Verbi frasali inglesi e come usarli

Look up (Cercare informazioni, solitamente in un libro o online)
I don’t know the meaning of this word; I’ll have to look it up.

Get away with (Farla franca)
He thought he could get away with cheating on the test, but he was caught.

Put off (Rimandare)
I can’t put off going to the dentist any longer; my toothache is getting worse.

Run into (Incontrare per caso)
I ran into my old college roommate at the grocery store.

Break down (Guastarsi, riferito a macchine; cedere, riferito a persone)
My car broke down on the way to work this morning.

Figure out (Capire, risolvere)
I need to figure out how to fit this bookshelf in the bedroom.

Give up (Arrendersi, smettere di provare)
He gave up smoking two years ago.

Hold on (Attendere)
Hold on a second, I’m on the other line.

Keep on (Continuare a fare qualcosa)
She keeps on talking even though no one is listening.

Look forward to (Aspettare con ansia)
I’m looking forward to the weekend.

Pass out (Svenire)
It was so hot in the room that I thought I was going to pass out.

Turn down (Rifiutare)
She turned down the job offer because she wanted to travel.

Work out (Esercitarsi fisicamente; risolvere un problema)
I work out at the gym three times a week.

Bring up (Sollevare un argomento; crescere un bambino)
She didn’t want to bring up the issue during the meeting.

Go over (Ripassare)
Let’s go over the report one more time before submitting it.

Make up (Pacifiarsi; inventare)
They had a fight but made up quickly.

Settle down (Stabilizzarsi emotivamente; mettersi a vivere stabilmente)
After years of travelling, he decided to settle down and start a family.

Take after (Assomigliare)
She takes after her mother in looks and her father in personality.

Catch on (Capire, specialmente dopo un certo tempo)
It took me a while, but I finally caught on to what he was saying.

Capire come usarli correttamente richiede pratica e attenzione, ma una volta acquisite le basi, i verbi frasali arricchiranno notevolmente il vostro modo di esprimervi in inglese. Leggere molto e ascoltare parlanti nativi vi aiuterà a impratichirvi con l’uso di questi verbi e a renderli parte naturale del vostro vocabolario attivo. Non abbiate paura di provarli in conversazioni, e tenete sempre a mente che il contesto e la familiarità con i vari significati dei verbi frasali sono la chiave per utilizzarli in maniera fluida e corretta.