Phrasal verbs are everywhere in English. "Pick up," "turn off," "figure out," "give up"—you can't have a conversation without them. But here's what most Spanish speakers don't know: phrasal verbs have a predictable stress pattern that makes them easier than you think.
The One Rule You Need to Know
When a phrasal verb is used as a verb (an action), the stress goes on the second word (the particle):
- pick UP /pɪk ˈʌp/
- turn OFF /tɜːrn ˈɔːf/
- give UP /ɡɪv ˈʌp/
- find OUT /faɪnd ˈaʊt/
- work OUT /wɜːrk ˈaʊt/
The particle (up, off, out, in, on, etc.) is longer, louder, and higher in pitch than the verb.
Why This Matters
In normal English sentences, prepositions (to, at, in, on) are weak and unstressed. But in phrasal verbs, these same words become stressed. If you don't stress the particle, native speakers might not recognize the phrasal verb.
Compare:
- "I ran INTO the store" (phrasal verb = I encountered/met the store by accident? No—this means I entered the store quickly)
- "I ran into THE STORE" (preposition = I physically ran in the direction of the store)
The stress changes the meaning!
Phrasal Verbs vs. Compound Nouns
Here's where it gets interesting. Many phrasal verbs have noun forms, and the stress flips:
| Phrasal Verb (action) | Stress Pattern | Compound Noun (thing) | Stress Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| to break DOWN | verb + PARTICLE | a BREAKdown | NOUN + particle |
| to set UP | verb + PARTICLE | the SETup | NOUN + particle |
| to work OUT | verb + PARTICLE | a WORKout | NOUN + particle |
| to make UP | verb + PARTICLE | MAKEup | NOUN + particle |
| to pick UP | verb + PARTICLE | a PICKup (truck) | NOUN + particle |
| to take OFF | verb + PARTICLE | TAKEoff | NOUN + particle |
| to check OUT | verb + PARTICLE | the CHECKout | NOUN + particle |
| to log IN | verb + PARTICLE | the LOGin | NOUN + particle |
Examples in Sentences
- Verb: "The car broke DOWN." (stress on DOWN)
- Noun: "He had a nervous BREAKdown." (stress on BREAK)
- Verb: "I need to work OUT." (stress on OUT)
- Noun: "That was a great WORKout." (stress on WORK)
- Verb: "The plane will take OFF soon." (stress on OFF)
- Noun: "TAKEoff is in 10 minutes." (stress on TAKE)
Common Phrasal Verbs with Correct Stress
Practice these out loud. Remember: stress the PARTICLE when it's a verb.
Separable Phrasal Verbs
These can have an object between the verb and particle. Stress stays on the particle:
| Phrasal Verb | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pick UP | /pɪk ˈʌp/ | "Pick UP the phone" or "Pick it UP" |
| turn OFF | /tɜːrn ˈɔːf/ | "Turn OFF the light" or "Turn it OFF" |
| put DOWN | /pʊt ˈdaʊn/ | "Put DOWN the book" |
| throw AWAY | /θroʊ əˈweɪ/ | "Throw AWAY the trash" |
| figure OUT | /ˈfɪɡjər ˈaʊt/ | "I'll figure it OUT" |
| fill OUT | /fɪl ˈaʊt/ | "Fill OUT the form" |
| write DOWN | /raɪt ˈdaʊn/ | "Write it DOWN" |
| call BACK | /kɔːl ˈbæk/ | "I'll call you BACK" |
Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
The object must come after the particle. Same stress rule applies:
| Phrasal Verb | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| look FOR | /lʊk ˈfɔːr/ | "I'm looking FOR my keys" |
| run INTO | /rʌn ˈɪntuː/ | "I ran INTO an old friend" |
| get OVER | /ɡet ˈoʊvər/ | "She got OVER her cold" |
| come ACROSS | /kʌm əˈkrɔːs/ | "I came ACROSS this article" |
| look AFTER | /lʊk ˈæftər/ | "She looks AFTER the kids" |
| go THROUGH | /ɡoʊ ˈθruː/ | "We went THROUGH the documents" |
Three-Word Phrasal Verbs
With three words, stress typically goes on the middle word (the main particle):
| Phrasal Verb | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| look FORward to | /lʊk ˈfɔːrwərd tuː/ | "I look FORward to it" |
| get Along with | /ɡet əˈlɔːŋ wɪð/ | "We get Along with them" |
| come UP with | /kʌm ˈʌp wɪð/ | "She came UP with an idea" |
| put UP with | /pʊt ˈʌp wɪð/ | "I can't put UP with this" |
| look UP to | /lʊk ˈʌp tuː/ | "Kids look UP to athletes" |
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Identify the Stress
Read these sentences aloud. Where does the stress go?
- Can you turn off the TV?
- I need to figure out this problem.
- She gave up smoking last year.
- Please fill out this application.
- We ran into some trouble.
Answers: All stress on the particle (OFF, OUT, UP, OUT, INTO)
Exercise 2: Verb or Noun?
Pronounce these correctly based on whether they're verbs or nouns:
- "I need to check out." (VERB: check OUT)
- "Go to the checkout." (NOUN: CHECKout)
- "Let's warm up first." (VERB: warm UP)
- "The warm-up takes 10 minutes." (NOUN: WARM-up)
- "The plane will take off." (VERB: take OFF)
- "Takeoff was smooth." (NOUN: TAKEoff)
Exercise 3: Sentence Practice
Read these dialogues aloud:
A: "Did you pick UP the groceries?"
B: "Yes, I picked them UP on my way home."
A: "Can you turn DOWN the music?"
B: "Sorry, I'll turn it DOWN right now."
A: "When does the plane take OFF?"
B: "TAKEoff is at 3 PM."
Why Spanish Speakers Struggle With This
In Spanish, phrasal constructions work differently. Spanish tends to use single verbs where English uses phrasal verbs:
- "pick up" = recoger
- "give up" = rendirse
- "turn off" = apagar
Because Spanish speakers aren't used to these two-word verb phrases, they often:
- Stress the wrong word (the verb instead of the particle)
- Pronounce the particle too weakly (like a normal preposition)
- Don't realize the stress pattern changes for nouns
Quick Reference Card
- Phrasal verbs (actions): Stress the PARTICLE → "pick UP, turn OFF"
- Compound nouns (things): Stress the FIRST word → "PICKup truck, BREAKdown"
- Separated phrasal verbs: Stress still on particle → "Pick it UP"
- Three-word phrasal verbs: Stress the main particle → "look FORward to"
Master this pattern and you'll sound much more natural when using the thousands of phrasal verbs in English!
Want to practice connected speech and natural English rhythm? Check out our guide on understanding native speakers.