Common Phrasal Verbs for B2 First: Meanings, Examples, and Tips

Hello, English learners! Today, we will learn common phrasal verbs for B2 First.

If you are preparing for B2 First, learning common phrasal verbs is one of the best things you can do to improve your English. Phrasal verbs appear everywhere: in reading texts, listening tasks, use of English exercises, and of course in your speaking and writing.

The trouble is that many students find them confusing. And honestly, that is hardly surprising. A verb like pick up can mean lift something, learn something, or collect someone. English does like to keep us on our toes.

Still, the good news is this: you do not need to learn hundreds of phrasal verbs at once. It is far better to learn the most common ones well, understand how they are used, and practise them in context.

In this lesson, we will look at common phrasal verbs for B2 First, their meanings, useful example sentences, and a few practical tips to help you use them more confidently in the exam.

What are phrasal verbs?

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or two short words such as up, out, on, off, in, away, and so on.

For example:

give up
find out
turn on
look after

Very often, the meaning of the phrasal verb is different from the meaning of the main verb by itself.

For example:

give = to hand something to someone
give up = to stop doing something

That is why phrasal verbs need to be learned as whole expressions.

Why are phrasal verbs important for B2 First?

Phrasal verbs are especially important for B2 First because they help you sound more natural and more fluent. Native speakers use them all the time, and Cambridge exams often test them directly or indirectly.

You may see them in:

Reading and Use of English Part 1
Reading and Use of English Part 4
Listening tasks
Speaking Part 1 and Part 3
Writing tasks such as emails, articles, and reviews

If you can recognise and use common phrasal verbs, your English will sound much more natural and flexible.

20 common phrasal verbs for B2 First

Let us go through some of the most useful ones.

1. Carry on

Meaning: continue doing something

Examples:

Please carry on with your work while I answer the phone.
Even though she was tired, she carried on studying for the exam.

B2 First tip: This is very useful in speaking and writing when talking about routines, work, or study.

2. Find out

Meaning: discover information

Examples:

I was surprised to find out that the exam had been postponed.
We need to find out more about the course before we apply.

3. Give up

Meaning: stop doing something, usually because it is difficult

Examples:

Do not give up if you do not understand everything the first time.
He has decided to give up eating junk food.

Common note: You can also say give something up:

She has given chocolate up for Lent.

4. Look after

Meaning: take care of someone or something

Examples:

Can you look after my bag for a minute?
She looks after her younger brother after school.

5. Look for

Meaning: try to find

Examples:

I am looking for my keys.
Many young people are looking for better job opportunities.

Important:

look for = try to find
look after = take care of
A classic phrasal-verb trap.

6. Get on (with)

Meaning: have a good relationship with someone

Examples:

I get on well with most of my classmates.
Do you get on with your neighbours?

This one is extremely useful for speaking and writing when describing relationships.

7. Go on

Meaning: happen; continue

Examples:

What is going on here?
The meeting went on for nearly three hours.

8. Come up with

Meaning: think of an idea or plan

Examples:

We need to come up with a solution.
She came up with a brilliant idea for the school project.

This is a very handy phrasal verb for Speaking Part 3, where you need to discuss ideas and make suggestions.

9. Run out of

Meaning: have no more of something left

Examples:

We have run out of milk.
I had to stop writing because I had run out of time.

A very natural expression for everyday English.

10. Turn up

Meaning: arrive, especially unexpectedly; increase volume

Examples:

He did not turn up at the party.
Could you turn up the radio a bit?

As you can see, one phrasal verb can have more than one meaning.

11. Turn down

Meaning: refuse; reduce volume, heat, etc.

Examples:

She turned down the job offer because the salary was too low.
Please turn down the music.

Useful contrast:

turn up = increase / arrive
turn down = reduce / refuse

12. Take up

Meaning: start a new hobby or activity

Examples:

He has recently taken up yoga.
I am thinking of taking up photography.

This is a lovely one for lifestyle topics and personal-interest questions.

13. Put off

Meaning: postpone; make someone dislike something

Examples:

They have put off the meeting until Friday.
The bad weather put us off going to the beach.

For B2 First, the meaning postpone is especially common.

14. Set up

Meaning: organise, arrange, or start something

Examples:

They set up a new business last year.
Can you help me set up the equipment?

15. Work out

Meaning: find an answer; end successfully; exercise

Examples:

We must work out how much the trip will cost.
In the end, everything worked out well.
She works out at the gym three times a week.

This one is particularly useful because it appears in many different contexts.

16. Pick up

Meaning: collect someone or something; learn something informally; improve

Examples:

I will pick you up after the lesson.
She picked up a bit of Italian while she was in Rome.
Business is starting to pick up again.

A very common and very flexible phrasal verb.

17. Bring up

Meaning: mention a topic; raise a child

Examples:

He brought up an interesting point during the discussion.
She was brought up in a small village.

18. Take off

Meaning: remove clothing; leave the ground; become successful quickly

Examples:

He took off his coat and sat down.
The plane took off on time.
Her online business really took off last year.

19. Calm down

Meaning: become more relaxed or less upset

Examples:

Just calm down and tell me what happened.
It took her a few minutes to calm down after the argument.

20. Deal with

Meaning: handle a problem or situation

Examples:

Teachers often have to deal with difficult situations.
We need to deal with this problem immediately.

This one is excellent for essays, articles, and speaking tasks.

How to learn phrasal verbs effectively

A long list is useful, but let us be honest: simply reading a list once is not enough. Phrasal verbs need to be learned in context.

Here are a few better ways to learn them:

Learn them in groups

Group phrasal verbs by topic, such as:

relationships: get on with, go out with, fall out with
study and work: carry on, hand in, look over
travel: set off, get on, check in
daily life: wake up, tidy up, run out of

Write your own examples

Do not just memorise dictionary examples. Write sentences about your own life.

For example:

I need to cut down on coffee.
I get on well with my colleagues.
I have recently taken up walking in the evenings.

Notice them when reading

Whenever you read articles, stories, or online posts in English, underline any useful phrasal verbs. That is how they stick.

Revise them regularly

Phrasal verbs are like houseplants. Ignore them, and they droop.

Common mistakes with phrasal verbs

Here are a few mistakes B2 learners often make:

1. Mixing up similar phrasal verbs

For example:

look for = try to find
look after = take care of
look forward to = be excited about something in the future

These may look similar, but they mean very different things.

2. Translating directly from your own language

Phrasal verbs do not always translate neatly. It is better to learn their meaning from examples rather than trying to translate every word.

3. Using them in the wrong register

Some phrasal verbs are quite informal, while one-word alternatives may sound more formal.

For example:

put off = postpone
find out = discover
deal with = handle

In informal emails or speaking, phrasal verbs are often perfect. In more formal writing, you may sometimes prefer a more formal synonym.

B2 First exam tip

For Speaking and informal Writing, using a few natural phrasal verbs can improve your language greatly. However, do not force them into every sentence. The aim is to sound natural, not to sound like a dictionary that has fallen down the stairs.

Use phrasal verbs when they fit the context naturally.

For example:

Instead of:

I discovered that the film was cancelled.

You could say:

I found out that the film was cancelled.

Both are correct, but the second sounds more natural in everyday English.

Final thoughts

Learning common phrasal verbs for B2 First is a smart way to make your English sound more natural, fluent, and confident. You do not need to learn them all in one afternoon. Start with the most common ones, revise them often, and use them in your own speaking and writing.

Little by little, they will stop looking strange and start feeling natural.

And that is when the magic happens.

Common Phrasal Verbs for B2 First Exercise Worksheet in downloadable PDF

Phrasal Verbs with PUSH

Phrasal Verbs Related to Housework

How to Learn 10 Phrasal Verbs a Week

Phrasal Verbs to Use in Formal Writing

How to Prepare for the Cambridge B2 First Exam

Common B2 First Mistakes to Avoid

How to Write an Essay for B2 First

100 Phrasal Verbs for Everyday Use + PDF

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