TOP 14 Basic Phrasal Verb Pairs

TOP 14 Basic Phrasal Verb Pairs

Explanation + Extra Activities

Phrasal Verb Pairs

Here’s an easy explanation of each phrasal verb pair:


1. Put on / Take off

  • Put on: To place something on your body, like clothes or accessories.
    Example: I will put on my jacket because it’s cold.
  • Take off: To remove something from your body, like clothes or accessories.
    Example: Please take off your shoes before entering.

2. Pick up / Put down

  • Pick up: To lift something from a lower place to a higher place.
    Example: Can you pick up that book from the floor?
  • Put down: To place something from a higher place to a lower place.
    Example: Please put down the bag on the table.

3. Speed up / Slow down

  • Speed up: To go faster.
    Example: We need to speed up if we want to catch the bus.
  • Slow down: To go slower.
    Example: You should slow down; it’s dangerous to drive fast.

4. Eat in / Eat out

  • Eat in: To eat at home.
    Example: Let’s eat in tonight and cook something at home.
  • Eat out: To eat at a restaurant or outside your home.
    Example: We usually eat out on weekends.

5. Pick up / Hang up (related to phone calls)

  • Pick up: To answer a phone call.
    Example: Please pick up the phone, it’s ringing!
  • Hang up: To end a phone call.
    Example: I will hang up the call now.

6. Turn up / Turn down

  • Turn up: To increase the volume or level of something.
    Example: Can you turn up the music? I can’t hear it.
  • Turn down: To decrease the volume or level of something.
    Example: Please turn down the TV, it’s too loud.

7. Stay in / Go out

  • Stay in: To remain at home.
    Example: I’m tired, I’ll stay in tonight and watch a movie.
  • Go out: To leave the house to do something, like going to a party or event.
    Example: Let’s go out for dinner this evening.

8. Wake up / Sleep in

  • Wake up: To stop sleeping and become alert.
    Example: I wake up at 7 AM every day.
  • Sleep in: To sleep longer than usual.
    Example: I like to sleep in on weekends.

9. Pick up / Drop off (related to transportation)

  • Pick up: To collect someone or something from a location.
    Example: I will pick you up at 5 PM.
  • Drop off: To leave someone or something at a destination.
    Example: I’ll drop you off at school in the morning.

10. Turn on / Turn off

  • Turn on: To activate or start something, like lights or machines.
    Example: Can you turn on the lights? It’s dark in here.
  • Turn off: To deactivate or stop something.
    Example: Don’t forget to turn off the oven after cooking.

11. Stand up / Sit down

  • Stand up: To rise from a sitting or lying position.
    Example: Everyone, please stand up.
  • Sit down: To move from standing to sitting.
    Example: You can sit down now.

12. Stress out / Calm down

  • Stress out: To feel very anxious or worried.
    Example: I stress out when there’s too much work to do.
  • Calm down: To relax and stop feeling anxious.
    Example: Take a deep breath and calm down.

13. Get in / Get out (related to vehicles)

  • Get in: To enter a car or small vehicle.
    Example: Get in the car, we’re leaving now.
  • Get out: To leave a car or small vehicle.
    Example: When we arrive, I’ll get out of the taxi.

14. Get on / Get off (related to larger vehicles)

  • Get on: To enter a bus, train, airplane, or similar large vehicle.
    Example: We need to get on the bus at the next stop.
  • Get off: To leave a bus, train, airplane, or large vehicle.
    Example: I’ll get off the train at the next station.

These phrasal verbs are common in everyday English, and learning them will help you understand and communicate more naturally!

Extra Practice

Phrasal Verb Quiz

Instructions: Choose the correct phrasal verb that best fits the sentence or situation.


  1. Situation: It’s getting dark in the room. What should you do?
    a) Turn off the light
    b) Turn on the light
    c) Drop off the light
  2. Situation: You’re late for work and want to move faster. What should you do?
    a) Slow down
    b) Speed up
    c) Put down
  3. Situation: After a long day, you want to leave your car. What do you do?
    a) Get out of the car
    b) Get on the car
    c) Get off the car
  4. Situation: You don’t feel like going to a restaurant tonight. What will you do?
    a) Eat out
    b) Sleep in
    c) Eat in
  5. Situation: You’re in a loud room and you can’t hear the music well. What do you ask your friend?
    a) Turn down the music
    b) Turn up the music
    c) Turn off the music
  6. Situation: You see your friend struggling to carry a heavy bag. What would you do?
    a) Put down the bag
    b) Pick up the bag
    c) Turn on the bag
  7. Situation: It’s Saturday morning, and you decide to sleep longer than usual. What is this called?
    a) Wake up early
    b) Sleep in
    c) Pick up
  8. Situation: You’ve finished your phone call. What do you do with the phone?
    a) Hang up the phone
    b) Pick up the phone
    c) Drop off the phone
  9. Situation: You need to leave your friend at the airport. What do you do?
    a) Drop off your friend
    b) Pick up your friend
    c) Put down your friend
  10. Situation: After waking up, what do you do to start your day?
    a) Turn off
    b) Speed up
    c) Get up
  11. Situation: You feel anxious because of a big exam. What are you feeling?
    a) Stress out
    b) Calm down
    c) Get in
  12. Situation: You are entering the bus. What is the correct action?
    a) Get off the bus
    b) Get on the bus
    c) Put down the bus
  13. Situation: You are watching a boring movie and want to go to bed. What do you say?
    a) Turn on the movie
    b) Turn off the movie
    c) Get in the movie
  14. Situation: You’re on a long phone call and decide to end it. What do you do?
    a) Pick up the phone
    b) Hang up the phone
    c) Wake up the phone
  15. Situation: It’s raining outside, so you want to wear something to stay dry. What do you do?
    a) Take off your jacket
    b) Turn off your jacket
    c) Put on your jacket
  16. Situation: Your friend is getting anxious about a presentation. What should they do?
    a) Calm down
    b) Stress out
    c) Pick up
  17. Situation: You’re arriving at work and leaving the taxi. What do you do?
    a) Get in the taxi
    b) Get out of the taxi
    c) Pick up the taxi
  18. Situation: You want to lift a heavy box. What do you do?
    a) Put down the box
    b) Pick up the box
    c) Hang up the box
  19. Situation: You’ve been sitting for a long time and need to rise to stretch. What do you do?
    a) Sit down
    b) Stand up
    c) Get off
  20. Situation: After a busy day, you plan to relax and stay home. What are you doing?
    a) Go out
    b) Eat out
    c) Stay in
  21. Situation: Your friend is rushing through everything, but you want them to go slower. What do you say?
    a) Speed up
    b) Slow down
    c) Put on
  22. Situation: You’re leaving a party and walking to your car. What should you do?
    a) Get in the car
    b) Get out of the car
    c) Hang up the car
  23. Situation: After a long day, you need to remove your shoes. What do you do?
    a) Put on your shoes
    b) Take off your shoes
    c) Speed up your shoes
  24. Situation: Your phone is ringing, and you need to answer. What do you do?
    a) Turn on the phone
    b) Pick up the phone
    c) Hang up the phone
  25. Situation: You’re tired of sitting, and now you need to move. What do you do?
    a) Sit down
    b) Pick up
    c) Stand up
  26. Situation: It’s time for bed, but you want to delay waking up tomorrow morning. What will you do?
    a) Sleep in
    b) Wake up early
    c) Speed up
  27. Situation: You’re sitting on a bus, and it’s your stop. What do you do?
    a) Get off the bus
    b) Get on the bus
    c) Get out of the bus
  28. Situation: You’re heading to pick up your friend from the airport. What do you do?
    a) Drop off your friend
    b) Pick up your friend
    c) Hang up your friend

Answers:

  1. b) Turn on the light
  2. b) Speed up
  3. a) Get out of the car
  4. c) Eat in
  5. b) Turn up the music
  6. b) Pick up the bag
  7. b) Sleep in
  8. a) Hang up the phone
  9. a) Drop off your friend
  10. c) Get up
  11. a) Stress out
  12. b) Get on the bus
  13. b) Turn off the movie
  14. b) Hang up the phone
  15. c) Put on your jacket
  16. a) Calm down
  17. b) Get out of the taxi
  18. b) Pick up the box
  19. b) Stand up
  20. c) Stay in
  21. b) Slow down
  22. a) Get in the car
  23. b) Take off your shoes
  24. b) Pick up the phone
  25. c) Stand up
  26. a) Sleep in
  27. a) Get off the bus
  28. b) Pick up your friend

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