Academic Vocabulary: Phrasal Verbs (IELTS TOEFL)

Phrasal verbs are a common element of both spoken and written English. While many test takers fear using these expressions in their writing, it is essential that you do so as these count toward your Lexical Resource (vocabulary) score as they are part of idiomatic language and demonstrate your grasp of collocations.

It is important to remember, however, that many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning; sometimes the different meanings can also be different in that one is formal while the other is informal or even slang.

In this video, we look at 5 examples to see their formal and slang meanings:
✔ bring (it) on
✔ get around
✔ hang on (to)
✔ take off
✔ check out

Try to guess these phrasal verbs’ meanings before you watch the videos.

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[yentsai]

Than you for clarify these phrases! They are really common in daily life and I used to consider them as slang, never thought that I can use them in formal writing. This video does help a lot!! :)

[LeonardoSanchez]

this lesson was off the I
will take into account all these tips!!!

[haticekatanani]

I definitely need more of this kind of streams... thanx a lot

[ramisu]

Hello; you can't believe how much and how many times you saved me sir I'm really gratful for you and your efforts pray to God to bless you ❤❤❤❤.

[viejajulia]

Thank you Adam, the best wishes for you for doing these videos with huge dedication...hope the very best for you, and you have here an incondicional admirer of your person 😘

[samiranehar]

I apreciate your tips for writing thank you Adam

[bamrahbabbu]

Please increase your volume for next videos sir.
You are doing a tremendous job..
Carry on and thanks for your valuable lessons.

[mortezamogharrab]

Thank you so much sir . Could you recommend sources for helping to use a wide range of these formal phrasal verbs?

[dakiab]

I’ve ben wondering if I could use phrasal verbs in my writing and you clear up my confusion thank you so much for this clarification.

[SarahTariq-us]

i am from iraq and i am trying study english your videos is very useful for me like always you are great

[janethsuarez]

Great as always, you´re awesome but it´d be better if you could increase the volume in your videos handsome

[satbirsingh]

Would you please throw light on difference between informal usage and slang usage of phrasal verb

[宋丽莎]

Thank u so much, sir. I utterly absolutely adore u. I have a question:how can we know which meaning of other phrasal verbs is formal or imformal?by looking them up in the dictionary?

[TheAcedentist]

Awesome lesson as usual Adam. I have a doubt though, would it be better to use a phrasal verb such as "Hang on" or better to use a word like "Retain" which will add to Lexical resource criteria? Which one do you recommend to improve overall score? Please don't say "Both". Haha. Thanks in advance.

[rakibuddin]

Mrs.Rebeka said we must avoid phrasal verb in academic writing. You people are confusing students.why?

[DeivitMV]

Thank you so much! I was afraid that using phrasal verbs would decrement my score. I think that using phrasal verbs, which are normally used as slangs, will increase your score.