🔥 20 Must-Know Phrasal Verbs for the Duolingo English Test (With Examples!)
The Duolingo English Test (DET) doesn’t just test your vocabulary—it measures how naturally you use English in real contexts. One powerful way to sound more fluent and natural? Phrasal verbs. These combinations of verbs and prepositions (or adverbs) are everywhere in English speech and writing. If you want to impress the AI (and any human scorers), mastering these is a smart move. Let’s dive into 20 key ones with examples 👇
🚀 What Are Phrasal Verbs?
A phrasal verb is made up of a verb plus one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs). Together, they form a meaning that’s often different from the original verb.
Example:
🧠 Look up doesn’t mean to tilt your head—it means to find information.
📚 Break down doesn’t mean to literally break—it can mean to lose emotional control.
These are vital for DET speaking and writing sections because they make your English sound natural and fluent.
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✨ 20 Useful Phrasal Verbs for the DET
1. Look up to – to admire
✅ “Many students look up to their teachers.”
2. Break down – to stop functioning OR to become emotional
✅ “My laptop broke down right before the test.”
✅ “He broke down when he saw the score.”
3. Bring up – to mention or raise a topic
✅ “She brought up a good point about test security.”
4. Brush up on – to improve knowledge or skills
✅ “I need to brush up on my grammar before test day.”
5. Come across – to find by chance
✅ “I came across a great study guide online.”
6. Drop out – to quit school or a program
✅ “He dropped out before taking the DET.”
7. Figure out – to understand or solve
✅ “She figured out the question after reading it twice.”
8. Get along with – to have a good relationship
✅ “I get along with my English tutor really well.”
9. Hand in – to submit
✅ “Please hand in your essay before the deadline.”
10. Keep up with – to stay at the same level
✅ “It’s hard to keep up with all the vocabulary!”
11. Look forward to – to anticipate with excitement
✅ “I’m looking forward to getting my DET results.”
12. Make up – to invent or fabricate
✅ “Did you make up that example or was it real?”
13. Point out – to show or indicate
✅ “He pointed out that there was a mistake in the answer.”
14. Put off – to delay
✅ “Don’t put off your test prep!”
15. Run into – to meet unexpectedly
✅ “I ran into my old study partner at the test center.”
16. Set up – to prepare or organize
✅ “I set up my testing space the night before.”
17. Take after – to resemble a family member
✅ “She takes after her mom in language ability.”
18. Take off – to rise or become successful
✅ “His confidence really took off after scoring well.”
19. Work out – to exercise OR to find a solution
✅ “I worked out the answer by thinking carefully.”
20. Write down – to note something
✅ “I wrote down every new word I learned.”
📘 How This Helps on the DET
When you speak or write using idiomatic expressions like phrasal verbs, it shows:
- 🎯 Lexical sophistication
- 💡 Natural fluency
- 🧠 Strong comprehension and usage
✏️ Pro Tip from DET Study
At DET Study, you can access over 15,000 AI-scored practice questions—and many include examples of phrasal verbs. You’ll also get detailed feedback on your writing and speaking so you know exactly where to improve. Plus, get a 10% discount when you register with our code!
✅ Final Thoughts
Phrasal verbs might seem tricky, but with a little practice, they become second nature. Start using them in your DET practice today—and watch your English sound more confident, fluent, and exam-ready!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are phrasal verbs, and why do they matter for the Duolingo English Test (DET)?
A phrasal verb is a verb plus one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that create a meaning often different from the original verb. They matter for the DET because using idiomatic expressions like phrasal verbs helps your English sound more natural and fluent in speaking and writing.
How does using phrasal verbs help improve my DET speaking and writing scores?
Using phrasal verbs naturally can show lexical sophistication, natural fluency, and strong comprehension and usage. The DET’s AI scoring system evaluates these areas, especially in the production subscore (speaking + writing), so correct and natural phrasal verb usage can help improve your score.
Which phrasal verbs from the list are useful for test preparation and study routines?
Several directly match study and test contexts, such as “brush up on” (improve skills), “look up” (find information), “write down” (take notes), “set up” (prepare your testing space), “hand in” (submit work), and “put off” (delay). The examples in the article show how to use each one in realistic DET-related situations.
Where can I practice phrasal verbs with feedback for the DET?
The article mentions that on DET Study you can access over 15,000 AI-scored practice questions, and many include examples of phrasal verbs. It also states you’ll receive detailed feedback on writing and speaking to see exactly where to improve.