10 Essential English Phrasal Verbs for Daily Life (A2)

Phrasal verbs are everywhere in daily English. We say turn on the light, get on the bus, look for your keys—simple little phrases that make you sound natural. In this lesson, you’ll learn the most useful A2-level phrasal verbs for mornings, transport, shopping, and social life, with quick tips and practice after each section.

What are phrasal verbs?

A phrasal verb = a verb + a small word (a particle) like up, on, off, for, or out. Together, they make a new meaning:

  • turn on (start a machine)
  • look for (try to find)
  • get up (leave your bed)

Some are separable (you can put the object between the verb and particle): turn on the light = turn the light on. Some are inseparable (the object goes after): look for my keys (NOT look my keys for). A few have two particles: run out of milk.

Pronunciation tip: We usually stress the particle: TURN ON, LOOK FOR, GET UP.

put verb on particle (clothes) object (can go between: put it on)

Morning moves: wake up, get up, put on, take off, turn on/off

These verbs help you talk about your morning routine.

wake up
stop sleeping; open your eyes
phrasal verb
I wake up at 6:30 on weekdays.
I stop sleeping at 6:30.
get up
leave your bed; stand up from bed
phrasal verb
I get up ten minutes after I wake up.
I leave my bed ten minutes later.
put on
dress yourself with something
phrasal verb
She put on a sweater because it was cold.
She wore a sweater.
take off
remove clothing
phrasal verb
Please take off your shoes at the door.
Remove your shoes at the door.
turn on / turn off
start / stop a device or light
phrasal verb
He turned off the TV and went to bed.
He stopped the TV and went to bed.
English
I wake up at 6:30, then I get up and turn on the coffee machine.
First I stop sleeping, then I leave the bed and start the machine.

On weekdays, I at 6:30.

After my alarm, I and make coffee.

🧠 Morning routine check

Out and about: get on/off, pick up, drop off

Use these for transport and moving around the city.

get on / get off
enter / leave a bus, train, plane
phrasal verb
We got on the bus at 8:00 and got off at Central Station.
We entered the bus at 8:00 and left it at Central Station.
pick up
collect someone or something; lift something from a surface
phrasal verb
Can you pick me up at 7?
Can you collect me at 7?
drop off
take someone/something to a place and leave them/it there
phrasal verb
I’ll drop you off at the station.
I’ll take you to the station and leave you there.
💬 Arrange the conversation

Home and shopping: look for, try on, run out of, throw away

These help you talk about finding things, shopping, and cleaning.

look for
try to find
phrasal verb
I’m looking for my keys.
I’m trying to find my keys.
try on
put on clothes to see if they fit
phrasal verb
She tried on three dresses.
She put on three dresses to check the size.
run out of
have no more of something
phrasal verb
We ran out of milk.
We have no more milk.
throw away
put something in the trash
phrasal verb
Don’t throw away the receipt.
Don’t put the receipt in the trash.
I looked it for. → I looked for it. Look for is inseparable; the object goes after the particle. We ran out milk. → We ran out of milk. Run out of needs the preposition of before the noun.
🔠 Put the words in order

Start with the subject I.

🔠 Put the words in order

Remember: ran out of + noun.

We milk, so I went to the shop.

I can’t find my wallet. I’m it.

Social life: hang out, find out, give back, look after

Use these in conversation with friends and family.

hang out
spend time relaxing with other people
phrasal verb
We hung out at a café after class.
We spent time together at a café.
find out
discover information
phrasal verb
I found out the answer online.
I discovered the answer online.
give back
return something to someone
phrasal verb
Please give the book back to Sara.
Return the book to Sara.
look after
take care of someone or something
phrasal verb
Can you look after my dog this weekend?
Can you take care of my dog this weekend?
🧠 Choose the best phrasal verb

Cultural note: everyday and informal

Phrasal verbs are very common in spoken English (and emails/messages). They often sound more friendly and natural than single-word verbs:

  • continue → carry on (informal)
  • enter → go in
  • remove → take off
  • visit → drop by

In formal writing (reports, academic essays), single-word verbs are often preferred: “Please remove your shoes” is more formal than “Please take off your shoes.” In daily conversation, phrasal verbs are perfect.

English
Could you turn the music down a little?
Please lower the volume.
English
I’ll pick you up at 7 and drop you off at the station.
I will collect you at 7 and take you to the station.

Mini practice: plan your day

Complete the sentences with a phrasal verb from the lesson.

Before work, I the coffee machine.

At the shop, I the shoes to check the size.

After dinner, I the trash.

If I can’t find my phone, I it everywhere.

Summary

  • Phrasal verbs = verb + particle(s): turn on/off, look for, get up, run out of, etc.
  • Some are separable (put it on) and some are not (look for it; run out of milk).
  • Use them to sound natural in daily life: mornings (wake up, get up, put on), transport (get on/off, pick up, drop off), shopping/home (look for, try on, run out of, throw away), and social life (hang out, give back, look after, find out).

Keep noticing them when you watch shows, listen to podcasts, or read texts. Try using 2–3 of today’s phrasal verbs in your next conversation. You’ve got this—carry on!