Don't worry! It's not a long list that you have to learn by heart.
There are only 3 of them, so you won't have any trouble remembering them.
They are common in everyday English conversation, and mastering them can greatly improve your fluency and comprehension.
I will also provide you with some context, explain how to use them and give fill-in-the-gap exercises, so that you can practice and become more comfortable using them in your daily conversations.
Let's go! : )
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Quick reminder:
phrasal verb = verb (eg come, go, get) + preposition(eg on, for, with)
When we combine those words, we get another meaning.
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Bring up
To raise a topic for discussion or mention something from the past.
You can imagine that you bring to a meeting a printed article about an important matter. You keep it in your folder. At some point, you take it and place it on the table - up.
You brought up a topic.
Examples:
- I don't want to bring up the topic of politics during dinner.
- John always brings up his ex-girlfriend when he's drunk.
Fill in the gap exercises:
- I don't like to ________ ________ past failures.
- Sarah ________ ________ her concerns during the meeting.
Run into
To meet someone unexpectedly or encounter an obstacle.
You can imagine that you went jogging in a park. As you’re running you turn your head back and then by accident you bump into another person. It turns out that it’s your friend.
You ran into your friend as you were jogging.
Examples:
- I ran into my old friend from high school at the grocery store.
- We ran into a lot of traffic on the way to the airport.
Fill in the gap exercises:
- I hope we don't ________ ________ any problems on our trip.
- Last night, I ________ ________ my neighbor at the movie theater.
Look forward to
To anticipate or feel excited about something that is going to happen.
I imagine that I'm sitting at home waiting for my friend to visit me. From time to time I look at the road to see if he is not coming.
I’m looking forward to meeting him.
Remember: after this phrasal verb we use a verb + -ing (gerund).
Examples:
- I'm really looking forward to my vacation next week.
- John is looking forward to meeting his new boss.
Fill in the gap exercises:
- She's been ________ ________ the concert for weeks.
- We're ________ ________ your visit next month.
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I hope you will remember those 3 phrasal verbs and will use them from time to time.
By mastering phrasal verbs such as bring up, run into, and look forward to, you will greatly improve your fluency and comprehension in English.
The more you practice using them in your daily conversations, the more natural they will become.
So, go ahead and use these phrasal verbs in your next conversation and see the difference it makes in your language learning journey.
