English Phrasal Verb Flashcards: Meaning & Word Order
54 English flashcards on 24 everyday phrasal-verb senses: meanings in context, sentence completion, and noun or pronoun word order.
Mayelana naleli qoqo
Practice 24 everyday English multi-word verb senses with 54 short flashcards. Each sense has an original sentence for meaning recall and a separate task that asks you to complete a sentence or rewrite it with a pronoun. Six grammar cards explain the object patterns behind those tasks. The deck is for learners who can already read short English explanations.
Begin with separable verbs for home routines, then use them in study and planning contexts. Next come verbs that need no object, inseparable combinations, and three-part expressions. Meaning and usage cards for the same expression are separated by at least three other cards. Read the sentence, say the answer, then reveal the back and compare. For meaning cards, an equivalent explanation is enough; completion cues and rewrite instructions narrow the intended productive answer.
The set covers turn off, pick up (collect a passenger), put away, put on, throw away, take off (remove clothing), write down, hand in, call off, look up (consult a reference), put off, fill in, wake up, break down (a machine), show up, get up, look after, run into (meet by chance), get over (an illness), look for, run out of, put up with, catch up with (reach someone ahead), and look forward to.
“Phrasal verbs” is used here in the broad learner sense: it includes particle verbs, prepositional verbs such as look after, and three-part combinations such as put up with. Object rules apply to the chosen meaning and construction. Cards distinguish noun placement from personal-pronoun placement, and include the -ing form after look forward to.
This is a focused practice set, not a frequency ranking or a complete English course. It does not cover every sense, unrestricted synonym recall, translations, audio, pronunciation, or every possible reverse prompt. Those directions need different cues or media; the selected tasks focus on meaning and usable word order. It is not aligned to a specific exam or CEFR level.
The questions, answers, examples, sequence, metadata, and cover were independently created with AI assistance. Common language facts were checked against the open English multi-word verb overview and individual Wiktionary entries; no dictionary definitions, example sentences, textbook exercises, examination questions, or competitor cards were copied. The original text and generated cover are released under CC0 1.0 to the extent applicable rights exist; reference-source text remains under its own licenses. This is an independent resource, unaffiliated with any dictionary, school, or examination provider.
Amakhadi akuleli qoqo
Ikhadi 1
Umbuzo
What does separable mean for a two-part English verb with a short noun object?
Impendulo
The noun can go between the verb and particle or after both.
Learn this pattern for the particular meaning you are using.
Ikhadi 2
Umbuzo
What does “turn off” mean here?
“Maya turned off the desk fan before the call.”
Impendulo
She stopped the fan from running.
Ikhadi 3
Umbuzo
What does “pick up” mean here?
“The driver picked up Leila at the west entrance.”
Impendulo
The driver collected Leila to give her a ride.
Ikhadi 4
Umbuzo
What does “put away” mean here?
“After lunch, I put away the clean plates.”
Impendulo
I returned the plates to the place where we keep them.
Ikhadi 5
Umbuzo
What does “put on” mean here?
“Nora put on her raincoat before leaving.”
Impendulo
Nora dressed herself in her raincoat.
Ikhadi 6
Umbuzo
Where does an unstressed personal pronoun object go with a separable English phrasal verb?
Impendulo
Between the verb and its particle.
The pattern is verb + me/you/him/her/it/us/them + particle.
Ikhadi 7
Umbuzo
What does “throw away” mean here?
“I threw away the torn envelope after saving the letter.”
Impendulo
I discarded the envelope because I no longer needed it.
Ikhadi 8
Umbuzo
What does “take off” mean here?
“I took off my wet gloves in the hallway.”
Impendulo
I removed the gloves I was wearing.
Ikhadi 9
Umbuzo
Rewrite with it: “Please turn off the desk fan.”
Impendulo
Please turn it off.
The personal pronoun goes between turn and off.
Ikhadi 10
Umbuzo
Rewrite with them: “I put away the clean plates.”
Impendulo
I put them away.
The pronoun goes between put and away.
Ikhadi 11
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on pick: “Can you ___ me ___ at the ferry terminal?” (Collect me by car.)
Impendulo
pick me up
“Can you pick me up at the ferry terminal?” The pronoun belongs between pick and up.
Ikhadi 12
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on put: “It is cold outside. Please ___ your coat.”
Impendulo
put on
“It is cold outside. Please put on your coat.” With a noun, “put your coat on” is also grammatical.
Ikhadi 13
Umbuzo
Rewrite with it: “Please throw away the torn envelope.”
Impendulo
Please throw it away.
The personal pronoun goes before away.
Ikhadi 14
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on take: “Your boots are muddy. Please ___ them ___ before entering.”
Impendulo
take them off
“Please take them off before entering.” The pronoun goes between take and off.
Ikhadi 15
Umbuzo
What does “write down” mean here?
“We wrote down the locker number in a notebook.”
Impendulo
We made a written record of the locker number.
Ikhadi 16
Umbuzo
What does “hand in” mean here?
“Each student handed in a signed permission slip.”
Impendulo
Each student submitted the slip to the person collecting it.
Ikhadi 17
Umbuzo
What does “call off” mean here?
“The organizers called off the outdoor concert because of lightning.”
Impendulo
They canceled the concert; it would not go ahead as planned.
Ikhadi 18
Umbuzo
What does “look up” mean here?
“Sam looked up the word in an online dictionary.”
Impendulo
Sam checked a reference source for information about the word.
Ikhadi 19
Umbuzo
Can you assume every meaning of an English multi-word verb has the same object pattern?
Impendulo
No. Learn the meaning and the object pattern together.
A combination may take an object in one use and need none in another.
Ikhadi 20
Umbuzo
What does “put off” mean here?
“We put off the roof inspection until next week.”
Impendulo
We delayed the inspection to a later time.
Ikhadi 21
Umbuzo
What does “fill in” mean here?
“Please fill in the registration form before the workshop.”
Impendulo
Please add the requested details to the form.
Fill in is common in British English; fill out is also used, especially in American English.
Ikhadi 22
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on write: “Please ___ the gate code so we do not forget it.”
Impendulo
write down
“Please write down the gate code so we do not forget it.” “Write out” also fits if you mean writing the code in full. With a noun, “write the gate code down” is also grammatical.
Ikhadi 23
Umbuzo
Rewrite with it: “I must hand in my assignment today.”
Impendulo
I must hand it in today.
The pronoun goes between hand and in.
Ikhadi 24
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on call: “The venue is unsafe. We must ___ the concert.” (Cancel it.)
Impendulo
call off
“We must call off the concert.” With a noun, “call the concert off” is also grammatical.
Ikhadi 25
Umbuzo
Rewrite with it: “I will look up the address.”
Impendulo
I will look it up.
In this information-search sense, look up is separable.
Ikhadi 26
Umbuzo
Rewrite with it: “Please fill in the registration form.”
Impendulo
Please fill it in.
“Please fill it out” is also valid if you choose the alternative expression fill out; this rewrite keeps fill in.
Ikhadi 27
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on put: “We cannot inspect the roof today. We will ___ the inspection until Friday.”
Impendulo
put off
“We will put off the inspection until Friday.” “Put back” is also a valid answer here. With a noun, “put the inspection off” is also grammatical.
Ikhadi 28
Umbuzo
What does intransitive mean when a dictionary labels an English verb use?
Impendulo
That use takes no direct object.
Time and place phrases can still follow it; they are not direct objects.
Ikhadi 29
Umbuzo
What does “wake up” mean here?
“I woke up at six but stayed in bed for a while.”
Impendulo
I stopped sleeping at six. I did not necessarily leave the bed then.
Ikhadi 30
Umbuzo
What does “break down” mean here?
“Our washing machine broke down halfway through the cycle.”
Impendulo
The washing machine stopped working because of a fault.
Ikhadi 31
Umbuzo
What does “show up” mean here?
“Only three people showed up for the early meeting.”
Impendulo
Only three people arrived or attended.
Ikhadi 32
Umbuzo
What does “get up” mean here?
“I was awake at six, but I got up at half past six.”
Impendulo
I left my bed at half past six.
Ikhadi 33
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on wake: “I usually ___ at six, then lie in bed for ten minutes.”
Impendulo
wake up
“I usually wake up at six, then lie in bed for ten minutes.” No object is needed in this use.
Ikhadi 34
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on break: “Poor maintenance can cause the lift to ___.” (Stop working.)
Impendulo
break down
“Poor maintenance can cause the lift to break down.” The machine is the subject; this use needs no object.
Ikhadi 35
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on show: “Please ___ before the rehearsal starts.” (Arrive.)
Impendulo
show up
“Please show up before the rehearsal starts.” No object is needed in this use.
Ikhadi 36
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on get: “I am already awake, but I do not want to ___ yet.” (Leave bed.)
Impendulo
get up
“I am already awake, but I do not want to get up yet.” Being awake and leaving bed are different actions.
Ikhadi 37
Umbuzo
In an ordinary statement with an inseparable verb + preposition combination, where does its object go?
Impendulo
After the preposition, whether the object is a noun or a pronoun.
Do not move that object between the verb and preposition.
Ikhadi 38
Umbuzo
What does “look after” mean here?
“My neighbor looks after our cat when we travel.”
Impendulo
My neighbor takes care of the cat.
Ikhadi 39
Umbuzo
What does “run into” mean here?
“I ran into an old classmate at the bakery and we chatted.”
Impendulo
I met the classmate by chance.
Here it means an unexpected meeting, not a physical collision.
Ikhadi 40
Umbuzo
What does “get over” mean here?
“It took Amir a week to get over his cold.”
Impendulo
Amir needed a week to recover from the cold.
Ikhadi 41
Umbuzo
What does “look for” mean here?
“I am looking for the key I dropped near the bench.”
Impendulo
I am trying to find the missing key.
Ikhadi 42
Umbuzo
Rewrite with her: “We look after our young niece on Mondays.”
Impendulo
We look after her on Mondays.
The object stays after the word after; do not put her between look and after.
Ikhadi 43
Umbuzo
Complete with a phrasal verb based on run: “I did not expect to ___ my old classmate at the bakery.” (Meet by chance.)
Impendulo
run into
“I did not expect to run into my old classmate at the bakery.” “Run across” is also a valid answer here. With a pronoun, say “run into her.”
Ikhadi 44
Umbuzo
Rewrite with it: “I hope to get over this cold soon.”
Impendulo
I hope to get over it soon.
In the recovery sense, the object stays after over.
Ikhadi 45
Umbuzo
Rewrite with them: “We are looking for our keys.”
Impendulo
We are looking for them.
The object stays after for.
Ikhadi 46
Umbuzo
After look forward to, which form of a following verb is needed?
Impendulo
The -ing form.
For example: “I look forward to visiting the island.” To is a preposition here, not an infinitive marker.
Ikhadi 47
Umbuzo
What does “run out of” mean here?
“The printer stopped because we ran out of paper.”
Impendulo
We had no paper left to use.
Ikhadi 48
Umbuzo
What does “put up with” mean here?
“I can put up with the noise for one afternoon.”
Impendulo
I can tolerate the noise even though I find it annoying.
Ikhadi 49
Umbuzo
What does “catch up with” mean here?
“Mina walked faster to catch up with the rest of the group.”
Impendulo
Mina tried to reach the people who were ahead of her.
Ikhadi 50
Umbuzo
What does “look forward to” mean here?
“We are looking forward to our weekend at the lake.”
Impendulo
We feel pleased and excited about the coming weekend.
Ikhadi 51
Umbuzo
Complete with a three-word expression based on run: “We need more envelopes before we ___ them.” (Have none left.)
Impendulo
run out of
“We need more envelopes before we run out of them.” The object comes after of.
Ikhadi 52
Umbuzo
Rewrite with it: “I cannot put up with this noise.”
Impendulo
I cannot put up with it.
The object follows with; keep put up with together in this sentence.
Ikhadi 53
Umbuzo
Complete with a three-word expression based on catch: “They are walking ahead. Hurry so we can ___ them.”
Impendulo
catch up with
“Hurry so we can catch up with them.” This means reaching them, not exchanging news. Catch up to is also correct here.
Ikhadi 54
Umbuzo
Complete with a three-word expression based on look: “I ___ seeing you on Saturday.” (I am happy about the planned visit; use the simple present.)
Impendulo
look forward to
“I look forward to seeing you on Saturday.” Here to is a preposition, so the following verb takes the -ing form.
amakhadi angu-54
English Phrasal Verb Flashcards: Meaning & Word Order
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