Are phrasal verbs a constant struggle for you? The answer to this question is probably ‘Yes’! This is true for everyone learning English. One of the best ways to get phrasal verbs to be part of your working vocabulary is to practise using them as often as possible. This is why it is a good idea to group phrasal verbs by subject area or use, rather than trying to learn random lists of them. By doing this, you can practise them in a set context. Here we are looking at phrasal verbs for use at work.
Remember that phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb and one or two particles (prepositions or adverbs) that, when combined, take on a specific meaning. These combinations often have idiomatic meanings that differ from the literal meaning of the individual words. Phrasal verbs often have an equivalent synonym, but not always. Phrasal verbs are particularly common in spoken and informal English, but they’re also widely used in the workplace.
Here are seven common phrasal verbs that are regularly used in the work environment.
- Catch up (on/with)
Meaning: To reach the same level or standard as someone else or to complete something you are behind on. In the workplace, this can refer to finishing tasks or getting up to date with work. There is not an equivalent synonym for this verb. This phrasal verb can include one or two particles. Notice that if we refer to the object, we can use the particle on or with. Look at the examples and their translations.
Examples:
"After being off sick for a week, I need to catch up on/with all my emails." (Dopo una settimana di assenza per malattia, ho bisogno di aggiornarmi su tutte le e-mail).
"I’ll stay late tonight to catch up on/with my project." (Rimarrò fino a tardi stasera per aggiornarmi sul mio progetto).
"We’ve fallen behind schedule, but we can catch up if we work hard." (Siamo rimasti indietro, ma possiamo raggiungere l'obiettivo se lavoriamo sodo). - Take on
Meaning: To accept a responsibility or a new task. This phrasal verb is commonly used when agreeing to take on new roles or projects at work.
Examples:
"I’ve decided to take on the new client proposal." (Ho deciso di assumere la proposta del nuovo cliente).
"Last year I took on too many responsibilities." (L'anno scorso mi sono assunto troppe responsabilità).
"She’s always willing to take on new challenges." (È sempre disposta ad affrontare nuove sfide). - Follow up (on)
Meaning: To check on something or someone after an initial interaction, often to ensure something has been done or to get more information.
Examples:
"I need to follow up on the email I sent last week." (Devo dare seguito all'email che ho inviato la settimana scorsa).
"Please follow up with the client to make sure they’ve received the contract." (Si prega di dare seguito con il cliente per assicurarsi che abbia ricevuto il contratto).
"Let me follow up on that task and I’ll get back to you tomorrow." (Lasciatemi seguire questo task e ti risponderò domani). - Look over
Meaning: To quickly review or examine something, usually to check for errors or to become familiar with it. A synonym of this would be the verb to review.
Examples:
"Can you look over this report before I send it to the boss?" (Puoi rivedere questo rapporto prima che lo invii al direttore?).
“We looked over the figures yesterday and realized that there was an error." (Abbiamo rivisto le cifre ieri e ci siamo resi conto che c'era un errore).
“Maria is looking over the PowerPoint slides again before she presents." (Maria sta rivedendo le diapositive di PowerPoint prima di presentarle). - Come up with
Meaning: To think of or produce an idea, suggestion, or plan. It’s often used in a creative or problem-solving context at work.
Examples:
"We need to come up with a new marketing strategy." (Dobbiamo ideare una nuova strategia di marketing).
“Paolo came up with a brilliant solution to the problem." (Paolo ha ideato una soluzione brillante al problema).
"Let’s brainstorm and see if we can come up with some fresh ideas." (Facciamo un po' di brainstorming e vediamo se possiamo ideare qualche idea nuova). - Set up
Meaning: To arrange or organize something, like a meeting, system, or event. This is often used when preparing for something in the workplace.
Examples:
"I’ll set up a meeting for us to discuss the project." (Preparerò un incontro per discutere del progetto).
"We need to set up a new filing system to organize the documents." (Dobbiamo stabilire un nuovo sistema di archiviazione per organizzare i documenti).
"They’re setting up the conference room for the presentation." (Stanno preparando la sala conferenze per la presentazione). - Deal with
Meaning: To manage, handle, or take action in response to a task, problem, or situation. In the workplace, this often refers to resolving issues, addressing concerns, or handling responsibilities.
Examples:
"As the team leader, I often have to deal with client complaints and make sure they're satisfied with our service." (In qualità di team leader, devo spesso occuparmi dei reclami dei clienti e assicurarmi che siano soddisfatti del nostro servizio).
"Our department is currently dealing with budget cuts, so we need to find ways to reduce costs." (Il nostro dipartimento è attualmente occupato da tagli al budget, quindi dobbiamo trovare il modo di ridurre i costi).
"Could you deal with the technical issue on the website? It’s affecting our customers' ability to place orders." (Potresti occuparti del problema tecnico del sito web? Sta influenzando la capacità dei nostri clienti di effettuare gli ordini).
Mastering these phrasal verbs will help you sound more fluent and natural in the workplace. Remember, phrasal verbs are often context-dependent, so practice them in different situations to understand how they fit into various professional scenarios. Keep practising, and soon you’ll be using these phrases with ease!
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