A phrasal verb is a verb that is used with one or more other words (an adverb or preposition).

For example, the phrase to pick up is made up of the words to pick and up.

Phrasal verbs are very common in English, especially in more informal situations.

But they can be difficult for people who don’t speak English as their first language because the words in them don’t always mean what they do on their own.

So, if you’re not sure if someone will understand a phrasal verb, use a one-word verb instead if you can.

Here are some examples:

Change phrasal verbs to single words to make communication easier

call off: cancel
carry on: continue
come up with: invent
cut down on: reduce
find out: discover
get away: escape
leave out: omit
pass on: transmit
pick up: collect
point out: explain
pull through: recover
put off: postpone
put up with: tolerate
see to: arrange
send back: return
throw away: discard
touch on: mention
turn down: reject (an invitation) / lower the volume

Do you have any other suggestions?

If you’ve not joined one of my Speed Networking sessions before, you might be curious about what you can expect to get out of them.

Let me fill you in!

See speed networking as a great way to practise your English speaking skills.
Practise English in a relaxed and safe setting.
Exchange information about your professional background, skills and experience.
Engage in conversations with others, learn about their experiences and perspectives, and share your own ideas and thoughts.
Discover insights and perspectives that you may not have encountered otherwise.

Network 1:1 with other business owners and solopreneurs.
Expand your horizons by meeting different people.
Take advantage of the supportive environment to build your confidence.
Whether you’re a new business owner or an experienced entrepreneur, expand your professional network and give your English a boost.
Overcome any fear of talking to others.
Realise the more you practise the better you’ll become.
Keep in mind that speed networking is about making connections, not necessarily getting a job offer on the spot.
Interacting with others can lead to unexpected opportunities and collaborations.
Network with professionals from different industries and backgrounds
Grow your confidence and communication skills.

A lot can happen during our sessions.

Would you like to join us?

Conversation is a meeting of minds with different memories and habits.

When minds meet, they don’t just exchange facts: they transform them, reshape them, draw different implications from them, and engage in new trains of thought.

Conversation doesn’t just reshuffle the cards: it creates new cards.
Theodore Zeldin

Conversation is like a game of cards.

You might not follow the same old rules every time.

You might come up with new ways to play or new ideas to make the game even more fun.

In the same way, when two people have a conversation, they don’t just repeat what they already know. They also come up with new ideas and insights by sharing their own unique experiences and perspectives.

PS If you’re interested in having great conversations in English, you’ll love our free Speed Networking and our Chilipepper Your English group sessions.

Derek Siver’s Pricing Philosophy emphasises the importance of understanding the value we provide as business owners.

It’s not just about the product or service we offer, but also about the time, effort and expertise required to deliver that value to our customers.

There’s room for creativity and individuality in how we run our businesses.

Derek’s recommendation:

Pour your personality and philosophy into the way you do business. People actually appreciate it when you do things in a surprising way. It shows you care more than most — that you’re putting your self into this — that you’re not just in it for the money.

Great advice, don’t you think?

PS Derek Sivers has been “a musician, producer, circus performer, entrepreneur, TED speaker and book publisher”.

The letters th, f and v are often confused.

This video on the TEDEd site is aimed at younger children, but it can still help you master the difference in pronunciation.