Essential English Collocations and Phrasal Verbs

Common English Collocations and Phrasal Verbs

Collocations

Collocations are words that are often used together. Using them correctly will make your English sound more natural.

Adjective/Verb + Preposition

• Absent from
• Accustomed to
• Accused of
• Addicted to
• Afraid of
• Aim at: apuntar
• Apologise for
• Arrest for
• Ashamed of
• Aware of
• Based on
• Believe in
• Blame for
• Capable of
• Close to
• Content with
• Contrary to
• Convenient for
• Convict of
• Crazy about/for
• Criticise for/about
• Crowded with
• Curious about
• Depend on
• Dependent on: depender de
• Deprive of
• Devoid of: falta de; de interés
• Eager to/for: ansioso
• Excited about: emocionat
• Faithful to: leal
• Famous for
• Fed up with/of: harto de
• Find out
• Fond of: apreciar
• For yourself
• Guilty of: culpable
• Happen throughout
• Inclined to: interesado, dispuesto
• Intent to
• Interested in
• Jealous of
• Keen on: te gusta mucho una cosa
• Kind of/to
• Lack of
• Lacking in: carece de algo
• Late for
• Look at
• Opposed to
• Point of view
• Popular with
• Prevent from
• Prone to: propenso a
• Proud of
• Read about/between
• Regard to
• Related to
• Release from
• Rely on
• Responsible for
• Riddled with
• Shocked by/at
• Short of
• Similar to
• Subject to
• Successful in
• Suitable for
• Superior to
• Sure of
• Suspect of
• Take by
• Tap things out
• Tired of
• Worried about
• Worthy of

Adverb + Verb/Adjective

• Absolutely mad
• Awfully hard
• Brightly coloured
• Carefully move
• Endlessly complain
• Essentially good
• Generously donate
• Gently meander
• Heavily weigh
• Invariably late
• Ostentatiously flaunt
• Profusely apologise
• Remarkably stupid
• Sorely missed
• Successfully negotiated
• Totally disagree

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are phrases that indicate action. They are generally used in spoken English and informal texts.

Common Phrasal Verbs

• Blow up: estallar / sacar un tema
• Break in on: interrumpir una conversación
• Bring down: perder el trabajo
• Call off: cancelar
• Catch up with: ponerse al día; cotilleos
• Check up on: investigar
• Come up with: contribuir; sugerir, dinero
• Decked in
• Drop out of: dejar la escuela
• Fill out/in: completar
• Fill up: llenar
• Find out: descubrir
• Get along with / Get on with: tener una buena relación
• Get away with: huir
• Get rid of: eliminar
• Give away: dar algo a alguien gratis
• Give back: devolver un objeto
• Hand in: entregar
• Hang up: colgar
• Hold up: soportar / robar
• Keep up with: estar al tanto de
• Leave out: excluir
• Look down on: menospreciar
• Look forward to: desear
• Look out for: observar
• Look over: examinar
• Look up: buscar en una lista
• Look up to: admirar, respectar
• Make out: escuchar, entender
• Make sure of: estar seguro de
• Make up: mentir
• Pick up: recoger
• Point out: remarcar
• Put away: guardar
• Put off: causar rechazo, posponer
• Put on: ponerse
• Put out: apagar
• Put up with: tolerar, aguantar
• Run out of: quedarse sin energía
• Set up: empezar, montar
• Take care of: cuidar de
• Take off: quitarse la ropa, despegar
• Talk over: hablar por encima de
• Throw away: tirar
• Try on: probarse ropa
• Try out: testar, probar
• Tuned in
• Turn down: bajar el volumen / denegar
• Turn off: apagar / repugnar algo
• Turn on: encender
• Turn up: subir el volumen, aparecer
• Use up: gastar
• Walk out on: abandonar, finalizar