Phrasal verbs are a vital part of English, adding nuance and depth to everyday communication. Among these, phrasal verbs formed with “put” are particularly common and versatile.
If you’ve ever felt confused by phrasal verbs, you’re definitely not alone—they can be tricky. But the good news is, once you get the hang of them, they’ll make your English sound way more natural.
Today, we’re focusing on a super common group: phrasal verbs with “put.” From “put off” to “put up with,” these expressions show up in everyday conversations, emails, and even TV shows.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through what they mean, how to use them, and the little details that make a big difference. I’ve got plenty of examples, tips, and short exercises to help you remember them and use them like a pro.
Let’s dive in and take the confusion out of “put”!
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of Phrasal Verbs with “Put”
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of Phrasal Verbs with “Put”
- Examples of Phrasal Verbs with “Put”
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Introduction
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that create a new meaning, often distinct from the original verb. Mastering phrasal verbs is crucial for achieving fluency in English, as they are commonly used in both spoken and written communication.
The verb “put,” when combined with different particles, forms a wide range of phrasal verbs, each with its own specific meaning and usage. Understanding these verbs will significantly enhance your comprehension and ability to express yourself accurately and effectively.
This article is designed for English language learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced students. Whether you’re just starting to learn English or looking to refine your grammar skills, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently use phrasal verbs with “put.” We will explore the various meanings, structures, and usage rules, as well as common mistakes to avoid.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid understanding of these essential verbs and be able to use them correctly in a variety of contexts.
Definition of Phrasal Verbs with “Put”
A phrasal verb with “put” consists of the verb “put” combined with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) to create a new verb with a distinct meaning. The meaning of the phrasal verb is often idiomatic, meaning it cannot be easily deduced from the individual meanings of “put” and the particle(s).
These verbs are essential for natural and fluent English communication.
Phrasal verbs can be classified as either transitive or intransitive. Transitive phrasal verbs require a direct object, while intransitive phrasal verbs do not. Furthermore, transitive phrasal verbs can be separable or inseparable. A separable phrasal verb allows the object to be placed between the verb and the particle, while an inseparable phrasal verb requires the object to follow the particle. Understanding these distinctions is key to using phrasal verbs correctly.
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure of a phrasal verb with “put” is:
Put + Particle (Adverb or Preposition) + (Object)
The “put” verb can change its form depending on the tense and subject of the sentence (e.g., puts, putting, put). The particle is usually an adverb or a preposition, and it significantly alters the meaning of “put.”
For example:
- Put on (verb + particle): to wear something (She put on her coat.)
- Put off (verb + particle): to postpone (We had to put off the meeting.)
- Put up with (verb + particle + preposition): to tolerate (I can’t put up with his behavior.)
The separability of a transitive phrasal verb affects the word order. If the object is a noun, it can usually be placed either between the verb and the particle or after the particle. However, if the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.
Examples:
- Separable (Noun Object): Put the book away. OR Put away the book.
- Separable (Pronoun Object): Put it away. (NOT: Put away it.)
- Inseparable: We put up with his complaining. (NOT: We put his complaining up with.)
Types and Categories of Phrasal Verbs with “Put”
Phrasal verbs with “put” can be categorized by their meaning and function. Here are some of the most common phrasal verbs with “put,” along with their definitions and examples:
Put Away
Definition: To return something to its proper place; to save something for future use.
Examples:
- Please put away your toys after playing.
- She put away some money each month for her vacation.
Put Down
Definition: To insult or criticize someone; to write something down; to kill an animal that is suffering.
Examples:
- He always puts down his colleagues in meetings.
- The teacher asked the students to put down their answers on paper.
- The vet had to put down the sick dog.
Put Off
Definition: To postpone or delay something; to discourage or repulse someone.
Examples:
- We had to put off the meeting due to the storm.
- His rude behavior put me off.
Put On
Definition: To wear clothing; to pretend to have a feeling or quality; to organize or produce a show or event; to gain weight.
Examples:
- She put on her jacket before going outside.
- He was just putting on an act to impress her.
- The school put on a play every year.
- He’s put on a lot of weight since he stopped exercising.
Put Out
Definition: To extinguish a fire or light; to inconvenience someone; to publish or broadcast something.
Examples:
- Please put out your cigarette before entering the building.
- I hope I’m not putting you out by asking for a ride.
- The company put out a press release about the new product.
Put Up
Definition: To erect or build something; to offer accommodation; to increase something (e.g., price); to display something.
Examples:
- They put up a tent in the backyard.
- We can put you up for the night if you need a place to stay.
- The landlord put up the rent.
- She put up a sign to advertise her business.
Put Up With
Definition: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant.
Examples:
- I can’t put up with his constant complaining.
- She has to put up with a lot of stress at work.
Put Across
Definition: To communicate an idea or information effectively.
Examples:
- He struggled to put his point across during the presentation.
- The teacher was good at putting across complex concepts.
Put Through
Definition: To connect someone on the telephone; to endure a difficult experience; to carry out or complete a plan or process.
Examples:
- Could you put me through to Mr. Smith, please?
- She’s been put through a lot lately.
- The company put the new policies through despite opposition.
Put Together
Definition: To assemble something; to create or organize something; to understand something by connecting the pieces of information.
Examples:
- I need to put together the new bookshelf.
- They put together a great team for the project.
- I couldn’t quite put together what he was trying to say.
Examples of Phrasal Verbs with “Put”
This section provides extensive examples of phrasal verbs with “put,” organized by the particle used. Each table includes a variety of sentences to illustrate the different meanings and contexts in which these verbs can be used.
The following table contains examples of sentences using the phrasal verb “put away”.
| Phrasal Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Put away | Please put away your toys after you finish playing with them. |
| Put away | She puts away a portion of her salary each month into a savings account. |
| Put away | It’s important to put away winter clothes when spring arrives. |
| Put away | He put away the leftovers in the refrigerator. |
| Put away | Don’t forget to put away your books before leaving the library. |
| Put away | She put away her jewelry in a secure box. |
| Put away | We put away the decorations after the party. |
| Put away | He put away his tools after finishing the repair. |
| Put away | They put away the important documents in a safe place. |
| Put away | I need to put away the groceries after shopping. |
| Put away | She put away her phone and started focusing on her work. |
| Put away | He put away his anger and tried to be reasonable. |
| Put away | It’s time to put away childish things and act like an adult. |
| Put away | She put away the bad memories and moved on with her life. |
| Put away | He put away his pride and apologized for his mistake. |
| Put away | They put away their differences and worked together. |
| Put away | I put away my fears and took the challenge. |
| Put away | She put away her doubts and believed in herself. |
| Put away | He put away his worries and enjoyed the moment. |
| Put away | They put away their complaints and focused on solutions. |
| Put away | She put away the negative thoughts and stayed positive. |
| Put away | He put away his sadness and tried to cheer up. |
| Put away | They put away their frustrations and kept working hard. |
| Put away | I put away my laziness and started exercising regularly. |
| Put away | She put away her excuses and took responsibility for her actions. |
| Put away | He put away his procrastination and finished the project on time. |
| Put away | They put away their selfishness and helped others in need. |
The following table contains examples of sentences using the phrasal verb “put down”.
| Phrasal Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Put down | He always tries to put down others to make himself feel superior. |
| Put down | She asked me to put down my phone during the meeting. |
| Put down | The vet had to put down our cat because it was very ill. |
| Put down | Please put down your name and address on the form. |
| Put down | The critic put down the movie in his review. |
| Put down | Don’t let anyone put down your dreams. |
| Put down | He put down his bag and sat on the bench. |
| Put down | She put down her thoughts in a journal. |
| Put down | The company put down a deposit on the new office space. |
| Put down | He put down the rebellion with force. |
| Put down | She put down the heavy box carefully. |
| Put down | He put down his roots in this town. |
| Put down | The team put down a solid performance. |
| Put down | She put down her worries and enjoyed the moment. |
| Put down | He put down his defenses and opened up to her. |
| Put down | They put down their weapons and surrendered. |
| Put down | I put down my foot and refused to cooperate. |
| Put down | She put down the rumor with a firm denial. |
| Put down | He put down the challenge and accepted the offer. |
| Put down | They put down the proposal for further consideration. |
| Put down | She put down the phone after a long conversation. |
| Put down | He put down his pen and took a break. |
| Put down | They put down their tools at the end of the day. |
| Put down | I put down my camera and enjoyed the view. |
| Put down | She put down her book and went to sleep. |
| Put down | He put down his fork after finishing his meal. |
| Put down | They put down their luggage and checked into the hotel. |
The following table contains examples of sentences using the phrasal verb “put off”.
| Phrasal Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Put off | We had to put off the picnic because of the rain. |
| Put off | His arrogance really puts me off. |
| Put off | Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. |
| Put off | She put off her decision until she had more information. |
| Put off | The smell put off the customers from entering the store. |
| Put off | He put off the meeting due to his busy schedule. |
| Put off | They put off the construction project until next year. |
| Put off | I put off cleaning the house even though it was messy. |
| Put off | She put off writing the report until the last minute. |
| Put off | He put off calling his parents because he was nervous. |
| Put off | They put off the party because of a family emergency. |
| Put off | I put off going to the dentist even though I had a toothache. |
| Put off | She put off renewing her passport until it was almost expired. |
| Put off | He put off buying a new car because he couldn’t afford it. |
| Put off | They put off the trip because of the high travel costs. |
| Put off | I put off learning a new language because it seemed too difficult. |
| Put off | She put off starting her own business because she was scared of failure. |
| Put off | He put off addressing the problem, which only made it worse. |
| Put off | They put off dealing with their finances and ended up in debt. |
| Put off | I put off exercising regularly and regretted it later. |
| Put off | She put off getting her health checked up, which was a mistake. |
| Put off | He put off resolving the conflict with his friend. |
| Put off | They put off making amends and lost the opportunity. |
| Put off | I put off apologizing, and it damaged the relationship. |
| Put off | She put off expressing her feelings, which led to misunderstandings. |
| Put off | He put off taking action, and the situation worsened. |
The following table contains examples of sentences using the phrasal verb “put on”.
| Phrasal Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Put on | She put on her coat because it was cold outside. |
| Put on | He was just putting on an act to impress her. |
| Put on | The theater group will put on a performance of Hamlet next month. |
| Put on | I’ve put on a few pounds since I started working from home. |
| Put on | Can you put on some music? |
| Put on | He put on his glasses to read the small print. |
| Put on | She put on a smile even though she was feeling sad. |
| Put on | The company put on a training session for the new employees. |
| Put on | She put on a brave face during the difficult times. |
| Put on | He put on a disguise to avoid being recognized. |
| Put on | They put on a show of unity despite their disagreements. |
| Put on | I put on my thinking cap to solve the problem. |
| Put on | She put on her dancing shoes and joined the party. |
| Put on | He put on his best suit for the job interview. |
| Put on | They put on a benefit concert to raise money for charity. |
| Put on | I put on some weight after the holidays. |
| Put on | She put on a few extra layers of clothing to stay warm. |
| Put on | He put on a demonstration of his skills. |
| Put on | They put on a campaign to promote healthy living. |
| Put on | I put on a webinar to educate people about the new software. |
| Put on | She put on a seminar to share her expertise. |
| Put on | He put on a lecture to inspire the students. |
| Put on | They put on a festival to celebrate the local culture. |
| Put on | I put on a fair to support the community. |
| Put on | She put on a rally to raise awareness about the issue. |
| Put on | He put on a protest to voice his concerns. |
The following table contains examples of sentences using the phrasal verb “put out”.
| Phrasal Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Put out | Please put out your cigarette before entering the building. |
| Put out | I hope I’m not putting you out by asking for a favor. |
| Put out | The company put out a press release about the new product launch. |
| Put out | The firefighters quickly put out the fire. |
| Put out | The newspaper put out a special edition. |
| Put out | She put out the candle before going to bed. |
| Put out | He put out a call for volunteers. |
| Put out | The radio station put out a weather warning. |
| Put out | She put out the food for the guests. |
| Put out | He put out his hand to help her up. |
| Put out | They put out a welcome mat for the visitors. |
| Put out | I put out an advertisement for my business. |
| Put out | She put out flyers to promote the event. |
| Put out | He put out a proposal for the new project. |
| Put out | They put out a report on the environmental impact. |
| Put out | I put out a survey to gather customer feedback. |
| Put out | She put out a challenge to her competitors. |
| Put out | He put out an invitation to the party. |
| Put out | They put out a plea for donations. |
| Put out | I put out a request for information. |
| Put out | She put out a reminder about the deadline. |
| Put out | He put out a schedule for the week. |
| Put out | They put out a plan for the future. |
| Put out | I put out a strategy to achieve the goals. |
| Put out | She put out a vision for the company. |
Usage Rules
Using phrasal verbs with “put” correctly involves understanding their transitivity and separability. Here are some key rules to follow:
- Transitivity: Determine whether the phrasal verb is transitive (requires an object) or intransitive (does not require object).
- Separability: If the phrasal verb is transitive, determine whether it is separable or inseparable.
- Word Order (Separable Verbs):
- Noun Object: The object can go between “put” and the particle or after the particle. (e.g., *Put the book away.* OR *Put away the book.*)
- Pronoun Object: The pronoun object must go between “put” and the particle. (e.g., *Put it away.* NOT *Put away it.*)
- Inseparable Verbs: The object must always follow the particle. (e.g., *I can’t put up with his behavior.* NOT *I can’t put his behavior up with.*)
- Context: Pay attention to the context of the sentence to choose the correct phrasal verb with “put.” The same particle can have different meanings depending on the context.
Example of Separability:
Consider the phrasal verb “put away.” This is a separable phrasal verb.
- Correct: Put the clothes away.
- Correct: Put away the clothes.
- Correct: Put them away.
- Incorrect: Put away them.
Example of Inseparability:
Consider the phrasal verb “put up with.” This is an inseparable phrasal verb.
- Correct: I can’t put up with his complaining.
- Incorrect: I can’t put his complaining up with.
Common Mistakes
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using phrasal verbs with “put”:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I put off it. | I put it off. | With separable phrasal verbs, pronouns must go between the verb and the particle. |
| She putted on her coat. | She put on her coat. | “Put” does not change to “putted.” Use the correct form of “put” (put, puts, putting). |
| I can’t put his behavior up with. | I can’t put up with his behavior. | “Put up with” is an inseparable phrasal verb. |
| He putted away the toys. | He put away the toys. | The past tense of “put” is “put.” |
| Put on me the jacket. | Put the jacket on me. OR Put the jacket on. | With separable verbs, the object usually goes after the particle when it’s a noun and referring to a person. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of phrasal verbs with “put” by completing the following exercises. Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb with “put” from the list below. Use each verb only once.
(put away, put down, put off, put on, put out, put up, put up with, put across, put through, put together)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Please _______ your toys after you finish playing with them. | put away |
| 2. He always tries to _______ others to make himself feel superior. | put down |
| 3. We had to _______ the meeting because of the storm. | put off |
| 4. She _______ her coat because it was cold outside. | put on |
| 5. Please _______ your cigarette before entering the building. | put out |
| 6. They _______ a tent in the backyard for the camping trip. | put up |
| 7. I can’t _______ his constant complaining. | put up with |
| 8. He struggled to _______ his point during the presentation. | put across |
| 9. Could you _______ me _______ to Mr. Smith, please? | put through |
| 10. I need to _______ the new bookshelf before I can use it. | put together |
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Option
Choose the correct phrasal verb from the options provided to complete each sentence.
| Question | Options | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. She had to _______ the party due to illness. | (a) put on (b) put off (c) put out | (b) put off |
| 2. He _______ his shoes before going for a run. | (a) put on (b) put down (c) put away | (a) put on |
| 3. I can’t _______ with his bad habits anymore. | (a) put up (b) put down (c) put away | (a) put up |
| 4. The firefighters managed to _______ the fire quickly. | (a) put on (b) put out (c) put away | (b) put out |
| 5. Please _______ the books after you’re done reading. | (a) put on (b) put down (c) put away | (c) put away |
| 6. The company is planning to _______ a new product line next year. | (a) put on (b) put out (c) put together | (b) put out |
| 7. The manager tried to _______ his ideas clearly to the team. | (a) put across (b) put down (c) put on | (a) put across |
| 8. Can you help me put together (b) put down (c) put off |
(a) put together | |
| 9. She felt really _______ when her boss criticized her work. | (a) put on (b) put down (c) put off | (b) put down |
| 10. The receptionist will _______ you _______ to the correct department. | (a) put on (b) put through (c) put away | (b) put through |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, understanding the nuances and less common usages of phrasal verbs with “put” can further enhance their fluency. Here are some advanced topics to explore:
- Figurative Language: Phrasal verbs are often used in figurative language to convey abstract ideas or emotions. Pay attention to how “put” phrasal verbs are used in metaphors, similes, and idioms.
- Regional Variations: Some phrasal verbs with “put” may have regional variations in meaning or usage. Be aware of these differences when communicating with speakers from different English-speaking regions.
- Formal vs. Informal Usage: Consider the level of formality required in different situations. While phrasal verbs are common in everyday conversation, they may be less appropriate in formal writing or presentations.
- Phrasal Verbs in Literature: Explore how authors use phrasal verbs with “put” to create vivid imagery and character development. Analyzing literary texts can provide valuable insights into the subtleties of language.
FAQ
When is it appropriate to use phrasal verbs in writing?
Phrasal verbs are generally more common in informal writing, such as emails, blog posts, and personal essays. In formal writing, such as academic papers or business reports, it’s often better to use more formal single-word verbs where possible.
How can I improve my understanding of phrasal verbs?
The best way to improve your understanding of phrasal verbs is through consistent exposure and practice. Read widely, listen to native English speakers, and actively use phrasal verbs in your own speaking and writing.
Keep a vocabulary notebook and record new phrasal verbs along with their meanings and examples.
Are there any resources for practicing phrasal verbs?
Yes, there are many online resources, textbooks, and language learning apps that offer exercises and quizzes on phrasal verbs. Look for resources that provide contextual examples and opportunities for active practice.
How do I know if a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable?
Unfortunately, there is no easy rule to determine whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable. You often need to learn this through exposure and practice.
Dictionaries and grammar guides usually indicate the separability of phrasal verbs.
Can the meaning of a phrasal verb change depending on the context?
Yes, the meaning of a phrasal verb can change depending on the context. Pay attention to the surrounding words and the overall situation to determine the intended meaning.
Conclusion
Mastering phrasal verbs with “put” is a significant step towards achieving fluency in English. By understanding their meanings, structures, and usage rules, you can communicate more effectively and confidently in a variety of contexts.
Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to context, and avoid common mistakes. With dedication and effort, you’ll be able to use these essential verbs with ease and precision, enhancing your overall command of the English language.