Here are my tips for learning advanced phrasal verbs:
- Don't learn lists of phrasal verbs according to the verb or particle. That is to say, don't learn all the phrasal verbs with the verb 'take' or all the phrasal verbs with the particle 'up'. This is confusing and quite meaningless.
- Do pay attention to phrasal verbs you come across in context, when reading, watching films or listening to podcasts.
- Do make a list of the phrasal verbs you enconter and ask your private teacher for more example sentences.
- Learning the meanings of polysemous phrasal verbs (phrasal verbs with different meanings).
- Learn phrasal verbs that are antonyms and synonyms.
- Do try and use phrasal verbs in conversation. Native speakers often use phrasal verbs when speaking as they are informal in register. Be aware that phrasal verbs in British English may differ to those in American English.
How many phrasal verbs can you make using words from the word cloud?
Antonyms and Synonyms
Learning antonyms and synonyms is a good trick to increase your knowledge of phrasal verbs. This will help you learn and remember their meanings and will be less confusing as normally the verbs and particles are different.
Here are some examples of some common antonyms and synonyms.
Antonyms (opposite meanings)
take up - give up
pick up - drop off
put on - take off
slow down - speed up
look down on - look up to
Synonyms (similar meanings)
make away - make off
look after - take care of
carry on - keep on
