From cut out, work out, pick up, check up on, etc. Phrasal verbs can be very confusing. But unfortunately, they are so commonly used in everyday English, so it is essential to learn and practice phrasal verbs to advance your English.

Learn these phrasal verbs:

Come down with– When you get sick with something, a mild illness.

Example: “I’m coming down with a cold.” or “You don’t look well. I think you’re coming down with something.”

Check up on– To investigate or to see if someone is okay

Example to investigate: “My boss came in to check up on us”.

Example to see if someone is okay: “She didn’t answer her phone all day, so her friends came to check up on her.”

Show up- Be present at a place where you are expected to be.

With show up, some common structures are normally used:

• Show up + for → He showed up late for the date.
• Show up + to → He showed up late to the party.
• Show up + in → You can’t show up in a white dress at a wedding.

Go/come over– Go over means to go to someone’s house. Come over means for someone to go to your house.

Examples:
“Come over after work! We can have a wine night.”
“I’ll go over to his place after the party.”
“How about you come over this weekend?”

End up– Means to arrive somewhere that wasn’t planned. It could be after a series of events.

• Examples:
  “I never thought I’d end up in Peru.”
• “If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with a broken heart.”
• “We ended up going to the bar instead of the party.”

Figure out– Means to find a solution for something.

Examples:
“I can’t figure out this question.” (Meaning you can’t find a solution for the question)
“Did you figure out how to add this picture to Instagram?”
“We need to figure out a way to make more money.”
“I can’t figure out what’s wrong with my phone.”

The only way to learn phrasal verbs

The only way you going to retain phrasal verbs is through practice. The best way to practice them is by creating your own sentences, doing worksheets, using them as you are speaking, and other forms of full context practice. Don’t try just to use them individually. See other phrasal verbs here. Want to make sure you are using them properly? Write your examples in the comments! Then I can confirm or correct them for you.