Phrasal verbs – A Thanksgiving story
What are phrasal verbs?
Phrasal verbs are verbs that are used together with another word — usually a preposition (like on, in, up) or an adverb (like away, back, out).
When these words combine, they often create a new meaning that is different from the meaning of the original verb.
For example:
- get up = to rise from bed
- look for = to search
- turn off = to stop something from working (a light, TV, etc.)
Phrasal verbs are very common in everyday English, and learning them helps you sound more natural and understand native speakers better.
Read the story below and note the phrasal verbs in bold.
As Thanksgiving approached, Mia decided to look into hosting a small gathering for friends who couldn’t travel home. While planning the menu, she came across a collection of her grandmother’s autumn recipes. Wanting everything to be perfect, she began to sort out the shopping list and asked her roommates to help carry out some of the preparations.
However, the week became hectic, and Mia feared she might fall behind on her holiday to‑do list. One afternoon, she unexpectedly ran into her neighbour, who offered to lend her some decorations. During their chat, he brought up the idea of organizing a neighbourhood food drive, something Mia had always wanted to do but kept putting off.
Feeling inspired, she checked her schedule again to ensure she could keep up with both the dinner planning and the new project. Even though she was tired, she was glad she hadn’t turned down the chance to make the holiday more meaningful for everyone around her.
