TOEIC® Phrasal Verbs: Understand, Avoid Traps, and Ace Part 5
Flow Exam team
Phrasal verbs combine a simple verb with a particle (preposition or adverb) to create a new meaning, often different from the base verb.
In the TOEIC®, they appear in all sections, but especially in Part 5 and 6. You need to choose the correct particle or identify the right meaning within a professional context.
The main pitfall? Some phrasal verbs have multiple meanings depending on the context. And similar-sounding particles completely change the meaning (turn in ≠ turn on ≠ turn down).
Types of Phrasal Verbs in the TOEIC®
Separable vs. Inseparable Verbs
Some phrasal verbs allow an object to come between the verb and the particle; others do not.
Separable: you can place the object before or after the particle.
- "Please fill out the form." / "Please fill the form out."
Warning: when using a pronoun, separation becomes mandatory.
- "Fill it out before Monday."
Inseparable: the object always comes after the particle.
- "We need to look into this issue immediately."
- Incorrect : "look this issue into"
Two-Word Particle Verbs (Double Particle Verbs)
Some phrasal verbs combine two particles. They are always inseparable.
- "I'm looking forward to the meeting."
- "We ran out of printer paper."
These forms come up regularly in Part 7 within professional emails.
The Most Frequent Traps in Part 5
| Trap | Incorrect Example | Correction | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrong particle | turn in the lights | turn on the lights | in completely changes the meaning |
| Impossible separation | look the matter into | look into the matter | look into is inseparable |
| Missing particle | Please hand your report | hand in your report | the meaning is incomplete without in |
| Meaning confusion | put off the fire | put out the fire | put off = postpone, not extinguish |
The confusion between put off (postpone) and put out (extinguish) almost always trips up the candidates we coach. The reason: both particles start with "o" and both expressions are used in professional contexts.
The reflex you need? Note whether the context refers to time (postpone = put off) or extinguishing (extinguish = put out).
Essential Phrasal Verbs for the TOEIC®
Common Professional Contexts
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | TOEIC® Example |
|---|---|---|
| call off | cancel | The training session was called off due to bad weather. |
| carry out | execute, perform | We will carry out a survey next month. |
| set up | organize, install | They set up a new branch in Tokyo. |
| take over | take control of, acquire | Our company took over a local competitor. |
| bring up | mention, raise | She brought up an important point during the meeting. |
| go over | review, examine | Let's go over the budget one more time. |
Communication and Planning Contexts
- "We need to follow up on the client's request."
- "The manager pointed out several errors in the report."
- "They decided to put off the launch until next quarter."
These forms constantly appear in Part 6 and 7, especially in professional correspondence.
How to Identify the Correct Particle
Checklist
| If the context suggests... | Look for these particles | Common Examples |
|---|---|---|
| A completed/finished action | out, up, off | fill out, use up, finish off |
| A start/launch | up, on | start up, turn on, set up |
| A continuation | on, along | go on, carry on, get along |
| A cancellation/stop | off, down | call off, shut down, turn off |
| A search/check | up, into, over | look up, look into, go over |
Time Clues
Certain adverbs or time expressions point toward specific phrasal verbs.
- "The deadline has been moved up to Friday."
- "We had to put off the meeting until next week."
Look out for words like until, postpone, advance, earlier, later. They indicate that the topic is planning.
Mistakes to Absolutely Avoid
Literal Translation from Your Native Language
Incorrect: using the logic of your native language to construct an English phrasal verb.
The trap: many languages use a single verb where English changes the particle based on context.
Example: The verb "to search" (chercher)
In English, you have several options depending on what you are searching for:
- "I need to look up this word in the dictionary."
- "We are looking for a new supplier."
Both mean "to search," but the particles change.
- Look up is used for searching for information (in a book, a database).
- Look for is used for searching for a physical person or object.
If you translate directly from your language, you risk choosing the wrong particle. The solution? Learn phrasal verbs in their usage context, not by translating them.
Confusing Similar Verbs
turn in (submit) vs turn on (activate) vs turn down (reject, lower)
- "Please turn in your timesheet by 5 PM."
- "Could you turn down the volume?"
Particle confusion is one of the most common errors in Part 5, especially when the base verb is the same.
The solution? Create mental associations with the context (in = bring a document in, down = turn the volume down).
Strategy for Part 5
Identify the Question Type
When you see a verb followed by a blank space and then an object, ask yourself:
- The general meaning (cancel, start, check, etc.)
- The logical particle based on the decision chart above
- If the verb is separable (is a pronoun between the verb and the particle?)
"The company decided to call _____ the project."
(A) in (B) off (C) up (D) out
-> Answer: (B) call off = cancel. The other particles do not yield a coherent meaning with "decided" in a project context.
Spotting False Friends
Some combinations look like phrasal verbs but do not exist.
-> "take up with" in the sense of "discuss" exists, but "take in with" does not exist.
If a combination seems strange to you, trust your instinct: it is likely a trap.
Ready to Practice?
Phrasal verbs are tested very frequently in Part 5 of the TOEIC®, and choosing the wrong particle easily costs you preventable points. The good news: with targeted practice, you quickly recognize the pitfalls and select the correct answer by reflex.
On Flow Exam, you can practice directly on the Phrasal Verbs topic for Part 5, with thousands of questions formatted exactly like those on the official TOEIC®. So if you struggle with this topic, you will never make the same mistakes again.
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