A good reference work is Macmillan Phrasal Verbs Plus (Macmillan, ISBN: 978-1-40-506390-6). To revise the three types of phrasal verbs click here.
- TURN INTO (p. 6) transitive, separable= change or develop into something different. What started out as an enjoyable holiday turned into a nightmare.
- SET UP (p. 6) transitive, separable= do all the organizarion necessary to start a business, company, system, etc. This may involve arranging things, paying money, signing legal documents, etc. He asked his secretary to set up a meeting for the following Friday.
- TAKE SOMETHING UP (p. 6) transitive, separable= start to do an activity, especially for pleasure. My 70-year-old grandmother has just taken up sailing and my grandfather is thinking of taking up Japanese.
- BE INTO SOMETHING (p. 6) transitive, inseparable= be interested in something. My brother is really into classical music. I'm not into cricket at all. I've always thought it's a very slow and boring game.
- STAND OUT (p. 6) intransitive, inseparable= be much more impressive or important than other people or things. All the candidates were good, but one in particular stands out.
- MAKE SOMETHING UP (p.7) [transitive, separable]= invent something such as a story or excuse, sometimes in order to deceive people. I think it´s very unkind of you to make up stories about him. You shouldn´t make it all up on your CV, because you can find yourself in deep water.
- CHECK OUT (p. 9) [intransitive]= pay the bill when leaving a hotel. After she checked out, she took a cab to the airport. Also, CHECK OUT OF [inseparable]: After she checked out of the hotel, she took a cab to the airport.
- STAY UP (p.9) [intransitive]= not going to bed at your usual time. Dad, can we satay up tonight and watch a film with you?
- FIND OUT (p.10) [transitive, separable]= discover information by chance or deliberately. To find out something/if.../when.../who.../what.../why.../that…/about…, etc. I found out that it was worth five times what he’d paid for it. I tried to keep him from learning its value, but he found it out. Also, FIND OUT [intransitive]= ascertain (something) through examination or inquiry. I don't know what he's up to, but I'm going to find out. **note that this verb is often intransitive even when an object seems implied or apparent, e.g. I tried to keep him from learning its value, but he found out.
- TRACK DOWN (p.10) [transitive, separable]= follow the course or movements of something or someone until it is located. To find someone or something after a lengthy search. If someone asks me to track down a copy of some rare, Spain-only pressing of an Elvis single, I’m quite happy to do it. It took us all summer to track him down.
- START OUT (Straightforward Workbook p. 5) [inseparable]= take the first steps or actions in an activity (life, career, etc.) or to be in a particular way originally. Paintballing didn't start out as a game. He started out in the mailroom but ended up a mid-level executive. START OUT AS (p. 6) transitive, inseparable= begin a new experience, action, activity, etc. Example: What started out as an enjoyable holiday turned into a nightmare.
- GET BACK (Straightforward workbook p. 5) [intransitive]= return; answer. We got back from our vacation last week. I´ll get back to you. Also, GET BACK [separable]: to recover, to regain possession of. I loaned him my iPod and never got it back.
- PUT ACROSS (p. 18) [transitive, separable]= transmit an idea or a message. John is a very good politician because he is the best at putting his ideas across.
- ADD UP (p. 19) [intransitive, inseparable]= be reasonable, plausible, or consistent; make sense. The witness's testimony simply did not add up
- BUTT IN (p. 19) [intransitive, inseparable]= It is when someone interrupts a conversation or an activity without permission. Please stop butting in. You will have a turn to speak.
- CLEAR UP (p. 19) [transitive, separable]= 1. Tidy. We always clear up the kitchen after breakfast = After breakfast we clear it up. 2. Clarify the troubles or mysteries. They should clear things up among themselves. The police managed to clear up the case of the missing diamond.
- HOLD OUT (p. 50) [transitive, separable]= offer something to someone. He got on his knees, showed her a beautiful ring and held it out to his girlfriend.
- SORT OUT (p.83) Transitive, separable= find a solution for a problem. It´ll sort itself out. It always does.
- GET BACK TO (p.83) Transitive, inseparable= contact someone at a later time.
I need to call him. I´d promised I´d get back to him today.
- PUT UP WITH (p. 83) Transitive, inseparable= accept an annoying situation without complaining. I don´t know how Linda puts up with you!
- PUT SOMEONE UP TO SOMETHING (p. 83) Transitive, Two Objects= encourage someone to do something. So it was your idea, was it? You put him up to it.
- TELL SOMEONE OFF (p. 83) Transitive, separable= criticize someone for doing something wrong. Billy's mother told him off for ruining the party.
- PUT SOMETHING OFF (p.83) Transitive, separable= avoid doing something you don't want to do. How long are you going to keep putting it off?
