Phrasal Verbs and Collocations Mastery

Welcome to this comprehensive course on phrasal verbs and collocations. Whether you are preparing for an English exam, improving your professional communication, or simply love the language, mastering these two‑word (or three‑word) combinations will make you sound more natural and confident.

What Are Phrasal Verbs?

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that creates a new meaning. The meaning is often idiomatic, meaning you cannot always deduce it from the individual words.

Verb + Particle: look up, give in, turn off
Verb + Particle + Object: run past, set back, get out of
Verb + Particle + Object + Particle: look forward to, put up with

Understanding the structure helps you recognize new phrasal verbs in context and use them correctly.

What Are Collocations?

Collocations are natural word pairings that native speakers use together. They are not random; they follow patterns that have been reinforced through repeated usage.

Verb + Noun: set back, boost energy, strike up a friendship
Adjective + Noun: strong coffee, heavy rain
Noun + Noun: traffic jam, business plan

Learning collocations improves fluency and reduces the chance of sounding “translated” or awkward.

Key Phrasal Verbs from the Quiz

1. came round to

Used when someone changes their mind and finally accepts an idea or offer.

Example: "She finally came round to her doubts and accepted the offer." This sentence shows a shift from doubt to agreement.

2. do away with

Means to eliminate or get rid of something.

Example: "He tried to do away with the rumor before it spread." The speaker is attempting to stop the rumor from circulating.

3. run (something) past

To present an idea briefly to someone for feedback before finalizing it.

Example: "I’ll run the proposal past the team tomorrow." This conveys informal discussion.

4. get (somebody) out of

Often used to describe leaving a place abruptly, especially when helping someone exit.

Example: "When the fire alarm rang, she got everyone out of the building in seconds."

Important Collocations from the Quiz

1. set back

Means to delay or cause a setback.

Example: "The new policy will set back the project's timeline by two weeks." This indicates a negative impact on schedule.

2. boost energy

Describes increasing stamina, vigor, or vitality.

Example: "A cup of coffee can boost energy before a long meeting."

3. strike up a friendship

Means to start a friendly relationship quickly.

Example: "During the workshop, participants struck up a friendship that lasted beyond the event."

4. shy away from

Indicates avoidance or reluctance.

Example: "She tends to shy away from criticism, preferring quiet reflection instead."

How to Learn and Remember These Expressions

Memorizing phrasal verbs and collocations is easier when you attach vivid mental images or short stories to each phrase.

Visual Cue: Imagine a clock turning backwards when you think of set back.
Story Hook: Picture a superhero boosting energy with a magical drink before a battle.
Contrast Trick: Pair shy away from with its opposite face up to to highlight the meaning.
Action Sequence: Envision yourself running a plan past a colleague, like passing a baton in a relay race.

Practice Exercises

Try filling the gaps with the appropriate phrasal verb or collocation. Check your answers against the explanations provided earlier.

When the deadline approached, the unexpected issue _____ the schedule by three days. (set back)
After hearing the proposal, the manager asked me to _____ it before the final meeting. (run (something) past)
She decided to _____ the rumor by posting a clarification online. (do away with)
During the conference, attendees quickly _____ a rapport that helped them collaborate later. (strike up a friendship)
Whenever criticism arises, he tends to _____. (shy away from)

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Confusing similar particles: come about (to happen) vs. came round to (to change mind). Remember the “round” suggests a circular change of opinion.
Over‑using literal meanings: run past is not about physically running; it’s about presenting an idea quickly.
Mixing collocations: boost energy is correct, but boost knowledge sounds odd; we say gain knowledge instead.

SEO‑Friendly Tips for Learners

When you write blog posts, essays, or professional emails, incorporating these phrases can improve readability and search‑engine relevance.

Use keyword‑rich collocations like "boost energy" in health‑related articles.
Include action‑oriented phrasal verbs such as "run (something) past" in business blogs to signal expertise.
Maintain natural flow by pairing phrasal verbs with appropriate context; search engines reward authentic language.

Summary

In this course you have learned:

The definition and structure of phrasal verbs.
Key phrasal verbs: came round to, do away with, run (something) past, get (somebody) out of.
Essential collocations: set back, boost energy, strike up a friendship, shy away from.
Memory techniques, practice exercises, and common errors to watch for.
How to apply these expressions in SEO‑friendly writing.

Continue practicing by writing sentences of your own, swapping ideas with a study partner, and listening for these phrases in native media. The more you use them, the more natural they will become.

Phrasal Verbs and Collocations Mastery

Which phrasal verb best fits: "She finally ___ her doubts and accepted the offer."

In the sentence "The new policy will ___ the project's timeline by two weeks," which verb‑noun collocation is appropriate?

Choose the correct phrasal verb: "He tried to ___ the rumor before it spread."

Which collocation means ‘to increase one's stamina or vigor’?

Identify the phrasal verb that conveys ‘to discuss an idea informally before finalizing it’.

Which phrase best completes: "She tends to ___ when faced with criticism."

Select the collocation that describes ‘building a personal connection quickly’.

Which phrasal verb would you use for ‘to leave a place abruptly’?

Choose the verb‑noun collocation that means ‘to make a situation more complicated’.

In which phrase does the noun refer to ‘previously acquired information’?

Which expression best fits: "The scientist had to ___ the previous theory before proposing a new model."

Select the phrasal verb that conveys ‘to gradually disappear or fade away’.

Which collocation indicates ‘to meet required standards’?

Choose the phrase that best describes ‘to cause something to originate from a source’.

In the context of a meeting, which verb‑noun collocation means ‘to begin a conversation with a new person’?

Which phrasal verb would you use for ‘to discuss something briefly before deciding’?

Select the collocation that best fits the idea of ‘gaining deeper insight’.

Which phrase conveys ‘to cause an unexpected outcome contrary to what was anticipated’?

Which phrasal verb best expresses ‘to become involved in a detailed discussion’?

Identify the collocation that means ‘to rely on previous experiences when making a decision’.

Which phrase would you use to describe ‘the act of delaying progress’?