Part 1: The Phrasal Verb List (51-70)
Topic A: Change, Trends & Society
51. Bring about: To cause something to happen.
* Sentence: “The internet has brought about massive changes in how we communicate.”
52. Turn into: To transform and become.
* Sentence: “My hometown has turned into a major tourist destination over the last decade.”
53. Catch on: To become popular.
* Sentence: “I hope electric vehicles catch on quickly to help the environment.”
54. Die out: To become more rare and then disappear completely.
* Sentence: “Many languages are at risk of dying out due to globalization.”
55. Phase out: To gradually stop using something.
* Sentence: “The government plans to phase out coal-fired power stations.”
56. Scale up: To increase the size or scope of something.
* Sentence: “The company plans to scale up its operations in Asia next year.”
57. Shut down: To close permanently.
* Sentence: “The old factory was shut down because it was no longer profitable.”
Topic B: Problems, Challenges & Setbacks
58. Run into: To encounter a problem or person unexpectedly.
* Sentence: “We ran into some unexpected difficulties during the project.”
59. Come up against: To be faced with a difficulty or opposition.
* Sentence: “When trying to implement change, you often come up against resistance.”
60. Back down: To withdraw a claim or demand.
* Sentence: “Neither side was willing to back down, so the argument continued.”
61. Break down: To stop working (for machines, relationships, or negotiations).
* Sentence: “Their marriage broke down after years of misunderstandings.”
62. Call off: To cancel an event.
* Sentence: “The outdoor concert was called off due to the thunderstorm.”
63. Hold up: To delay.
* Sentence: “The construction project was held up by bad weather.”
64. Get over: To recover from an illness or disappointment.
* Sentence: “It took me a long time to get over not getting the job I wanted.”
Topic C: Thinking, Opinions & Ideas
65. Come up with: To think of an idea or plan.
* Sentence: “We need to come up with a solution to traffic congestion.”
66. Figure out: To understand or solve something.
* Sentence: “It took me a while to figure out how to use the new software.”
67. Think over: To consider carefully.
* Sentence: “I need a few days to think over your proposal before I decide.”
68. Point out: To direct attention to a fact.
* Sentence: “I’d like to point out that there are several benefits to this approach.”
69. Weigh up: To carefully assess the pros and cons.
* Sentence: “Before making a decision, it’s wise to weigh up all the options.”
70. Brush up on: To improve your knowledge of something you’ve partly forgotten.
* Sentence: “I need to brush up on my French before my trip to Paris.”
Part 2: Your Active Learning Workshop (Post 2)
Activity 1: The Nuance Match-Up
Instructions: Some phrasal verbs have subtle differences. Match the phrasal verb on the left with the most accurate description on the right.
| Phrasal Verb | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Run into | A) To be faced with a challenge, often expected. |
| 2. Come up against | B) To encounter something/someone by chance. |
| 3. Bring about | C) To cause a major, often abstract, change. |
| 4. Turn into | D) To transform from one specific thing into another. |
Answer Key: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D
Activity 2: The Part 3 Challenge
Instructions: Answer these IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions, using the specified phrasal verbs naturally.
- “How can governments bring about change in public attitudes to recycling?”
- “What kind of problems do people come up against when learning a new language?”
- “Why is it important to weigh up the pros and cons before making a big decision?”
(Provide a sample answer for one)
- Sample Answer for Q1: “Governments can bring about change through a mix of education and policy. For example, they could phase out single-use plastics, which forces consumers to come up with alternatives. It might take time for these habits to catch on, but it’s effective.”
Activity 3: The 3-Word Phrasal Verb Focus
Instructions: A key to a high band score is using more complex, multi-word verbs. Create sentences using these three-word phrasal verbs from the list.
come up with(an idea)brush up on(a skill)get along with(a person)look up to(a person)run out of(time/resources)- Example: “I need to brush up on my history before the museum visit.”
The Phrasal Verb List (71-100)
Topic C: Thinking, Opinions & Ideas (Continued)
71. Rule out: To eliminate a possibility.
* Sentence: “We can’t rule out the possibility that AI will disrupt many traditional industries.”
72. Zero in on: To focus closely on something.
* Sentence: “To solve this problem effectively, we need to zero in on the root cause.”
73. Mull over: To think deeply about something for a period of time.
* Sentence: “I need a few days to mull over the job offer before giving them my answer.”
74. Piece together: To gradually understand a story or situation by combining separate pieces of information.
* Sentence: “From the clues he left, I managed to piece together what had happened.”
75. Hit upon: To discover something by chance, especially an idea or solution.
* Sentence: “After hours of discussion, we finally hit upon a marketing strategy that felt fresh and effective.”
Topic D: Communication & Information
76. Bring up: To mention a topic.
* Sentence: “It’s always difficult to bring up the subject of salary in an interview.”
77. Get across: To communicate an idea successfully.
* Sentence: “Using simple visuals can help get your message across more effectively.”
78. Open up: To start talking more personally and honestly.
* Sentence: “It can be difficult for some people to open up about their feelings.”
79. Speak up: 1) To talk louder. 2) To express an opinion freely.
* Sentence: “If you disagree with the policy, you should speak up during the meeting.”
80. Break in / Cut in: To interrupt a conversation.
* Sentence: “I’m sorry to cut in, but I have to correct a point you just made.”
81. Back up: To give support to a person or claim.
* Sentence: “You need solid data to back up your argument in an academic essay.”
82. Fill in (on): To provide someone with the latest information.
* Sentence: “I missed the last meeting. Could you fill me in on what was decided?”
83. Call for: To publicly demand that something should happen.
* Sentence: “Many experts are calling for a complete overhaul of the education system.”
Topic E: Achievement & Failure
84. Carry out: To perform a task or experiment.
* Sentence: “The scientists carried out a series of tests to verify their hypothesis.”
85. Live up to: To fulfil expectations.
* Sentence: “The sequel didn’t live up to the incredible success of the first film.”
86. Get ahead: To be successful in one’s life or career.
* Sentence: “Many people believe that networking is crucial to getting ahead in business.”
87. Fall through: To fail to happen.
* Sentence: “Our plans for a holiday fell through because of a sudden family emergency.”
88. Make up for: To compensate for a mistake or deficiency.
* Sentence: “I failed my first exam, but I worked hard to make up for it in the final.”
89. Pull off: To succeed in doing something difficult.
* Sentence: “I can’t believe we pulled off the event with such a small team and budget.”
90. Set back: To delay the progress of something.
* Sentence: “The development of the new drug was set back by several years due to funding issues.”
91. Catch up: To reach the same standard or level as someone else.
* Sentence: “After being ill, I had to work doubly hard to catch up with the rest of the class.”
92. End up: To finally be in a particular place or situation.
* Sentence: “We got lost on our hike and ended up in a completely different village.”
93. Turn out: To have a particular result, especially an unexpected one.
* Sentence: “I was nervous about the presentation, but it turned out to be a great success.”
94. Account for: To explain the reason for something.
* Sentence: “The increased cost of living accounts for the rise in personal debt.”
95. Build on: To use a success or achievement as a foundation for further development.
* Sentence: “We need to build on the success of this year’s campaign to achieve even more next year.”
96. Stem from: To originate from or be caused by.
* Sentence: “Many environmental problems stem from our over-reliance on fossil fuels.”
97. Lead up to: To precede or prepare for a major event.
* Sentence: “The intense negotiations leading up to the peace agreement lasted for months.”
98. Do away with: To abolish or get rid of something.
* Sentence: “Some countries have done away with university tuition fees to promote equality.”
99. Hold back: To prevent something or someone from progressing.
* Sentence: “Lack of confidence can hold many talented people back from achieving their potential.”
100. Press on / ahead: To continue determinedly despite difficulties.
* Sentence: “Despite the bad weather, the rescue team pressed on with their search.”
Part 2: Your Active Learning Workshop
Activity 1: The Nuance Match-Up
Instructions: Some phrasal verbs have subtle differences. Match the phrasal verb on the left with the most accurate description on the right.
| Phrasal Verb | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Run into | A) To be faced with a challenge, often expected. |
| 2. Come up against | B) To encounter something/someone by chance. |
| 3. Bring about | C) To cause a major, often abstract, change. |
| 4. Turn into | D) To transform from one specific thing into another. |
| 5. Mull over | E) To think deeply and at length. |
| 6. Piece together | F) To construct understanding from fragments. |
| 7. Live up to | G) To meet a standard or expectation. |
| 8. Account for | H) To explain or provide a reason for. |
Answer Key: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D, 5-E, 6-F, 7-G, 8-H
Activity 2: The Part 3 Challenge
Instructions: Answer these IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions, using the specified phrasal verbs naturally.
- “How can governments bring about change in public attitudes to recycling?”
- “What kind of problems do people come up against when learning a new language?”
- “Why is it important to weigh up the pros and cons before making a big decision?”
- “What factors might hold a person back in their career?”
(Provide a sample answer for one)
- Sample Answer for Q1: “Governments can bring about change through a mix of education and policy. For example, they could phase out single-use plastics, which forces consumers to come up with alternatives. It might take time for these habits to catch on, but it’s effective. If a policy isn’t working, they must be ready to rule out failed approaches and press ahead with new ones.”
Activity 3: The 3-Word Phrasal Verb Focus
Instructions: A key to a high band score is using more complex, multi-word verbs. Create sentences using these three-word phrasal verbs from the list.
come up with(an idea)brush up on(a skill)get along with(a person)look up to(a person)zero in on(a problem)make up for(lost time/a mistake)catch up with(friends/work)- Example: “To improve my essay, I need to zero in on improving my grammatical accuracy.”
Activity 4: The Story Builder
Instructions: Create a coherent short story or paragraph by using at least FIVE of the following phrasal verbs. This tests your ability to use them in a narrative context.
Phrasal Verbs: set up, run into, come up with, pull off, end up, turn out, build on.
- Example: “After I set up my own business, I immediately ran into cash-flow problems. I had to come up with a creative marketing plan quickly. It was a huge risk, but we managed to pull it off. The launch turned out to be a massive success, and now we can build on this momentum for the future.”