How to Learn 10 Phrasal Verbs a Week and Actually Remember Them

If you are wondering how to learn 10 phrasal verbs a week and actually remember them, the secret is not to memorise long lists. A better method is to choose useful phrasal verbs, study them in context, write your own examples, practise them aloud and review them regularly. In this lesson, you will learn a simple weekly plan that will help you build your phrasal verb vocabulary step by step.

Phrasal verbs are one of the biggest challenges for English learners. They are common in everyday conversation, films, books, emails and Cambridge exams, but they can be difficult to remember because one verb can have several different meanings.

For example, take off can mean to remove clothes, leave the ground, or become successful.

• Please take off your shoes.
• The plane took off late.
• Her business really took off last year.

No wonder learners sometimes feel that phrasal verbs are a little like mushrooms after rain — every time you learn one, three more appear.

The good news is that you do not need to learn hundreds of phrasal verbs at once. A much better method is to learn 10 phrasal verbs a week, practise them properly, and use them in context.

In this lesson, you will learn how to choose, study, review and remember 10 phrasal verbs every week. You will also get a sample list of 10 useful phrasal verbs, example sentences, a 7-day study plan and a short quiz.

Why learn 10 phrasal verbs a week?

Learning 10 phrasal verbs a week is realistic. It is not too much, but it is enough to make real progress.

If you learn 10 phrasal verbs a week, you can learn:

• 40 phrasal verbs in a month
• about 120 phrasal verbs in three months
• over 500 phrasal verbs in a year

Of course, the aim is not just to “know” them for five minutes and then forget them forever. The aim is to understand them, recognise them, and use them naturally.

This is especially useful if you are preparing for B2 First, C1 Advanced, IELTS, TOEFL, or any exam where a vocabulary range matters.

Phrasal verbs can help you understand natural spoken English, improve your listening skills, write more naturally, speak with more confidence, understand informal and semi-formal texts and perform better in Use of English tasks.

Step 1: Choose related phrasal verbs

Do not choose 10 random phrasal verbs from a long list. That is one of the reasons learners forget them quickly.

Instead, choose phrasal verbs connected to one topic.

For example:

• work and jobs
• travel
• relationships
• studying
• money
• health
• daily routines
• communication
• problems and solutions

When phrasal verbs are connected by topic, your brain can organise them more easily. It is like putting books on the right shelf instead of throwing them all on the floor and hoping for the best.

For example, if your topic is travel, you might learn:

• set off
• check in
• get back
• pick up
• drop off
• take off
• get away
• hold up
• see off
• stop over

That is much easier than learning 10 completely unrelated verbs.

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Week 1: 10 useful phrasal verbs to learn

Here is a good starter list for this week. These phrasal verbs are common, useful and suitable for intermediate to advanced learners.

give up	stop doing something	She gave up sugar for a month.
put off	postpone	We had to put off the meeting until Friday.
find out	discover information	I found out about the course yesterday.
look after	take care of someone or something	Can you look after my cat while I’m away?
run out of	have no more left	We ran out of milk this morning.
turn down	reject or refuse	He turned down the job offer.
set off	start a journey	They set off early to avoid the traffic.
come across	find by chance	I came across an old photo in a drawer.
sort out	solve or organise something	We need to sort out this problem quickly.
get on with	have a good relationship with someone	I get on well with my neighbours.

These are excellent phrasal verbs because they are useful in everyday English and also appear in exam-style reading, listening and speaking tasks.

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Step 2: Learn the meaning in context

Do not learn only the translation. Learn the phrasal verb in a sentence.

For example, do not only write:

turn down = reject

Write:

She turned down the offer because the salary was too low.

This helps you remember how the phrase works in real English.

Compare:

• I turned down the music.
• I turned down the job offer.

The same phrasal verb can sometimes have more than one meaning, so context is essential.

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Step 3: Write your own examples

After you read the examples, write your own sentences. This is where real learning begins.

Use your life, your opinions, your habits, your family, your students, your job, your plans — anything personal.

For example:

• I gave up drinking fizzy drinks last year.
• I need to sort out my desk because it looks terrible.
• I get on well with most of my colleagues.
• I came across an interesting article about language learning.
• We ran out of coffee, which was a small domestic tragedy.

Personal examples are easier to remember because they mean something to you.

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Step 4: Say the sentences aloud

Phrasal verbs are not museum pieces. You are not supposed to admire them from a safe distance. You need to use them.

Read your sentences aloud several times.

For example:

• I put off the appointment because I was busy.
• I found out the truth by accident.
• We set off before sunrise.
• She turned down the invitation politely.

This helps with pronunciation, rhythm and confidence.

Many learners can recognise phrasal verbs when they read them, but they hesitate when they have to use them in speaking. Saying them aloud helps you move vocabulary from passive knowledge to active use.

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Step 5: Listen for them in real English

Once you have chosen your 10 phrasal verbs, try to notice them in real English.

You can use:

• YouTube videos
• podcasts
• films and series
• interviews
• audiobooks
• exam listening practice
• English learning websites

You do not need to understand every word. Just listen for your target phrasal verbs.

For example, if you are learning give up, put off and find out, try to notice when people use them naturally.

This is powerful because it shows your brain: “Ah, this phrase is not just from a vocabulary list. Real people actually use it.”

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Step 6: Use them in speaking or writing

Try to use your 10 phrasal verbs during the week.

You can:

• write a short story
• write a diary entry
• record yourself speaking
• answer conversation questions
• practise with a teacher
• use them in comments or messages
• make a short dialogue

Here is a short example using several phrasal verbs:

Last weekend, I set off early because I wanted to visit my sister. On the way, I found out that the train was delayed, so I had to sort out a new plan. I nearly gave up and went home, but in the end, everything worked out well.

Even a short paragraph can help you remember the verbs better.

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A simple 7-day plan for learning 10 phrasal verbs

Here is an easy weekly plan you can follow.

Day	What to do
Monday	Choose your 10 phrasal verbs and read the meanings.
Tuesday	Write one example sentence for each phrasal verb.
Wednesday	Say your sentences aloud and practise pronunciation.
Thursday	Find the phrasal verbs in videos, podcasts or articles.
Friday	Write a short paragraph using at least five of them.
Saturday	Practise speaking with a teacher, friend or by recording yourself.
Sunday	Test yourself and review the ones you forgot.

This method works because it gives you repetition without making learning boring.

You meet the same phrasal verbs several times during the week, but in different ways: reading, writing, speaking, listening and testing.

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How to keep a phrasal verb journal

A phrasal verb journal is a simple notebook or digital document where you collect your phrasal verbs.

For each phrasal verb, write:

• the phrasal verb
• the meaning
• one example sentence
• your own sentence
• whether it is formal, neutral or informal
• whether it is separable or inseparable, if necessary

For example:

turn down

Meaning: to reject or refuse something

Example: He turned down the offer.

My sentence: I turned down the invitation because I was too tired.

Style: neutral

Grammar note: separable — turn something down / turn down something

You can also add a drawing, symbol or emoji if that helps you remember. There is no prize for making your notebook look like a Victorian tax document. Make it useful.

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Common mistakes when learning phrasal verbs

Mistake 1: Learning too many at once

Trying to learn 50 phrasal verbs in one day usually does not work. You may recognise them for a short time, but you will probably forget most of them.

It is better to learn 10 properly than 50 badly.

Mistake 2: Learning without examples

A phrasal verb without a sentence is like a fish without water. It does not live properly.

Always learn phrasal verbs in context.

Mistake 3: Ignoring pronunciation

Phrasal verbs are common in speaking, so pronunciation matters.

Practise saying:

• give up
• put off
• run out of
• get on with
• come across

Pay attention to how the words join together naturally.

Mistake 4: Not reviewing

If you learn something once and never look at it again, your brain may politely throw it away.

Review your phrasal verbs after:

• one day
• three days
• one week
• one month

This is much more effective than studying them once and hoping for a miracle.

Practice: Complete the sentences

Choose the correct phrasal verb.

Use these verbs:

give up, put off, find out, look after, run out of, turn down, set off, come across, sort out, get on with

1. We need to __________ this problem before the meeting.
2. I __________ an interesting article while I was researching the topic.
3. She __________ the job because the salary was too low.
4. Can you __________ my dog while I’m on holiday?
5. We __________ petrol on the way home.
6. They __________ at six in the morning.
7. He decided to __________ smoking.
8. I must __________ what time the train leaves.
9. They had to __________ the wedding because of bad weather.
10. Do you __________ well with your classmates?

Answers: 1. sort out, 2. came across, 3. turned down, 4. look after, 5. ran out of, 6. set off, 7. give up, 8. find out, 9. put off, 10. get on

Speaking practice

Answer these questions using the phrasal verbs from the lesson.

1. Have you ever given up a bad habit?
2. Do you usually put off difficult tasks?
3. When did you last find out something surprising?
4. Who looked after you when you were a child?
5. Have you ever run out of something important?
6. Would you turn down a well-paid job if you disliked the company?
7. What time do you usually set off when you travel?
8. Have you ever come across an old photo or letter?
9. What problem do you need to sort out at the moment?
10. Do you get on well with your neighbours?

Final thoughts

Learning phrasal verbs does not have to be painful. You do not need to memorise endless lists or panic every time you see a verb with a tiny preposition following it.

Start small. Learn 10 phrasal verbs a week. Choose them carefully, write your own examples, say them aloud, listen for them in real English and review them regularly.

Little by little, your vocabulary will grow.

And one day, you will come across a phrasal verb in a film, understand it instantly, and think: “Ah, I know this one.”

That is when learning starts to feel rewarding.

Related lessons

You may also find these lessons useful:

Phrasal Verbs Related to Sleep

Phrasal Verbs with Make

Phrasal Verbs with Take

Common Phrasal Verbs for B2 First

50 Phrasal Vebs for C1 Advanced

B2 First Lessons

Cambridge English Exam Preparation

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