Summary of Punctuation Marks

Summary of Punctuation Marks

Click on the link for each punctuation mark to find out more.

Punctuation Mark	Name	Example
	full stop or period	I like English.
	comma	I speak English, French and Thai.
	semi-colon	I don't often go swimming; I prefer to play tennis.
	colon	You have two choices: finish the work today or lose the contract.
	hyphen	This is a rather out-of-date book.
	dash	In each town—London, Paris and Rome—we stayed in youth hostels.
	question mark	Where is Shangri-La?
	exclamation mark exclamation point (AmE)	"Help!" she cried. "I'm drowning!"
	slash, forward slash or oblique	Please press your browser's Refresh/Reload button.
	backslash	C:\Users\Files\jse.doc
	double quotation marks	"I love you," she said.
	single quotation marks	'I love you,' she said.
	apostrophe	This is John's car.
	underline	Have you read War and Peace?
	underscore	bin_lad@cia.gov
	round brackets	I went to Bangkok (my favourite city) and stayed there for two weeks.
	square brackets	The newspaper reported that the hostages [most of them French] had been released.
	ellipsis mark	One happy customer wrote: "This is the best program...that I have ever seen."

Prepositions beginning with N

One-word prepositions

near

• The school is near the post office.
• It's 20 December. We are very near Christmas Day.

notwithstanding

• Notwithstanding the low price, I don't want it.
• They went swimming, notwithstanding the rain.
• They went swimming, the rain notwithstanding.

Complex prepositions

near to

• There is a restaurant near to my office. Just two minutes away.

next to

• The school is next to the bank. Between the hotel and the bank.

Prepositions beginning with M

One-word prepositions

minus

• 10 minus 3 = 7.
• The temperature is minus 30 degrees centigrade.

Prepositions beginning with L

One-word prepositions

less

• 10 less 3 = 7.

like

• She is like her sister.
• She sings like a bird.
• It's not like John to complain.
• Do it like this.
• I feel like swimming.
• It looks like rain.
• I want something cold, like iced-coffee.

Prepositions beginning with I

One-word prepositions

in

• Monkeys live in the jungle.
• John is the man with his hand in his pocket.
• I live in an apartment.
• She lives in Bangkok.
• Tara was born in 1977.
• Trains were invented in the nineteenth century.
• I'll come back in two weeks.
• Let's meet in the morning.
• There are 60 seconds in a minute.

including

• The price is $70 including $10 for delivery. (Total = $70.)
• There were four of us, including the baby.

inside

• It was dark inside the tunnel.
• My modem is inside my computer. It's an internal modem.

into

• John went into that shop.
• If you heat ice it turns into water.
• We cut the cake into ten pieces.
• Five into ten makes two.

Complex prepositions

in addition to

• There were two people in addition to me. So that made three of us.

in between

• He is in between the two opinions. He wants to compromise.

in case of

• You can phone me in case of need. Day or night.

in face of

• He reacts bravely in face of danger.

in favour of

• I am not in favour of your idea. It won't work.

in front of

• You can park your car in front of my house.
• I couldn't see the film because the woman in front of me was wearing a big hat.

in lieu of

• I don't have any dollars. Can I pay euro in lieu of dollars?

in spite of

• We went swimming in spite of the cold water.

instead of

• We don't have any tea. Would you like coffee instead of tea?

in view of

• In view of your illness, we will wait for a week.

Prepositions beginning with G

One-word prepositions

given

• He is in very good health, given his age. He's at least 95.
• Given the time, you ought to leave now.

gone (mainly British English)

• It's certainly gone 11 o'clock. It must be 11.30.
• He's gone 50. He must be nearly 60 years old.

Prepositions beginning with F

One-word prepositions

following

• We had coffee following lunch.
• He couldn't work following his illness.

for (also conjunction)

• This is for you.
• Do you want to go for a walk?
• You use a corkscrew for opening bottles.
• Cigarettes are bad for you.
• I'm saving for a new car.
• Is this the road for Rome?
• They passed me over for John.
• Is this the train for Cambridge?
• I bought it for $10.
• We worked for three hours.
• Keep walking for two kilometres.

from

• Where do you come from?
• This letter is from my wife.
• I bought this car from Henry.
• They prevented me from entering.
• My car is different from yours.
• We worked from Monday to Wednesday.
• Paper is made from wood.
• It can cost anything from $5 to $15.
• The police took my driving licence from me.
• He died from overwork.

Complex prepositions

forward of

• He was sitting forward of me in the plane. I could just see the back of his head.

further to

• Further to your letter, I have spoken to Mr Brown.

Prepositions beginning with E

One-word prepositions

except

• You can have any colour except blue. There is no more blue.
• They all came except Stephen. He didn't want to come.

excepting

• I can eat anything excepting pork. It makes me sick.
• Excepting Jo, everyone was present. No-one knew where Jo was.

excluding

• It costs $70, excluding $10 for delivery. (Total = $80.)
• We open every day excluding Christmas Day. On Christmas Day we have a holiday.

Complex prepositions

except for

• Everyone was present, except for Mary. She stayed at home.

Prepositions beginning with D

One-word prepositions

despite

• We went swimming despite the cold water.
• He passed the test despite being ill.

down

• They ran down the hill.
• The post office is down the road.
• They have had many wars down the years.

during

• He fell asleep during the meeting.
• I want to go swimming during the weekend.
• I was bored during the whole film.

Complex prepositions

depending on

• We'll play tennis tomorrow, depending on the rain.

due to

• The cancellation was due to the rain. There was no other reason.

Prepositions beginning with C

One-word prepositions

circa

• He died circa 1270.

concerning

• Your teacher talked to me concerning your homework.
• I have some questions concerning your decision.

considering

• Considering the poor quality, I think the price is too high.
• I think I must be going, considering the time.

counting

• There were four people, or five counting the baby.
• That makes $70, not counting the tax.

cum

• I have a study-cum-bedroom.
• She is a kind of secretary-cum-receptionist.

Complex prepositions

close to

• My car is close to your car. About two cars away.

contrary to

• Contrary to expectations, the euro fell in value.

Prepositions beginning with B

One-word prepositions

bar

• Everyone came bar Angela.
• He is the best bar none.

barring

• Barring rain, we'll play tennis tomorrow.

before (also conjunction)

• We had lunch [1pm] before the meeting [3pm].
• We met the day before yesterday.
• She was before me in the queue.
• I would rather die before doing that.

behind

• There is a police car behind us. It's following us.
• We have a garden behind our house.
• The child was hiding behind the tree.
• I am behind your project. I will support it.
• Vonica finished behind Shirley in the race.
• She is behind the other children in her class.

below

• Much of Holland is below sea-level.
• There is a family in the flat below us.
• The temperature is 5 degrees below freezing point. [-5ºC]
• I came below Vonica in the test.
• You can buy it if it's below $50.

beneath

• Our garage is beneath our house.
• The tunnel runs beneath the sea.
• Laurence is beneath the General Manager.
• It was beneath his dignity to do that.

beside

• The river runs beside our house.
• James was sitting beside Miriam.

besides

• What shall we have besides coffee?

between

• Tara was sitting between Ram and Ati.
• Between you and me, I think she's crazy.
• I can meet you between 1pm and 2pm.

beyond

• Can you see someone in the distance, beyond that house?
• This is too difficult. It's beyond me.
• The meeting continued beyond midnight.

but (also conjunction)

• Everyone came but Andrea.

by

• We came by car.
• Fireworks were invented by the Chinese.
• He was shot by a professional killer.
• It happened by accident.
• He lost the race by five seconds.
• The room is 10 metres by 6 metres.
• We must finish by Tuesday.
• We were sitting by the window.
• By my calculation he must be 73.

Complex prepositions

because of

• We can't play tennis because of the rain.

but for

• It's your fault! But for you, I'd have been on time.

by means of

• You open a door by means of its handle.

Prepositions beginning with A

One-word prepositions

aboard

• We went aboard the boat.
• Is there a doctor aboard the plane?

about

• What do you think about Mary?
• Let's talk about something different.
• I've just read a book about President Kennedy.
• The lion was pacing about its cage.

above

• We are flying above the clouds.
• We live in the hills, 1,000 metres above sea-level.
• It's only two degrees above freezing point. [+2ºC]
• Who came above you in the test results?

across

• We drove across the desert.
• The dog ran across the road.
• There is a bridge across the river.
• She lives in the house across the street. It's nearly opposite mine.

after (also conjunction)

• We had lunch [1pm] after the meeting [11am].
• Let's meet the day after tomorrow.

against

• Did you vote for or against the suggestion?
• He put his bicycle against the wall.

along

• We walked along the beach for two miles.
• There are trees along the road.
• The toilet is along the corridor.

alongside

• Their boat came alongside our boat.
• Team A worked alongside Team B during construction.

amid | amidst (poetic)

• I couldn't hear her amid the noise.
• We were lost amidst the trees.

among | amongst (mainly British English)

• Is there a doctor among us?
• There were secret police among the crowd.
• I was amongst strangers. I didn't know anyone.

anti

• He seems to be anti my idea.
• Some people are anti everything.

around

• We walked around the town for an hour.
• They all sat around the camp fire.
• There is a big fence around the house.
• He was born around 1570.
• Let's meet around 7pm.

as (also conjunction)

• He is working as a waiter.
• The risk is as nothing compared to the profit.
• Ram is as tall as Anthony.

astride

• She sat astride the horse.

at

• He is at school.
• We first met at a party.
• Let's start the meeting at 9 o'clock.
• He started work at 17 (years of age).
• We are aiming at sales of $1,000,000.

atop (poetic)

• The church is situated atop a hill.

Complex prepositions

according to

• According to John, Mary was late. I believe John.

ahead of

• Anthony is ahead of Rachel in the race. He'll win.
• We have a long day ahead of us. Let's get going!

à la (from French)

• It's a TV show à la CNN. Same style, similar content.

along with

• Do you want some pork along with the chicken?

apart from

• Nobody objected apart from you, so we did it.

as for

• As for Matt, he will arrive later.

aside from

• I have another car aside from this one. Both are red.

as per

• We must work strictly as per the law.

as to

• As to your behaviour, I think you were wrong.

as well as

• You should telephone as well as write, just to be sure.

away from

The cat ran away from the dog and escaped.

Prepositions Short List

A short list of 70 common English prepositions

Here is a list of 70 of the more common one-word prepositions. Many of these prepositions have more than one meaning. Please refer to a dictionary for precise meaning and usage.

• aboard
• about
• above
• across
• after
• against
• along
• amid
• among
• anti
• around
• as
• at

• before
• behind
• below
• beneath
• beside
• besides
• between
• beyond
• but
• by

• concerning
• considering

• despite
• down
• during

• except
• excepting
• excluding

• following
• for
• from

• in
• inside
• into

• like

• minus

• near

• of
• off
• on
• onto
• opposite
• outside
• over

• past
• per
• plus

• regarding
• round

• save
• since

• than
• through
• to
• toward
• towards

• under
• underneath
• unlike
• until
• up
• upon

• versus
• via

• with
• within
• without

Phrasal Verbs List

Phrasal Verbs List

Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them as you come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once. Use the list below as a reference guide when you find an expression that you don't recognize. The examples will help you understand the meanings. If you think of each phrasal verb as a separate verb with a specific meaning, you will be able to remember it more easily. Like many other verbs, phrasal verbs often have more than one meaning.

This list shows about 200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and examples. Only the most usual meanings are given. Some phrasal verbs may have additional meanings.

Verb		Meaning	Example
ask someone out		invite on a date	Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.
ask around		ask many people the same question	I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.
add up to something		equal	Your purchases add up to $205.32.
back something up		reverse	You'll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
back someone up		support	My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.
blow up		explode	The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
blow something up		add air	We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.
break down		stop functioning (vehicle, machine)	Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.
break down		get upset	The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.
break something down		divide into smaller parts	Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.
break in		force entry to a building	Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.
break into something		enter forcibly	The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.
break something in		wear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel new	I need to break these shoes in before we run next week.
break in		interrupt	The TV station broke in to report the news of the president's death.
break up		end a relationship	My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.
break up		start laughing (informal)	The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
break out		escape	The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking.
break out in something		develop a skin condition	I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
bring someone down		make unhappy	This sad music is bringing me down.
bring someone up		raise a child	My grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
bring something up		start talking about a subject	My mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports.
bring something up		vomit	He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.
call around		phone many different places/people	We called around but we weren't able to find the car part we needed.
call someone back		return a phone call	I called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend.
call something off		cancel	Jason called the wedding off because he wasn't in love with his fiancé.
call on someone		ask for an answer or opinion	The professor called on me for question 1.
call on someone		visit someone	We called on you last night but you weren't home.
call someone up		phone	Give me your phone number and I will call you up when we are in town.
calm down		relax after being angry	You are still mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car.
not care for someone/something		not like (formal)	I don't care for his behaviour.
catch up		get to the same point as someone else	You'll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty.
check in		arrive and register at a hotel or airport	We will get the hotel keys when we check in.
check out		leave a hotel	You have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.
check someone/something out		look at carefully, investigate	The company checks out all new employees.
check out someone/something		look at (informal)	Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
cheer up		become happier	She cheered up when she heard the good news.
cheer someone up		make happier	I brought you some flowers to cheer you up.
chip in		help	If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon.
clean something up		tidy, clean	Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside.
come across something		find unexpectedly	I came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet.
come apart		separate	The top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.
come down with something		become sick	My nephew came down with chicken pox this weekend.
come forward		volunteer for a task or to give evidence	The woman came forward with her husband's finger prints.
come from somewhere		originate in	The art of origami comes from Asia.
count on someone/something		rely on	I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.
cross something out		draw a line through	Please cross out your old address and write your new one.
cut back on something		consume less	My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.
cut something down		make something fall to the ground	We had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm.
cut in		interrupt	Your father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle.
cut in		pull in too closely in front of another vehicle	The bus driver got angry when that car cut in.
cut in		start operating (of an engine or electrical device)	The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to 22°C.
cut something off		remove with something sharp	The doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured.
cut something off		stop providing	The phone company cut off our phone because we didn't pay the bill.
cut someone off		take out of a will	My grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.
cut something out		remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)	I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
do someone/something over		beat up, ransack (Br.E., informal)	He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done over by a street gang.
do something over		do again (N.Amer.)	My teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn't like my topic.
do away with something		discard	It's time to do away with all of these old tax records.
do something up		fasten, close	Do your coat up before you go outside. It's snowing!
dress up		wear nice clothing	It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.
drop back		move back in a position/group	Andrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bike.
drop in/by/over		come without an appointment	I might drop in/by/over for tea some time this week.
drop someone/something off		take someone/something somewhere and leave them/it there	I have to drop my sister off at work before I come over.
drop out		quit a class, school etc	I dropped out of Science because it was too difficult.
eat out		eat at a restaurant	I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat out.
end up		eventually reach/do/decide	We ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre.
fall apart		break into pieces	My new dress fell apart in the washing machine.
fall down		fall to the ground	The picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning.
fall out		separate from an interior	The money must have fallen out of my pocket.
fall out		(of hair, teeth) become loose and unattached	His hair started to fall out when he was only 35.
figure something out		understand, find the answer	I need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.
fill something in		to write information in blanks (Br.E.)	Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number.
fill something out		to write information in blanks (N.Amer.)	The form must be filled out in capital letters.
fill something up		fill to the top	I always fill the water jug up when it is empty.
find out		discover	We don't know where he lives. How can we find out?
find something out		discover	We tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out.
get something across/over		communicate, make understandable	I tried to get my point across/over to the judge but she wouldn't listen.
get along/on		like each other	I was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along/on.
get around		have mobility	My grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.
get away		go on a vacation	We worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week.
get away with something		do without being noticed or punished	Jason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests.
get back		return	We got back from our vacation last week.
get something back		receive something you had before	Liz finally got her Science notes back from my room-mate.
get back at someone		retaliate, take revenge	My sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.
get back into something		become interested in something again	I finally got back into my novel and finished it.
get on something		step onto a vehicle	We're going to freeze out here if you don't let us get on the bus.
get over something		recover from an illness, loss, difficulty	I just got over the flu and now my sister has it.
get over something		overcome a problem	The company will have to close if it can't get over the new regulations.
get round to something		finally find time to do (N.Amer.: get around to something)	I don't know when I am going to get round to writing the thank you cards.
get together		meet (usually for social reasons)	Let's get together for a BBQ this weekend.
get up		get out of bed	I got up early today to study for my exam.
get up		stand	You should get up and give the elderly man your seat.
give someone away		reveal hidden information about someone	His wife gave him away to the police.
give someone away		take the bride to the altar	My father gave me away at my wedding.
give something away		ruin a secret	My little sister gave the surprise party away by accident.
give something away		give something to someone for free	The library was giving away old books on Friday.
give something back		return a borrowed item	I have to give these skates back to Franz before his hockey game.
give in		reluctantly stop fighting or arguing	My boyfriend didn't want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in.
give something out		give to many people (usually at no cost)	They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store.
give something up		quit a habit	I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.
give up		stop trying	My maths homework was too difficult so I gave up.
go after someone		follow someone	My brother tried to go after the thief in his car.
go after something		try to achieve something	I went after my dream and now I am a published writer.
go against someone		compete, oppose	We are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight.
go ahead		start, proceed	Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.
go back		return to a place	I have to go back home and get my lunch.
go out		leave home to go on a social event	We're going out for dinner tonight.
go out with someone		date	Jesse has been going out with Luke since they met last winter.
go over something		review	Please go over your answers before you submit your test.
go over		visit someone nearby	I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think I'll go over for an hour or two.
go without something		suffer lack or deprivation	When I was young, we went without winter boots.
grow apart		stop being friends over time	My best friend and I grew apart after she changed schools.
grow back		regrow	My roses grew back this summer.
grow up		become an adult	When Jack grows up he wants to be a fireman.
grow out of something		get too big for	Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she has grown out of her old ones.
grow into something		grow big enough to fit	This bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by next year.
hand something down		give something used to someone else	I handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.
hand something in		submit	I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
hand something out		to distribute to a group of people	We will hand out the invitations at the door.
hand something over		give (usually unwillingly)	The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.
hang in		stay positive (N.Amer., informal)	Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job very soon.
hang on		wait a short time (informal)	Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
hang out		spend time relaxing (informal)	Instead of going to the party we are just going to hang out at my place.
hang up		end a phone call	He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.
hold someone/something back		prevent from doing/going	I had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park.
hold something back		hide an emotion	Jamie held back his tears at his grandfather's funeral.
hold on		wait a short time	Please hold on while I transfer you to the Sales Department.
hold onto someone/something		hold firmly using your hands or arms	Hold onto your hat because it's very windy outside.
hold someone/somethingup		rob	A man in a black mask held the bank up this morning.
keep on doing something		continue doing	Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.
keep something from someone		not tell	We kept our relationship from our parents for two years.
keep someone/something out		stop from entering	Try to keep the wet dog out of the living room.
keep something up		continue at the same rate	If you keep those results up you will get into a great college.
let someone down		fail to support or help, disappoint	I need you to be on time. Don't let me down this time.
let someone in		allow to enter	Can you let the cat in before you go to school?
look after someone/something		take care of	I have to look after my sick grandmother.
look down on someone		think less of, consider inferior	Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your dad has looked down on me.
look for someone/something		try to find	I'm looking for a red dress for the wedding.
look forward to something		be excited about the future	I'm looking forward to the Christmas break.
look into something		investigate	We are going to look into the price of snowboards today.
look out		be careful, vigilant, and take notice	Look out! That car's going to hit you!
look out for someone/something		be especially vigilant for	Don't forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail.
look something over		check, examine	Can you look over my essay for spelling mistakes?
look something up		search and find information in a reference book or database	We can look her phone number up on the Internet.
look up to someone		have a lot of respect for	My little sister has always looked up to me.
make something up		invent, lie about something	Josie made up a story about about why we were late.
make up		forgive each other	We were angry last night, but we made up at breakfast.
make someone up		apply cosmetics to	My sisters made me up for my graduation party.
mix something up		confuse two or more things	I mixed up the twins' names again!
pass away		die	His uncle passed away last night after a long illness.
pass out		faint	It was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out.
pass something out		give the same thing to many people	The professor passed the textbooks out before class.
pass something up		decline (usually something good)	I passed up the job because I am afraid of change.
pay someone back		return owed money	Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you back on Friday.
pay for something		be punished for doing something bad	That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother.
pick something out		choose	I picked out three sweaters for you to try on.
point someone/something out		indicate with your finger	I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.
put something down		put what you are holding on a surface or floor	You can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter.
put someone down		insult, make someone feel stupid	The students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short.
put something off		postpone	We are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane.
put something out		extinguish	The neighbours put the fire out before the firemen arrived.
put something together		assemble	I have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.
put up with someone/something		tolerate	I don't think I can put up with three small children in the car.
put something on		put clothing/accessories on your body	Don't forget to put on your new earrings for the party.
run into someone/something		meet unexpectedly	I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
run over someone/something		drive a vehicle over a person or thing	I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.
run over/through something		rehearse, review	Let's run over/through these lines one more time before the show.
run away		leave unexpectedly, escape	The child ran away from home and has been missing for three days.
run out		have none left	We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash my hair with soap.
send something back		return (usually by mail)	My letter got sent back to me because I used the wrong stamp.
set something up		arrange, organize	Our boss set a meeting up with the president of the company.
set someone up		trick, trap	The police set up the car thief by using a hidden camera.
shop around		compare prices	I want to shop around a little before I decide on these boots.
show off		act extra special for people watching (usually boastfully)	He always shows off on his skateboard
sleep over		stay somewhere for the night (informal)	You should sleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home.
sort something out		organize, resolve a problem	We need to sort the bills out before the first of the month.
stick to something		continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing	You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
switch something off		stop the energy flow, turn off	The light's too bright. Could you switch it off.
switch something on		start the energy flow, turn on	We heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio.
take after someone		resemble a family member	I take after my mother. We are both impatient.
take something apart		purposely break into pieces	He took the car brakes apart and found the problem.
take something back		return an item	I have to take our new TV back because it doesn't work.
take off		start to fly	My plane takes off in five minutes.
take something off		remove something (usually clothing)	Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake!
take something out		remove from a place or thing	Can you take the garbage out to the street for me?
take someone out		pay for someone to go somewhere with you	My grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.
tear something up		rip into pieces	I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and gave them back to him.
think back		remember (often + to, sometimes + on)	When I think back on my youth, I wish I had studied harder.
think something over		consider	I'll have to think this job offer over before I make my final decision.
throw something away		dispose of	We threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery.
turn something down		decrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)	Please turn the TV down while the guests are here.
turn something down		refuse	I turned the job down because I don't want to move.
turn something off		stop the energy flow, switch off	Your mother wants you to turn the TV off and come for dinner.
turn something on		start the energy, switch on	It's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights on.
turn something up		increase the volume or strength (heat, light etc)	Can you turn the music up? This is my favourite song.
turn up		appear suddenly	Our cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighbourhood.
try something on		sample clothing	I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't think they will fit.
try something out		test	I am going to try this new brand of detergent out.
use something up		finish the supply	The kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more.
wake up		stop sleeping	We have to wake up early for work on Monday.
warm someone/something up		increase the temperature	You can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace.
warm up		prepare body for exercise	I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I go for a run.
wear off		fade away	Most of my make-up wore off before I got to the party.
work out		exercise	I work out at the gym three times a week.
work out		be successful	Our plan worked out fine.
work something out		make a calculation	We have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.

Phrasal Verbs List

Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them as you come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once. Use the list below as a reference guide when you find an expression that you don't recognize. The examples will help you understand the meanings. If you think of each phrasal verb as a separate verb with a specific meaning, you will be able to remember it more easily. Like many other verbs, phrasal verbs often have more than one meaning.

This list shows about 200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and examples. Only the most usual meanings are given. Some phrasal verbs may have additional meanings.

Verb		Meaning	Example
ask someone out		invite on a date	Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.
ask around		ask many people the same question	I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.
add up to something		equal	Your purchases add up to $205.32.
back something up		reverse	You'll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
back someone up		support	My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.
blow up		explode	The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
blow something up		add air	We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.
break down		stop functioning (vehicle, machine)	Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.
break down		get upset	The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.
break something down		divide into smaller parts	Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.
break in		force entry to a building	Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.
break into something		enter forcibly	The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.
break something in		wear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel new	I need to break these shoes in before we run next week.
break in		interrupt	The TV station broke in to report the news of the president's death.
break up		end a relationship	My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.
break up		start laughing (informal)	The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
break out		escape	The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking.
break out in something		develop a skin condition	I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
bring someone down		make unhappy	This sad music is bringing me down.
bring someone up		raise a child	My grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
bring something up		start talking about a subject	My mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports.
bring something up		vomit	He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.
call around		phone many different places/people	We called around but we weren't able to find the car part we needed.
call someone back		return a phone call	I called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend.
call something off		cancel	Jason called the wedding off because he wasn't in love with his fiancé.
call on someone		ask for an answer or opinion	The professor called on me for question 1.
call on someone		visit someone	We called on you last night but you weren't home.
call someone up		phone	Give me your phone number and I will call you up when we are in town.
calm down		relax after being angry	You are still mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car.
not care for someone/something		not like (formal)	I don't care for his behaviour.
catch up		get to the same point as someone else	You'll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty.
check in		arrive and register at a hotel or airport	We will get the hotel keys when we check in.
check out		leave a hotel	You have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.
check someone/something out		look at carefully, investigate	The company checks out all new employees.
check out someone/something		look at (informal)	Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
cheer up		become happier	She cheered up when she heard the good news.
cheer someone up		make happier	I brought you some flowers to cheer you up.
chip in		help	If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon.
clean something up		tidy, clean	Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside.
come across something		find unexpectedly	I came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet.
come apart		separate	The top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.
come down with something		become sick	My nephew came down with chicken pox this weekend.
come forward		volunteer for a task or to give evidence	The woman came forward with her husband's finger prints.
come from somewhere		originate in	The art of origami comes from Asia.
count on someone/something		rely on	I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.
cross something out		draw a line through	Please cross out your old address and write your new one.
cut back on something		consume less	My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.
cut something down		make something fall to the ground	We had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm.
cut in		interrupt	Your father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle.
cut in		pull in too closely in front of another vehicle	The bus driver got angry when that car cut in.
cut in		start operating (of an engine or electrical device)	The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to 22°C.
cut something off		remove with something sharp	The doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured.
cut something off		stop providing	The phone company cut off our phone because we didn't pay the bill.
cut someone off		take out of a will	My grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.
cut something out		remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)	I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
do someone/something over		beat up, ransack (Br.E., informal)	He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done over by a street gang.
do something over		do again (N.Amer.)	My teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn't like my topic.
do away with something		discard	It's time to do away with all of these old tax records.
do something up		fasten, close	Do your coat up before you go outside. It's snowing!
dress up		wear nice clothing	It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.
drop back		move back in a position/group	Andrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bike.
drop in/by/over		come without an appointment	I might drop in/by/over for tea some time this week.
drop someone/something off		take someone/something somewhere and leave them/it there	I have to drop my sister off at work before I come over.
drop out		quit a class, school etc	I dropped out of Science because it was too difficult.
eat out		eat at a restaurant	I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat out.
end up		eventually reach/do/decide	We ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre.
fall apart		break into pieces	My new dress fell apart in the washing machine.
fall down		fall to the ground	The picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning.
fall out		separate from an interior	The money must have fallen out of my pocket.
fall out		(of hair, teeth) become loose and unattached	His hair started to fall out when he was only 35.
figure something out		understand, find the answer	I need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.
fill something in		to write information in blanks (Br.E.)	Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number.
fill something out		to write information in blanks (N.Amer.)	The form must be filled out in capital letters.
fill something up		fill to the top	I always fill the water jug up when it is empty.
find out		discover	We don't know where he lives. How can we find out?
find something out		discover	We tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out.
get something across/over		communicate, make understandable	I tried to get my point across/over to the judge but she wouldn't listen.
get along/on		like each other	I was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along/on.
get around		have mobility	My grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.
get away		go on a vacation	We worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week.
get away with something		do without being noticed or punished	Jason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests.
get back		return	We got back from our vacation last week.
get something back		receive something you had before	Liz finally got her Science notes back from my room-mate.
get back at someone		retaliate, take revenge	My sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.
get back into something		become interested in something again	I finally got back into my novel and finished it.
get on something		step onto a vehicle	We're going to freeze out here if you don't let us get on the bus.
get over something		recover from an illness, loss, difficulty	I just got over the flu and now my sister has it.
get over something		overcome a problem	The company will have to close if it can't get over the new regulations.
get round to something		finally find time to do (N.Amer.: get around to something)	I don't know when I am going to get round to writing the thank you cards.
get together		meet (usually for social reasons)	Let's get together for a BBQ this weekend.
get up		get out of bed	I got up early today to study for my exam.
get up		stand	You should get up and give the elderly man your seat.
give someone away		reveal hidden information about someone	His wife gave him away to the police.
give someone away		take the bride to the altar	My father gave me away at my wedding.
give something away		ruin a secret	My little sister gave the surprise party away by accident.
give something away		give something to someone for free	The library was giving away old books on Friday.
give something back		return a borrowed item	I have to give these skates back to Franz before his hockey game.
give in		reluctantly stop fighting or arguing	My boyfriend didn't want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in.
give something out		give to many people (usually at no cost)	They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store.
give something up		quit a habit	I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.
give up		stop trying	My maths homework was too difficult so I gave up.
go after someone		follow someone	My brother tried to go after the thief in his car.
go after something		try to achieve something	I went after my dream and now I am a published writer.
go against someone		compete, oppose	We are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight.
go ahead		start, proceed	Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.
go back		return to a place	I have to go back home and get my lunch.
go out		leave home to go on a social event	We're going out for dinner tonight.
go out with someone		date	Jesse has been going out with Luke since they met last winter.
go over something		review	Please go over your answers before you submit your test.
go over		visit someone nearby	I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think I'll go over for an hour or two.
go without something		suffer lack or deprivation	When I was young, we went without winter boots.
grow apart		stop being friends over time	My best friend and I grew apart after she changed schools.
grow back		regrow	My roses grew back this summer.
grow up		become an adult	When Jack grows up he wants to be a fireman.
grow out of something		get too big for	Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she has grown out of her old ones.
grow into something		grow big enough to fit	This bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by next year.
hand something down		give something used to someone else	I handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.
hand something in		submit	I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
hand something out		to distribute to a group of people	We will hand out the invitations at the door.
hand something over		give (usually unwillingly)	The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.
hang in		stay positive (N.Amer., informal)	Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job very soon.
hang on		wait a short time (informal)	Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
hang out		spend time relaxing (informal)	Instead of going to the party we are just going to hang out at my place.
hang up		end a phone call	He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.
hold someone/something back		prevent from doing/going	I had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park.
hold something back		hide an emotion	Jamie held back his tears at his grandfather's funeral.
hold on		wait a short time	Please hold on while I transfer you to the Sales Department.
hold onto someone/something		hold firmly using your hands or arms	Hold onto your hat because it's very windy outside.
hold someone/somethingup		rob	A man in a black mask held the bank up this morning.
keep on doing something		continue doing	Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.
keep something from someone		not tell	We kept our relationship from our parents for two years.
keep someone/something out		stop from entering	Try to keep the wet dog out of the living room.
keep something up		continue at the same rate	If you keep those results up you will get into a great college.
let someone down		fail to support or help, disappoint	I need you to be on time. Don't let me down this time.
let someone in		allow to enter	Can you let the cat in before you go to school?
look after someone/something		take care of	I have to look after my sick grandmother.
look down on someone		think less of, consider inferior	Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your dad has looked down on me.
look for someone/something		try to find	I'm looking for a red dress for the wedding.
look forward to something		be excited about the future	I'm looking forward to the Christmas break.
look into something		investigate	We are going to look into the price of snowboards today.
look out		be careful, vigilant, and take notice	Look out! That car's going to hit you!
look out for someone/something		be especially vigilant for	Don't forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail.
look something over		check, examine	Can you look over my essay for spelling mistakes?
look something up		search and find information in a reference book or database	We can look her phone number up on the Internet.
look up to someone		have a lot of respect for	My little sister has always looked up to me.
make something up		invent, lie about something	Josie made up a story about about why we were late.
make up		forgive each other	We were angry last night, but we made up at breakfast.
make someone up		apply cosmetics to	My sisters made me up for my graduation party.
mix something up		confuse two or more things	I mixed up the twins' names again!
pass away		die	His uncle passed away last night after a long illness.
pass out		faint	It was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out.
pass something out		give the same thing to many people	The professor passed the textbooks out before class.
pass something up		decline (usually something good)	I passed up the job because I am afraid of change.
pay someone back		return owed money	Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you back on Friday.
pay for something		be punished for doing something bad	That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother.
pick something out		choose	I picked out three sweaters for you to try on.
point someone/something out		indicate with your finger	I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.
put something down		put what you are holding on a surface or floor	You can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter.
put someone down		insult, make someone feel stupid	The students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short.
put something off		postpone	We are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane.
put something out		extinguish	The neighbours put the fire out before the firemen arrived.
put something together		assemble	I have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.
put up with someone/something		tolerate	I don't think I can put up with three small children in the car.
put something on		put clothing/accessories on your body	Don't forget to put on your new earrings for the party.
run into someone/something		meet unexpectedly	I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
run over someone/something		drive a vehicle over a person or thing	I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.
run over/through something		rehearse, review	Let's run over/through these lines one more time before the show.
run away		leave unexpectedly, escape	The child ran away from home and has been missing for three days.
run out		have none left	We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash my hair with soap.
send something back		return (usually by mail)	My letter got sent back to me because I used the wrong stamp.
set something up		arrange, organize	Our boss set a meeting up with the president of the company.
set someone up		trick, trap	The police set up the car thief by using a hidden camera.
shop around		compare prices	I want to shop around a little before I decide on these boots.
show off		act extra special for people watching (usually boastfully)	He always shows off on his skateboard
sleep over		stay somewhere for the night (informal)	You should sleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home.
sort something out		organize, resolve a problem	We need to sort the bills out before the first of the month.
stick to something		continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing	You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
switch something off		stop the energy flow, turn off	The light's too bright. Could you switch it off.
switch something on		start the energy flow, turn on	We heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio.
take after someone		resemble a family member	I take after my mother. We are both impatient.
take something apart		purposely break into pieces	He took the car brakes apart and found the problem.
take something back		return an item	I have to take our new TV back because it doesn't work.
take off		start to fly	My plane takes off in five minutes.
take something off		remove something (usually clothing)	Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake!
take something out		remove from a place or thing	Can you take the garbage out to the street for me?
take someone out		pay for someone to go somewhere with you	My grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.
tear something up		rip into pieces	I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and gave them back to him.
think back		remember (often + to, sometimes + on)	When I think back on my youth, I wish I had studied harder.
think something over		consider	I'll have to think this job offer over before I make my final decision.
throw something away		dispose of	We threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery.
turn something down		decrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)	Please turn the TV down while the guests are here.
turn something down		refuse	I turned the job down because I don't want to move.
turn something off		stop the energy flow, switch off	Your mother wants you to turn the TV off and come for dinner.
turn something on		start the energy, switch on	It's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights on.
turn something up		increase the volume or strength (heat, light etc)	Can you turn the music up? This is my favourite song.
turn up		appear suddenly	Our cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighbourhood.
try something on		sample clothing	I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't think they will fit.
try something out		test	I am going to try this new brand of detergent out.
use something up		finish the supply	The kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more.
wake up		stop sleeping	We have to wake up early for work on Monday.
warm someone/something up		increase the temperature	You can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace.
warm up		prepare body for exercise	I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I go for a run.
wear off		fade away	Most of my make-up wore off before I got to the party.
work out		exercise	I work out at the gym three times a week.
work out		be successful	Our plan worked out fine.
work something out		make a calculation	We have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.

English Alphabet

English Alphabet

The English Alphabet has 26 letters. In alphabetical order, they are:

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Five of the letters are "vowels". Twenty-one are "consonants":

5 vowels

a

e

i

o

u

21 consonants

b

c

d

f

g

h

j

k

l

m

n

p

q

r

s

t

v

w

x

y

z

Each letter may be written as a "large letter" (capital) or "small letter".

Capital letter	Small letter
A	a
B	b
C	c
D	d
E	e
F	f
G	g
H	h
I	i
J	j
K	k
L	l
M	m
N	n
O	o
P	p
Q	q
R	r
S	s
T	t
U	u
V	v
W	w
X	x
Y	y
Z	z

Picture This - Adjectives - Comparative and Superlative

This is a box.

Big | Small

This is a small box.

This is a big box.

Bigger / Smaller | Biggest / Smallest

	The blue box is bigger than the green box.		The blue box is smaller than the red box.
The green box is smaller than the red box and the blue box. The green box is the smallest box.				The red box is bigger than the blue box and the green box. The red box is the biggest box.

Higher / Lower | Highest / Lowest

Mount Snowdon 1,085 metres	Mount Fuji is higher than Mount Snowdon.	Mount Fuji 3,776 metres	Mount Fuji is higher than Mount Snowdon, but lower than Mount Everest.	Mount Everest 8,848 metres
Mount Snowdon is the lowest mountain.				Mount Everest is the highest mountain.

Longer / Shorter | Longest / Shortest

River Danube 2,850 (km)	The river Amazon is longer than the river Danube.	River Amazon 6,516 (km)	The river Amazon is longer than the river Danube, but shorter than the river Nile.	River Nile 6,695 (km)
The river Danube is the shortest river.				The river Nile is the longest river.

Cheaper / More (Less) Expensive | Cheapest / Most (Least) Expensive

John's car cost £15,000	John's car was less expensive than Jane's car. It's cheaper than Jane's car.	Jane's car cost £25,000	Jane's car is more expensive than John's car, but less expensive than Bill's car.	Bill's car cost £55,000
John's car is the least expensive car. It's the cheapest car.				Bill's car is the most expensive car.