Tackling Tricky Phrasal Verbs for Spanish Speakers

Phrasal verbs are a group of two or more words that together function as a verb but mean something completely different from what the component words mean on their own. They make the English language eloquent by expressing more with fewer words. 

For instance, the phrasal verb ‘give up’ means to admit defeat, while ‘get away with’ means to avoid criticism or punishment. Neither of these meanings is obvious from the individual words that make up the two phrasal verbs.  

That makes these idiomatic expressions so difficult for Spanish speakers to ‘pick up’ (learn). The issue, however, is that phrasal verbs are so frequently used in everyday conversations that you cannot consider yourself fluent in English unless you ‘have a good grasp of’ (have a thorough understanding of) them. 

What Makes Phrasal Verbs So Difficult?

For non-native speakers, phrasal verbs can be incredibly hard to understand in conversations, to begin with, and even harder to use on their own. 

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That’s because of multiple reasons: 

• Layers of Complexity: As we already mentioned, the meaning of a phrasal verb typically has no relation to its constituent words. As such, they can be highly complicated, some way more than others. Take ‘go over’, which means to examine or review something. It’s metaphorical, but easy enough to relate with once you have the explanation. But take something like ‘get off on the wrong foot’. Its meaning - to start a relationship or activity badly - is entirely abstract and impossible to guess.  
• Multiple Meanings: Many phrasal verbs are polysemous, or have multiple meanings. Take the phrasal verb ‘break down’, for instance. It can refer to one of three different things: to separate into parts, to start crying, or a vehicle or machine that stops working. Other common examples include ‘bring up’ (raise a child, mention a topic), ‘pass out’ (distribute, lose consciousness), ‘take up’ (occupy time or space, start a new activity), and ‘back up’ (support someone or something, make a copy of something).
• New Additions: Native English speakers are coining new phrasal verbs all the time in response to various events and situations. The expression ‘mask up’, for instance, readily entered the lexicon and popular imagination during the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns. It means to ‘put a mask on’, usually to protect oneself and others from airborne infections. Other examples include ‘layer up’, which means to dress in layers of clothing to keep out the cold.   

Phrasal verbs are also not extensively included in standard English dictionaries, which makes it difficult for Spanish speakers to look them up.

Tips for Learning Phrasal Verbs

Most English language learning environments typically don’t feature a separate section or module on phrasal verbs. For those who wish to speak English with native-level fluency, that means you’ll have to make an extra effort to understand and be able to use them confidently in everyday conversations. 

The following tips will come in handy while learning phrasal verbs: 

1. Understand the Context: Because many phrasal verbs have multiple meanings, it’s vital to learn them in the right context and situation. For instance, ‘take out’ in a regular conversation most likely means taking someone on a date. If you’re watching a crime drama, however, it could mean killing someone. 
2. Don’t Group Them by Verbs: That’s perhaps the worst thing you could do. Take some phrasal verbs with ‘give’, for instance: give way, give in, give out, give off, give over, and so on. The problem with learning this way is that you’re presented with a list of phrasal verbs with the same root word but very different meanings. That's mighty confusing!
3. Group Them by Particles: A particle is a word, usually an adverb, added to a verb to make a phrasal verb. For instance - up, down, along, under, off, and so on. Phrasal verbs with the same particle have similar or at least relatable meanings. For instance, go out (extinguish), sell out (completely exhaust), and die out (disappear).
4. Group Them by Topic: Phrasal verbs are easier to add to your vocabulary when you group them by topics. For instance, phrasal verbs related to work and business, like ‘called in’ (asked to do something), set up (arrange), get back (reply), and ‘work out’ (resolve). Other topics can be sports, emotions, etiquette, education, and so on. 
5. Tell a Story: A great way to learn and remember phrasal verbs is by creating personal stories. It helps you visualize their meanings accurately and understand them in context. Try summing up your day at work in a story for instance, or your last vacation. Talk about the moment your car ‘pulled in’ at the office, or when you ‘ran into’ someone you know while abroad.
6. Use Different Resources: You can, of course, get yourself a dictionary of phrasal verbs, and probably should. But learning that way is no fun. Instead, extend the boundaries of your learning experience by including books, song lyrics, movies and TV shows, and stand-up comedy routines. All these sources are rich with expressions you can pick up quickly without effort. 
7. Gamify your Learning Experience: You can do that easily with a bunch of flashcards. Make two sets, one with phrasal verbs written on them and the other with their meanings. Shuffle both sets and try to match each phrasal verb with its meaning. You can do that on your own or with a friend. It’s tons of fun either way. 
8. Become an Active User: It’s one thing to understand phrasal verbs when used by other people, but quite another to use them yourself in conversations. Once you are past any initial inhibition, try them out in routine conversations. With friends and family in informal settings at first, then in more formal interactions at the office and elsewhere.   
9. Don’t Give Up: Phrasal verbs are simultaneously the most difficult yet most important part of the English language. That makes them unavoidable for anyone determined to be a confident English speaker. Use the tips above to develop a clear strategy and be persistent in your efforts. Don’t let mistakes embarrass or deter you; use them as stepping stones to fluency instead. 

Master the Nuances of English Speaking With Immigo

Most English language courses are hyper-focused on teaching grammar and syntax, with only minor emphasis on aspects like phrases, phrasal verbs, idioms, and colloquialisms. 

Yet, it is mastery of precisely these elements that makes someone a natural and confident English speaker. 

At Immigo, we take an in-depth and comprehensive approach to English learning for non-native speakers. So while our courses are designed to help learners grasp basic concepts and usages fast, we are also very keen to help them develop native-level fluency and confidence. 

Our customized classes, interactive sessions, and frequent feedback are designed to help you acquire advanced English skills, be it for everyday conversations on the street and in the office, formal interactions, or public speaking. 

Reach out (establish communication ) to us today to transform your English language skills. 

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