quarrel

 

I refused speak her for a year but we have made up now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued

 When the next selection is added, new verbs will appear with a green background.

 

 

 

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