15 Phrasal Verbs to Improve Your Social Conversations
Phrasal verbs are essential for speaking English fluently.
They consist of a verb combined with a preposition or adverb, which changes the meaning of the original verb.
Using phrasal verbs makes your speech sound more natural and helps you connect better with people.
Here are 15 common phrasal verbs you can use in everyday social conversations.
1. Catch up
Meaning: To talk about things that have happened since you last saw someone.
Example: “Let’s catch up over coffee tomorrow.”
This is perfect for reconnecting with friends or colleagues. Use it when you want to share updates or hear about their recent news.
2. Get along
Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
Example: “I really get along with my new neighbor.”
This is useful for describing how well you interact with someone. It’s a friendly phrase that shows harmony.
3. Bring up
Meaning: To start talking about a topic.
Example: “She brought up the idea of going to the beach this weekend.”
Use this when introducing a subject into a conversation.
4. Hang out
Meaning: To spend time with someone in a relaxed way.
Example: “Do you want to hang out at the park later?”
This is a casual phrase used among friends to suggest spending time together.
5. Run into
Meaning: To meet someone unexpectedly.
Example: “I ran into my old teacher at the mall yesterday.”
This is handy for describing surprise meetings with people you know.
6. Show up
Meaning: To arrive at a place.
Example: “He didn’t show up to the party last night.”
Use this when talking about someone’s presence (or absence) at an event or meeting.
7. Put off
Meaning: To delay something or postpone it.
Example: “We had to put off the picnic because of the rain.”
This is helpful when you need to explain why plans have changed.
8. Bring along
Meaning: To take someone or something with you.
Example: “Can I bring along my sister to the dinner?”
This phrase is great for inviting someone to come with you.
9. Break up
Meaning: To end a romantic relationship.
Example: “They broke up after dating for five years.”
This is often used in personal conversations about relationships.
10. Get together
Meaning: To meet socially with others.
Example: “Let’s get together this weekend and have a barbecue.”
This is a friendly way to suggest a social gathering.
11. Turn up
Meaning: To appear or arrive.
Example: “We waited for him, but he didn’t turn up.”
It’s similar to “show up” and is often used for informal situations.
12. Make up
Meaning: To resolve a conflict or become friends again.
Example: “They had a fight but made up quickly.”
This is perfect for describing situations where people patch things up after a disagreement.
13. Take after
Meaning: To resemble a family member in appearance or behavior.
Example: “She takes after her mother in kindness.”
This is often used in casual chats about family traits.
14. Look forward to
Meaning: To be excited about something in the future.
Example: “I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
This phrase is excellent for expressing anticipation or excitement.
15. Check in
Meaning: To contact someone to see how they are doing.
Example: “I’ll check in with you later to see how everything went.”
Use this when you want to show care or keep up with someone’s situation.
How to Use These Phrasal Verbs in Conversation
- Practice: Use these phrasal verbs in daily conversations to make them part of your vocabulary.
- Combine Them: Mix these phrasal verbs with simple sentences to sound natural.
- Example: “Let’s catch up and hang out this weekend.”
- Listen and Learn: Pay attention to how native speakers use these phrases in movies or conversations.
Why Phrasal Verbs Matter
Phrasal verbs make your English more fluent and relatable. They are common in casual conversations, so using them will help you sound more like a native speaker.
Practice these 15 phrasal verbs, and you’ll notice an improvement in how easily you connect with others in social settings!
By understanding and using these simple phrasal verbs, you can make your conversations more engaging, friendly, and natural.
Happy learning! 😊
Read more:
- Mastering Articles: A, An, and The
- Understanding and Using Tenses Correctly: A Simple Guide
- Conjunctions: Linking Words for Powerful Sentences
- English Verb Tenses with Examples
