Phrasal Verbs ESL Activities, Games, Lesson Plans & Other Resources

A phrasal verb is a verb that’s combined with an adverb or preposition to give the verb a different meaning. Some examples of phrasal verbs include the following: ask for, back off, believe in, call back, drop off, and hundreds (or even thousands) more.

We use phrasal verbs all the time in English, which is why it’s important to give our students lots of practice using them in our classes. Check out our recommendations for the best phrasal verb activities and games, along with worksheets, online practice and lesson plans.

Phrasal Verbs Games and Activities

Are you ready to get into the best ESL phrasal verb activities? Keep on reading for the straight goods, and by that, I mean the best ones to consider trying out!

#1: Concentration Memory Game

One of my favourite ways to help students learn new phrasal verbs is to use this memory game. The way it works is that you can write down the target vocabulary on cards, breaking them up into verb + preposition or adverb (check out: ESL Adverb Activities). Then, cut them out and make one set for each group of 4.

The students lay the cards facedown on the table and it’s basically a memory game where they have to make a phrasal verb. Once they find a match, they have to make a sentence with it in order to keep the cards and get the point.

One quick tip: be sure to design this game carefully so that each verb has one ideal match and not a bunch of possibilities. More information about this memory game here: ESL Concentration Game.

#2: Dictogloss With Phrasal Verbs

Dictogloss is a challenging listening activity that’s ideal for working on phrasal verbs. The way it works is that you can find (or write) a passage with lots of these target vocabulary items.

Then, put students into pairs and read it out at a slightly faster pace than they’re used to. Students have to take notes and then work together to re-create the passage, either by writing or speaking. Read it out again and they can add more details. Finally, they can compare it with the original and circle the examples of phrasal verbs.

Check it out here: ESL Dictogloss Activity.

#3: ESL Phrasal Verb Charades

One fun way to way to review these vocabulary items is to play charades. I’ve sure you’ve done it before with your friends or family. The way it works is that students have to act out a phrasal verb and their teammates have to guess what they’re doing.

Do you want to try it out with your students? You can see all the information here: ESL Charades.

#4: Phrasal Verb Videos

I’m ALL about using videos in my English classes because they’re engaging, cover a huge range of topics, vocabulary sets and grammar points as well as lend themselves to lots of different pre and post watching activities.

However, there’s certainly more to it than just hitting play and sitting back and relaxing. At minimum, you’ll want to explain what phrasal verbs are and then have students listen for some examples of them. But, there are also a lot more possibilities!

To find some of the activities you can do with your students, check this out: ESL Video Activities.

#5: Hot Potato

I like to use hot potato to create a little bit of excitement in my classes. The way it works is that students have to pass around a potato (or another object) around the classroom and the person holding it when the timer goes off of music stops has to do something.

In this case, I’ll usually say a verb and they have to make it into a phrasal verb and then put it into a sentence. But, what your students do really depends on their level.

#6: Password

This is a fun ESL vocabulary game where students have to use words to describe another word to one of their teammates. In this case, the secret words would be phrasal verbs and the students might give some examples of sentences where the phrasal verb could be used.

Do you want to know more about how to play it? Check it out here: ESL Password Vocabulary Game.

#7: ESL Vocabulary Activities

The good news for English teachers teaching phrasal verbs it that there are a ton of fun, engaging vocabulary activities that you can try out. Seriously. So many good ones! Check the best ones out right here: ESL Vocabulary Activities.

#8: Phrasal Verb ESL Conversation Lesson

It’s easy to plan an ESL conversation lesson about anything. Find out how right here in this step-by-step guide:

#9: Phrasal Verbs Songs and Chants

If you take a look on YouTube, there are a ton of songs and chants that you can use to teach phrasal verbs to your English learners. Have a look and you’ll see a myriad of options for all ages and levels of students.

#10: Is that Sentence Correct

One way to review phrasal verbs with regards to both form and meaning is to use an error correction activity like this one. The way it works is that you can write a bunch of sentences on the PowerPoint or whiteboard. Some are correct, while others are not. You’ll want to focus your errors on the target grammar or vocabulary.

Students have to decide if the sentence is correct. If it is, they can make the necessary changes. Do you want to try it out with your students? Learn more here: ESL Error Correction Activity.

#11: Verb Activities

If you’re focusing on verbs with your English learners, there are a million and one thing activities and games that you can do with them. Seriously. So many that there’s no excuse not to have engaging, interesting English classes! You can see some of our top recommendations right here: Best Verb Activities.

#12: Running Dictation 

#13: Eliciting in a Phrasal Verbs ESL Lesson

Unless your students are relative beginners, it’s likely that they’ve at least seen some phrasal verbs before. In this case, a nice introduction to the unit can be to elicit some of this information. There are two main reasons to consider doing this.

The first reason is that the teacher can learn what the students already know and then focus the lesson on things they don’t. The second reason is that using eliciting in class can help students activate their prior knowledge about something, which helps the new things stick better.

In this case, you could say the first word in a phrasal verb and then ask students if they know other words that can fit into the end. Do this with a few different examples. Find out more: Using Eliciting in Language Classes.

#14: Flyswatter Phrasal Verb Game

A fun game to play with students is this one. It lends itself well to just about any topic and many different kinds of grammar or vocabulary. In this case, write down a bunch of either the beginning or end of common phrasal verbs, around 30 of them on the board.

Then, have two students come up and each of them gets a flyswatter. Say a part of a phrasal verb and the first student to slap a match gets a chance to use that phrasal verb in a sentence. Erase it and then add a new word in that space. Continue playing until everyone has had a chance.

Check it out: ESL Flyswatter Game.

#15: Error Correction Relay Race

This is one of my favourite phrasal verb ESL activities! It’s fun, engaging and makes something old (error correction) and makes it into something new by turning it into a race.

As part of a phrasal verbs ESL lesson, you’ll want to make sure at least some of the errors relate to this target vocabulary. But, you could also include some errors with things like punctuation or other grammatical constructions that the students know. Want to give it a try? Error Correction Relay Race Game for ESL.

#16: Dialogue Substitution 

#17: Phrasal Verb Pictionary

Divide the class into teams. One student from each team selects a phrasal verb card and has to draw a picture representing the meaning of the phrasal verb. The team members have to guess the phrasal verb based on the drawing within a time limit. If the team guesses correctly, they earn a point.

#18: Phrasal Verb Storytelling

Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of phrasal verbs. One student starts a story by using one of the phrasal verbs in a sentence. The next student in the group continues the story by incorporating another phrasal verb into their sentence. The storytelling continues, with each student adding a sentence using a different phrasal verb. This activity encourages creativity and the use of phrasal verbs in context.

#19: Phrasal Verb Board Game

Create a board game centered around phrasal verbs. The board should have squares with prompts or situations that require students to use phrasal verbs in sentences. Students roll the dice, move their game piece, and construct a sentence using a phrasal verb based on the prompt they land on. This game reinforces the understanding and usage of phrasal verbs.

#20: Phrasal Verb Guess Who

Prepare cards with famous people or fictional characters written on them. Write a phrasal verb on the back of each card. Stick one card on each student’s forehead without showing them the name or phrasal verb. Students take turns asking yes/no questions to guess the phrasal verb written on their cards. They can ask questions like, “Can I do this with my friends?” or “Does it involve cooking?” The student who correctly guesses their phrasal verb wins.

#21: Verbs List in English

If your students want to learn the names of the most common action words in English, have a look at this handy guide:

Verbs List in English.

What is a Phrasal Verb?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb + preposition or verb + adverb. When they’re used together, they sometimes take on a different meaning than the original verb. Some examples of phrasal verbs include the following:

• break down
• check in
• tear up
• put on
• left out
• stand up
• broke into

ESL Phrasal Verb Worksheets

Why make phrasal verbs worksheets if you can just print off some of these and give them to your students? No more reinventing the wheel! If you’re looking for some solid worksheets to give your students more practice with this important English grammar concept, then you’ll want to check out our resources:

AgendaWeb

English Grammar

ISL Collective

Phrasal Verbs ESL Lesson Plans

If you want a phrasal verb lesson plan that you can just print and go, then you should check out our recommended ones right here. The best part is that you can just print and go which can potentially save you a ton of time:

British Council

ThoughtCo

LinguaHouse

Online Practice for Phrasal Verbs

If your students want a bit of extra practice with phrasal verbs, then one way to help them do that is to recommend some of the following online resources. There are quizzes and games and the best part? You don’t have to correct them! It’s potentially a great time saver.

ESL Lounge

Learn English Feel Good

English Club

FAQs

There are a number of common questions that people have about teaching phrasal verbs to English learners. Here are the answers to some of the most common ones.

Why is teaching phrasal verbs important?

Teaching phrasal verbs is important because they are commonly used in everyday English conversations and texts. Understanding and using phrasal verbs correctly can significantly enhance English language fluency.

How can teachers introduce phrasal verbs to English learners?

Teachers can introduce phrasal verbs through contextualized examples, visuals, real-life situations, or by providing explanations of their meanings and usage. Additionally, exercises and activities that involve phrasal verbs can help reinforce understanding.

What are some effective strategies for teaching phrasal verbs?

Strategies for teaching phrasal verbs include providing example sentences, discussing the meanings and different usages, using visuals or gestures to aid understanding, practicing through role-plays or conversations, and providing ample opportunities for practice and reinforcement.

How can teachers help students remember and understand phrasal verbs?

Teachers can help students remember and understand phrasal verbs by grouping them by topic or meaning, providing mnemonic devices, creating flashcards or visuals, and offering frequent opportunities for practice in various contexts.

What are some common challenges for English learners when learning phrasal verbs?

Common challenges for English learners with phrasal verbs include understanding the multiple meanings of phrasal verbs, differentiating between similar phrasal verbs, and using them appropriately in context.

How can teachers address these challenges when teaching phrasal verbs?

Teachers can address these challenges by providing clear explanations, offering examples in context, highlighting differences in meaning and usage, and providing ample practice opportunities through role-plays, exercises, and authentic materials.

Are there any resources or materials that can support teaching phrasal verbs?

Yes, there are various resources and materials available to support teaching phrasal verbs, such as textbooks, online resources, phrasal verb dictionaries, and authentic materials like movies, songs, and podcasts that incorporate phrasal verbs.

How can teachers assess students’ understanding and use of phrasal verbs?

Teachers can assess students’ understanding and use of phrasal verbs through quizzes, tests, written assignments, oral presentations, or by observing their usage in speaking and writing tasks. Providing constructive feedback and correction is also important.

Can you provide some examples of commonly used phrasal verbs?

Some examples of commonly used phrasal verbs are “take off” (remove clothing or leave quickly), “look up” (search for information), “turn on” (activate), and “give up” (stop trying). There are many more, and students will encounter them frequently in English communication.

Did you Like these ESL Phrasal Verb Activities?

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You can get this ESL grammar activities book in both digital and print formats. Read the digital copy on any device by downloading the free Kindle reading app. Then, take it with you to your favourite coffee shop for a serious lesson planning session. Or, keep a copy on the bookshelf in your office and use it as a handy reference guide.

Yes, it really is that easy to have better English lessons! Check out the book for yourself over on Amazon, but only if you want to get yourself a serious dose of ESL teaching awesome in your life:

Have your Say about Phrasal Verbs ESL

What do you think about these phrasal verb games and activities? Did you try out one of them from this list or do you have another that you’d like to recommend? Leave a comment below and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

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Last update on 2022-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API