MOST COMMON and USEFUL Phrasal Verbs with "BE" - Learn English

Summary

This video tutorial dives into the most common and useful phrasal verbs in English. It covers various meanings and uses for expressions like 'be off,' 'be up,' 'be out,' 'be down,' and others, making learning them both practical and engaging. The instructor uses real-life examples to show how these phrasal verbs apply in everyday conversation, whether you're talking about leaving, being sick, or discussing something that’s released. The goal is to help learners confidently use these verbs in different contexts, improving their understanding of both casual and professional English.

Takeaways

• 😀 Be off means 'leaving.' You can use it to say you're leaving or to ask when someone is leaving, like on holiday.
• 😀 Be off can also refer to something being stale or spoiled, like milk that has gone bad.
• 😀 Be up is used to indicate an increase or advantage, such as when you're winning in sports by a certain number of points.
• 😀 Be up for something means you're interested in doing it. The negative version is 'I'm not up for that.'
• 😀 Be out means not being inside (e.g., not in the office) or when something is no longer available (e.g., 'I'm out of beer').
• 😀 Be down can indicate you're losing in points (e.g., 'We're down by eight points.') or feeling sad (e.g., 'I'm feeling a bit down.').
• 😀 Be down for something is similar to 'be up for something' but is more commonly used in American English.
• 😀 Be down with something refers to resting due to a minor illness, such as a cold or flu (e.g., 'She's down with the flu.').
• 😀 To be in refers to the deadline for submitting work or assignments (e.g., 'My assignment is supposed to be in today.').
• 😀 Be on means something is happening, like a sale or an event, and is commonly used to talk about events or sales in progress (e.g., 'Our sales are on!').

Q & A

What does the phrasal verb 'be off' mean?

'Be off' can mean leaving, going on holiday, or when something is stale or no longer good to eat or drink. For example, 'The milk is off' means the milk has gone bad.

How can 'be up' be used in the context of winning in sports?

'Be up' can be used to indicate that someone is winning in a game. For instance, 'We’re up by two points' means the team is ahead by two points.

What does it mean when someone says they are 'up for' something?

'Up for' means being willing or interested in doing something. For example, 'I’m up for that' means 'I want to do that.'

When would you use the phrasal verb 'be out'?

'Be out' can mean that someone is not present (e.g., 'He’s out to lunch') or that something is no longer available (e.g., 'I’m out of beer'). It can also refer to a release, like a movie being available ('The movie is out').

What does it mean if you say 'I’m down with the flu'?

'Down with' means being sick, usually with a mild illness like the flu or a cold. For example, 'Karen’s down with the flu' means Karen is unwell with the flu.

How do you use 'be in' in relation to assignments or deadlines?

'Be in' is used when referring to something that is expected to be submitted or delivered by a certain time. For example, 'My assignment is supposed to be in today' means the assignment must be submitted today.

What is the difference between 'be up for' and 'be down for'?

'Be up for' is commonly used in British English to express willingness to do something, while 'be down for' is used in American English. Both phrases have the same meaning in this context.

Can 'be out' be used when talking about money?

'Be out' can be used to indicate that someone has no more of something, including money. For example, 'I’m out of money' means you have no more money.

What does 'be on' mean when referring to a sale?

'Be on' means something is happening or available. For example, 'The sale is on' means the sale is happening and you can buy items at discounted prices.

How can 'be up' be used to indicate a positive situation?

'Be up' can indicate an increase or improvement, such as 'Our profits are up this year,' meaning the company has earned more money than before.