Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal Verbs F-J

What is something that you have found out recently? I found out that ketchup chips are not sold in The United States.

Sometimes we are sick, or experience difficult situations that we need to get over, but please, hang on, as things will get better.

No one is perfect, we all have areas that we can improve on.

A tip for improving your vocabulary can be to jot down new vocabulary when you hear new words.

As you can see, the words in bold are the phrasal verbs for today. The phrasal verbs that we will deal with today are:

1. Find Out

2. Get Over

3. Hang On

4. Improve On/ Upon

5. Jot Down

Find Out

Everyday is an opportunity to find out something new. We must learn everyday in order to grow, and the more we find out, the more we improve.

The phrase "find out" is a common phrasal verb that means to discover or obtain information about something, often through investigation or research. Here are some examples of how "find out" can be used:

• "I need to find out what time the movie starts."

• "She found out that her flight had been delayed due to bad weather."

• "We're trying to find out who is responsible for the project's delay."

• "I'll find out more about the conference schedule and let you know."

• "He was surprised to find out that his favorite book had been turned into a movie."

• "They want to find out if the new product meets customer expectations."

In each of these examples, "find out" is used to convey the idea of obtaining information or learning something new through inquiry or investigation.

Get Over

Sickness and heartbreak, these are events in life that we must learn to get over. We cannot remain heartbroken forever, we must get over this and move on.

Recovering from emotions, or moving past difficulties. It really means to recover, or heal, You can recover from a sickness such as the flu, and you can also recover from a painful event such as the loss of a loved one.

A) Recover from an Illness or Injury:

• "It took her a few weeks to get over the flu."

• "He had a hard time getting over his sports injury, but with physical therapy, he finally recovered."

B) Recover Emotionally:

• "It's been hard for her to get over the loss of her beloved pet."

• "He needed time to get over the breakup before he could start dating again."

Hang On

When make a phone call, and the person you call says "hang on" (apostrophe placement) it can be quiet frustrating! Another thing that we had to hang on to when we were a kid, was a tree branch. What does this mean? Well, imagine you are holding on to a tree branch, hanging above the ground. So, we can hang on physically, as well as emotionally. Maybe there has been a time in your life where you were hanging on, hoping the situation would improve. In other words, you waited and persevered through a difficult situation.

A) Wait or Hold On:

• "Hang on for a moment while I find the information you requested."

• "I'll be with you in a second; just hang on a moment."

B) Cling or Hold Tight:

• "The child was hanging on to their parent's hand as they crossed the street."

• "The climber had to hang on tightly to the rock to avoid falling."

C) Endure or Persevere:

• "Even when things are tough, you need to hang on and keep working towards your goals."

• "They've been through a lot, but they're determined to hang on and overcome the challenges."

Improve On/ Upon

What is something that you have improved on? For example, doing something better the second time. If you ran a race, and the second time you were 20 seconds faster, then you improved on your last time.

The phrase "improve on" is used to indicate making enhancements or changes to something in order to make it better than it was before. Here are some examples of how "improve on" can be used:

• "The new software update is designed to improve on the user interface and overall performance."

• "The chef managed to improve on the classic recipe by adding a unique twist to the flavors."

• "He received feedback from his coach and worked hard to improve on his tennis serve."

• "The team is constantly striving to improve on their customer service to exceed expectations."

• "The company's goal is to improve on their sustainability efforts by reducing waste and energy consumption."

In these examples, "improve on" is used to convey the idea of enhancing, refining, or making something better than its previous state.

Jot Down

A tip for learning English! When watching a movie or TV show, feel free to jot down new words! Another that is useful is jotting down some important topics during a meeting.

The phrase "jot down" is a phrasal verb that means to quickly write or note something down, usually in a brief and informal manner. Here are some examples of how "jot down" can be used:

• "During the lecture, I like to jot down important points in my notebook."

• "Let me grab a pen so I can jot down that phone number you mentioned."

• "When I have a new idea, I always jot it down in my notebook so I don't forget."

• "She asked me to jot down the grocery list before heading to the store."

• "The meeting was so fast-paced that I could barely jot down all the action items."

In each of these examples, "jot down" is used to indicate the act of quickly writing or recording something in a concise manner.