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Common Phrasal Verbs Explained

The document provides definitions and examples of common phrasal verbs using the words "break", "bring", and "call". For "break", examples are given for the phrasal verbs "break down", "break even", "break in", "break off", "break out", and "break up". For "bring", examples are given for "bring about", "bring in", "bring on", "bring [something] on [oneself]", "bring to mind", and "bring up". For "call", examples are provided for "call [something] off", "call on", "call up", and "call out".

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Jan Zvoníček
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67 views3 pages

Common Phrasal Verbs Explained

The document provides definitions and examples of common phrasal verbs using the words "break", "bring", and "call". For "break", examples are given for the phrasal verbs "break down", "break even", "break in", "break off", "break out", and "break up". For "bring", examples are given for "bring about", "bring in", "bring on", "bring [something] on [oneself]", "bring to mind", and "bring up". For "call", examples are provided for "call [something] off", "call on", "call up", and "call out".

Uploaded by

Jan Zvoníček
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Common phrasal verbs

BREAK

 break down

Meaning: stop working


Example: I was late to school because my car broke down.

 break even
Meaning: neither gain nor lose

Example: I was lucky to break even at the casino last weekend.

 break in
Meaning: to interrupt when someone else is talking:

Example: As she was talking, he suddenly broke in, saying, "That's a lie."

Meaning: to enter a building illegally

Example: Thieves broke into our office and stole the computers.

 break off
Meaning: to end

Example: She broke off the conversation by hanging up the telephone.

The governments broke off diplomatic relations.

 break out
Meaning: escape X break in

Example: Three prisoners broke out of jail.

Meaning: happen suddenly, start


Example: A huge fire broke out on the fifth floor.

War broke out in 1914.

 break up
Meaning: end a relationship

Example: Mary broke up with Joe more than a year ago.


BRING

 bring about

Meaning: cause
Example: She hopes to bring about a change in his attitude.

 bring in
Meaning: yield, earn

Example: His investments bring in a profit each year.

 bring on
Meaning: cause

Example: The assassination brought on the first world war.

 bring [something] on [oneself]


Meaning: cause problems for oneself

Example: By refusing to listen to his teacher, he brought the failure on himself.

 bring to mind
Meaning: remind someone of

Example: The smell of baking bread brings my mother's kitchen to mind.

That music brings to mind our first date.

 bring up
Meaning: raise, rear

Example: After my parents died, I was brought up by my grandmother.

Meaning: introduce
Example: She brought up the subject of having children.

She's always bringing up her health problems.


CALL

 call [something] off


Meaning: cancel [something]

Example: The picnic was called off because of the rain.

 call on
Meaning: visit

Example: We plan to call on the Smith family when we visit Arizona.

 call up
Meaning: telephone

Example: A salesman called me up this morning.

 call out
Meaning: speak loudly

Example: Call out your name when I point at you.

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