Essential Phrasal Verbs for Workplace Communication
Introduction to Workplace Phrasal Verbs
Effective communication is vital in any workplace, and mastering phrasal verbs can significantly enhance your ability to convey ideas clearly and efficiently. Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs and prepositions or adverbs that create specific meanings. In a professional setting, these expressions can help you sound more natural and articulate.
By the end of this lesson, you will be familiar with several essential phrasal verbs commonly used at work. You’ll learn their meanings and how to use them in sentences, which will improve your overall business English communication skills.
Let's begin by looking at some useful vocabulary related to phrasal verbs. This will help you understand the context and application of each phrase.
Useful Vocabulary for Workplace Phrasal Verbs
- Execute: To carry out or put into effect.
- Example: "We need to execute the marketing plan effectively."
- Investigate: To look into or examine a situation.
- Example: "We need to investigate the cause of the delay."
- Establish: To set up or start something new.
- Example: "We plan to establish a new office in the city."
- Resolve: To find a solution to a problem.
- Example: "We need to resolve this issue quickly."
List of Essential Workplace Phrasal Verbs
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Bring up: To mention or introduce a topic for discussion.
- Example: "I'd like to bring up the issue of budget cuts during the meeting."
- Example: "She always brings up interesting points in our discussions."
- Example: "Let's bring up this topic at the next team meeting."
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Carry out: To complete or execute a task or plan.
- Example: "We need to carry out the market research before launching the new product."
- Example: "The team carried out the project successfully."
- Example: "Can you carry out these instructions carefully?"
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Cut back: To reduce or decrease expenses.
- Example: "The company has decided to cut back on travel expenses to save money."
- Example: "We need to cut back on unnecessary spending."
- Example: "They have cut back the budget for this quarter."
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Follow up: To check on the progress or status of a previous action or conversation.
- Example: "I will follow up with you next week to see if you have any questions."
- Example: "Please follow up on the client's request by tomorrow."
- Example: "It's important to follow up after the meeting."
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Get ahead: To succeed or make progress in one's career or business.
- Example: "I'm working hard to get ahead in my career and hope to be promoted soon."
- Example: "To get ahead, you need to show initiative and dedication."
- Example: "He got ahead by continuously improving his skills."
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Look into: To investigate or examine a situation or problem.
- Example: "We need to look into the customer complaints and address them appropriately."
- Example: "Can you look into the issue with the software update?"
- Example: "The manager will look into the reasons for the delay."
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Run into: To encounter a problem or difficulty unexpectedly.
- Example: "We ran into some issues with the delivery schedule, and we need to find a solution quickly."
- Example: "She ran into trouble with her project timeline."
- Example: "We might run into problems if we don't prepare well."
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Set up: To establish or organize a business or event.
- Example: "We're planning to set up a new branch in the city to expand our customer base."
- Example: "Can you set up the meeting room for the presentation?"
- Example: "They set up the equipment for the conference."
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Take over: To assume control or responsibility for a business or project.
- Example: "The new CEO will take over the company's operations next month."
- Example: "Can you take over this task while I'm on leave?"
- Example: "He took over as project manager last year."
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Work out: To resolve or find a solution to a problem.
- Example: "We need to work out a plan to increase sales revenue for the next quarter."
- Example: "They worked out the issues with the supplier."
- Example: "Let's work out the details before finalising the agreement."
Additional Phrasal Verbs
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Call off: To cancel an event or meeting.
- Example: "We had to call off the meeting due to a scheduling conflict."
- Example: "The event was called off because of the bad weather."
- Example: "Can we call off the project if it’s not viable?"
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Put off: To postpone or delay.
- Example: "Let's put off the discussion until next week."
- Example: "They decided to put off the launch date."
- Example: "Don't put off your tasks until the last minute."
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Bring in: To recruit or hire.
- Example: "We need to bring in an expert to solve this issue."
- Example: "They brought in a new manager to improve efficiency."
- Example: "Can we bring in additional staff for the project?"
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Look over: To review or examine.
- Example: "Can you look over this report and give me your feedback?"
- Example: "She looked over the documents before signing."
- Example: "Let's look over the proposal one more time."
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Turn down: To reject or decline.
- Example: "He turned down the job offer because it didn't meet his expectations."
- Example: "They had to turn down the request due to budget constraints."
- Example: "Can we turn down the proposal if it's not feasible?"
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Bring about: To cause or result in.
- Example: "The new policy will bring about significant changes in the company."
- Example: "What brought about this unexpected turn of events?"
- Example: "The merger could bring about positive outcomes for both companies."
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Get by: To manage or cope.
- Example: "We need to get by with the resources we have."
- Example: "How are you getting by with the new system?"
- Example: "They managed to get by despite the challenges."
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Hold up: To delay.
- Example: "The project was held up due to technical difficulties."
- Example: "What’s holding up the approval process?"
- Example: "They were held up in traffic and arrived late."
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Look up: To find information.
- Example: "Can you look up the contact details for the client?"
- Example: "She looked up the information online."
- Example: "I’ll look up the address and get back to you."
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Take up: To begin or start.
- Example: "He decided to take up a new hobby to relax."
- Example: "She will take up the role of project leader next month."
- Example: "They took up the challenge and succeeded."
Summary and Takeaways
Exercises to Do Alone
To reinforce what you've learned, create sentences using each phrasal verb in different workplace scenarios. Practise these phrases regularly to build confidence and fluency in your professional communication.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, we covered essential phrasal verbs for the workplace, including their meanings and examples. These phrases are crucial for effective communication in a business environment. By mastering these phrasal verbs, you can enhance your ability to express ideas clearly and handle various work-related situations with ease.
Key Phrases Learned
- Bring up
- Carry out
- Cut back
- Follow up
- Get ahead
- Look into
- Run into
- Set up
- Take over
- Work out
Tips for Remembering the ESL Lesson
- Practise using the phrasal verbs in real-life work situations.
- Write down examples and review them regularly.
- Use visual aids, such as flashcards, to reinforce your memory.
- Pair each phrasal verb with a specific scenario to make it more memorable.
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