Are you ready to boost your English skills and ace your PSLE? One useful way to enhance your language is by learning phrasal verbs. These are special phrases made by combining a verb with another word, usually a little word like “up,” “down,” “in,” or “out.” When these words come together, they create a new meaning that is different from the original verb on its own. In this blog, we’re going to explore 30 of the most commonly tested phrasal verbs that can help you understand and use English more confidently in your exam and everyday conversations.
Learning phrasal verbs might seem tricky at first, but don’t worry! With WRITERS AT WORK, you can master them. Let’s dive into our list and learn what they mean and how to use them.
Why Should You Learn Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs are very popular in both spoken and written English. Here are a few reasons why learning them is important:
1. Better Understanding of English: Phrasal verbs often appear in stories, conversations, and exam questions. Knowing them will help you understand what you read and hear.
2. Natural Speaking and Writing: Using phrasal verbs makes your language sound more natural and lively. For example, saying “put off” instead of “delay” makes your speech feel friendlier.
3. PSLE Advantage: Many past PSLE papers include passages or questions that use phrasal verbs. If you’re familiar with them, you’ll be better prepared to answer questions correctly.
4. Real-Life Communication: Outside of exams, phrasal verbs are used every day. Learning them now will make you a stronger communicator for school and life.
Our Top 30 Phrasal Verbs for PSLE Success
Here is our carefully selected list of 30 phrasal verbs, along with their meanings and examples to help you remember them.
1. Break down
- Meaning: To stop working (for machines) or to become very emotional.
- Example: “My bike broke down on the way to school.” or “She broke down in tears after hearing the news.”
2. Bring up
- Meaning: To mention or start talking about something.
- Example: “During the meeting, he brought up an interesting idea.”
3. Call off
- Meaning: To cancel something.
- Example: “They called off the picnic because it started to rain.”
4. Carry on
- Meaning: To continue doing something.
- Example: “Even though it was tiring, she carried on with her homework.”
5. Come across
- Meaning: To find or meet by chance.
- Example: “I came across an old friend at the mall yesterday.”
6. Come up with
- Meaning: To think of an idea or plan.
- Example: “He came up with a brilliant idea for his science project.”
7. Cut down on
- Meaning: To reduce the amount of something.
- Example: “We need to cut down on sugar to stay healthy.”
8. Figure out
- Meaning: To understand or solve something.
- Example: “I finally figured out how to solve that tricky math problem.”
9. Fill in
- Meaning: To complete something by providing information.
- Example: “Please fill in your name and address on the form.”
10. Find out
- Meaning: To discover or learn something.
- Example: “I need to find out the time of the school assembly.”
11. Get along with
- Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
- Example: “It’s important to get along with your classmates.”
12. Give up
- Meaning: To stop trying or surrender.
- Example: “Never give up on your dreams, even when things get tough.”
13. Go over
- Meaning: To review or check something carefully.
- Example: “Let’s go over the homework together to make sure it’s correct.”
14. Grow up
- Meaning: To become an adult.
- Example: “When you grow up, you might become a teacher or a doctor.”
15. Hang on
- Meaning: To wait or hold tightly.
- Example: “Hang on a minute, I’m not finished yet!”
16. Hold on
- Meaning: Similar to “hang on,” it means to wait.
- Example: “Hold on while I grab my bag.”
17. Look after
- Meaning: To take care of someone or something.
- Example: “Can you look after my little brother while I’m away?”
18. Look forward to
- Meaning: To be excited about something in the future.
- Example: “I look forward to the school holidays every year.”
19. Look up to
- Meaning: To admire or respect someone.
- Example: “Many students look up to their teachers.”
20. Make up
- Meaning: To invent a story or excuse; also, to reconcile after an argument.
- Example: “She made up an excuse for being late.” or “They had a fight but later made up.”
21. Put off
- Meaning: To delay or postpone.
- Example: “Don’t put off your homework until the last minute!”
22. Put on
- Meaning: To dress or to pretend.
- Example: “It’s time to put on your uniform.” or “He put on a brave face, even though he was scared.”
23. Run out of
- Meaning: To have no more left.
- Example: “We ran out of milk, so I need to buy some more.”
24. Set up
- Meaning: To arrange or organize.
- Example: “The teacher set up a fun activity for the class.”
25. Show up
- Meaning: To arrive or appear.
- Example: “Everyone showed up for the school assembly.”
26. Take after
- Meaning: To resemble a family member.
- Example: “She takes after her mother in her love for reading.”
27. Take off
- Meaning: To remove something or for an airplane to leave the ground.
- Example: “Please take off your shoes before entering the house.” or “The plane took off on time.”
28. Turn down
- Meaning: To refuse or reject something.
- Example: “He turned down the invitation to the party because he was busy.”
29. Turn up
- Meaning: To appear unexpectedly or increase the volume.
- Example: “She turned up at the event even though she was not invited.” or “Can you turn up the radio, please?”
30. Work out
- Meaning: To exercise or to solve a problem.
- Example: “I work out at the gym every weekend.” or “We need to work out how to solve this puzzle.”
How Phrasal Verbs Help in the PSLE
In the PSLE English exam, phrasal verbs often appear in reading passages, comprehension questions, and even in writing sections. Here’s how mastering them can give you an edge:
- Reading Comprehension: When you understand phrasal verbs, you can better grasp the meaning of texts. Many comprehension passages include these phrases, and knowing them can help you answer questions accurately.
- Writing Skills: Incorporating phrasal verbs into your writing can make your essays and compositions sound more natural and engaging. They can also help you convey your ideas more clearly.
- Listening and Speaking: In oral exams or classroom discussions, using phrasal verbs correctly shows that you have a good command of everyday English. It makes your speech more fluent and easier to understand.
Start Early, Start Now!
Remember, learning phrasal verbs isn’t something you do overnight. It takes time and practice. Don’t be discouraged if you forget a few along the way. The important part is to keep trying and reviewing what you have learned. You can start by choosing a few from our list every week, and then slowly add more to your vocabulary.
Whether you are searching for an English tuition centre near me or the best tuition centre in Singapore, WRITERS AT WORK is here to support your child’s academic journey. Our expert tutors specialize in PSLE English oral topics, PSLE oral questions, situational writing format, and comprehension cloze strategies. We also offer English tuition for Primary 5 and English tuition for Primary 6, ensuring students are well-equipped to excel in PSLE English paper and beyond.
Attain Stellar Results with WRITERS AT WORK!
English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.
At WRITERS AT WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. WRITERS AT WORK reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how WRITERS AT WORK makes a difference, feel free to explore our website, watch our YouTube videos and catch us LIVE on TikTok!
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Commonly Asked Questions
1. What Do You Learn in English Writing Class?
At W@W, students are first taught to break down questions to understand what is being asked. Learning what the question wants is just as important as learning how to answer it.
2. How Can I Improve My Child’s Creative Writing Skills?
One way to enhance a child’s creative writing skills is by reading model compositions. After all, children cannot write about what they do not know. By reading how good essays are written and attempting to imitate them, children will pick up sentence mechanics and vocabulary they can use in their own exams. Reading more will also give students ideas about the various contexts they can write an essay about as they will be able to broaden their horizon of experiences.
3. Why is It Important to Take Writing Classes?
Writing is the most challenging literacy skill to teach because it is a combination of many different skills and abilities. Students must be logical and creative when writing to create a coherent plot while remembering how to use the correct sentence mechanics. Furthermore, a wide range of vocabulary suited to the context must be used to create the correct imagery and tone.
4. What Age Do Kids Start Creative Writing?
Children typically begin creative writing in primary school. In Singapore, children are required to do Situational Writing and Composition for their PSLE exams in Primary 6. They may begin with simple prompts and first learn how to craft basic sentences, then progress to telling a story with a coherent plot which has a source of tension and then a resolution.
