Some nouns are seen so regularly with only certain verbs, that these combinations are known as verbal phrases. Learn and use correctly the common verbal phrases in English mentioned in the table below:
Common Verbal Phrases in English
| Have
have a bath |
Do
do business
|
Make
Make |
| Take
take a break take a chance take a look take a rest take a seat take a taxi take an exam take notes take someone’s place take someone’s temperature |
Break
break a habit break a leg break a promise break a record break a window break someone’s heart break the ice break the law break the news to someone break the rules |
Catch
catch a ball catch a bus catch a chill catch a cold catch a thief catch fire catch sight of catch someone’s attention catch someone’s eye catch the flu |
| Pay
pay a fine pay attention pay by credit card pay cash pay interest pay someone a compliment pay someone a visit pay the bill pay the price pay your respects |
Savesave electricity save energy save money save one’s strength save someone a seat save someone’s life save something to a disk save space save time save yourself the trouble |
Keep keep a diary keep a promise keep a secret keep an appointment keep calm keep control keep in touch keep quiet keep someone’s place keep the change |
| Come come close come complete with come direct come early come first Come into view Come last Come late Come on time Come prepared Come right back Come second Come to a compromise Come to a decision Come to an agreement Come to end Come to standstill Come to terms with Come to a total of Come under attack |
Go
go abroad go astray go bad go bald go bankrupt go blind go crazy go deaf go fishing go mad go missing go on foot go online go out of business go overseas go quiet go sailing go to war go yellow |
Get
get a job get a shock get angry get divorced get frightened get home get lost get married get nowhere get permission get pregnant get ready get started get the impression get the message get the sack get upset get wet get worried |
Miscellaneous Set Phrases
| Time
right on time early 12th century free time from dawn till dusk great deal of time late 20th century make time for next few days past few weeks run out of time save times pare time spend some time take your time tell someone the time time goes by time passes waste time |
Business English
annual turnover bear in mind break off negotiations cease trading chair a meeting close a deal close a meeting come to the point dismiss an offer draw a conclusion draw your attention to launch a new product lay off staff go bankrupt go into partnership make a loss make a profit market forces sales figures take on staff |
Classifiers
a ball of string a bar of chocolate a bottle of water a bunch of carrots a cube of sugar a pack of cards a pad of paper |