Theory & Concepts

Master Phrasal Verbs for SSC CGL

Get comprehensive theory, expert shortcuts, and hand-picked practice questions for Phrasal Verbs specifically designed for the SSC CGL 2025-26 pattern.

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SSC CGL RRB NTPC IBPS PO CAT

45 min readDifficulty: High

Phrasal Verbs—combinations of standard verbs with prepositions or adverbs—are notoriously tricky because their combined meanings are completely different from their individual parts. SSC CGL frequently tests Phrasal Verbs in cloze tests, fill-in-the-blanks, and sentence improvements. This module organizes crucial structures based on primary verbs: Look, Bring, Call, Put, and Take.

Learning path

Key Verbs: Look & Bring
Key Verbs: Call & Put
Key Verb: Take
20 Solved Practice Questions

1. Master Structures: 'Look' & 'Bring'

Phrasal Verbs with "Look"

Look after: To take care of someone or something.
"She looks after her elderly parents."

Look into: To investigate or examine a matter.
"The police are looking into the cause of the fire."

Look down upon: To regard with contempt or superiority.
"Never look down upon those who work hard."

Look forward to: To await something with excitement (Note: takes V-ing!).
"I look forward to meeting you." (NOT "to meet you")

Phrasal Verbs with "Bring"

Bring about: To cause to happen or make happen.
"The new government policies brought about major economic reforms."

Bring up: To raise or nurture a child, or to raise a topic in conversation.
"She was brought up by her grandparents. Don't bring up that argument again."

Bring out: To produce, publish, or reveal a quality clearly.
"The publisher is bringing out a new edition of the guidebook."

Bring down: To reduce costs, or to cause a government/ruler to fall.
"Steps were taken to bring down the inflation rate."

2. Master Structures: 'Call' & 'Put'

Phrasal Verbs with "Call"

Call off: To cancel an event, action, or plan.
"The strike was called off after successful negotiations."

Call on/upon: To formally invite or ask someone to speak or perform a duty.
"The president called upon citizens to maintain peace."

Call for: To publicly demand or require something.
"The situation calls for immediate defensive actions."

Call in: To summon someone for help or consultation.
"We had to call in a specialist to repair the server."

Phrasal Verbs with "Put"

Put off: To postpone an event, or to discourage someone.
"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today."

Put up with: To tolerate or endure an unpleasant situation/person.
"I cannot put up with his arrogant behavior anymore."

Put out: To extinguish (like a fire or light).
"The firefighters worked hard to put out the blaze."

Put on: To dress oneself, or to pretend/assume an attitude.
"She put on her coat before going out."

3. Master Structures: 'Take'

The verb "Take" has versatile combinations that are frequently tested in close answer choices.

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Exam Example
Take after	To resemble an older relative in appearance or character.	"He takes after his father."
Take off	To leave the ground (aircraft), or to become successful quickly.	"The plane took off on time."
Take over	To assume control or responsibility of something.	"The new manager took over the team."
Take to	To develop a habit, liking, or affinity for something.	"He has taken to swimming recently."

4. 20 Practice Questions (Solved)

Question 01CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The committee decided to ________ the meeting until next Monday due to lack of quorum."

A) put off

B) put out

C) put up

D) put away

Correct answer: A) put off

Explanation

Step 1: Understand the context: postponing a meeting.

Step 2: 'Put off' means to postpone or delay.

Step 3: 'Put out' means to extinguish, and 'put up' means to build or accommodate.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 02CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The police officer promised to ________ the complaint thoroughly."

A) look after

B) look into

C) look down upon

D) look up to

Correct answer: B) look into

Explanation

Step 1: The context involves a complaint which needs investigation.

Step 2: 'Look into' means to investigate or examine.

Step 3: 'Look after' means to take care of, and 'look up to' means to admire.

Conclusion: Option B.

Question 03CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The union decided to ________ the strike after reaching a settlement."

A) call off

B) call on

C) call for

D) call in

Correct answer: A) call off

Explanation

Step 1: The strike was canceled/ended due to a settlement.

Step 2: 'Call off' is the standard phrasal verb meaning to cancel an event or action.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 04CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "I cannot ________ his constant complaints any longer."

A) put up with

B) put off

C) put out

D) put on

Correct answer: A) put up with

Explanation

Step 1: The context requires a term meaning 'to tolerate' or 'endure'.

Step 2: 'Put up with' directly means to tolerate unpleasant behaviors.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 05CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "She ________ her mother in both looks and temperament."

A) takes after

B) takes off

C) takes over

D) takes to

Correct answer: A) takes after

Explanation

Step 1: Resembling a parent in appearance or character.

Step 2: 'Take after' is used to define genetic or behavioral resemblance.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 06CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The firefighters struggled to ________ the blazing warehouse fire."

A) put out

B) put off

C) put up

D) put on

Correct answer: A) put out

Explanation

Step 1: The context is extinguishing a fire.

Step 2: 'Put out' is the precise phrasal verb for extinguishing fire or lights.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 07CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "His dedication and talent ________ the best in his colleagues."

A) bring out

B) bring up

C) bring about

D) bring down

Correct answer: A) bring out

Explanation

Step 1: Revealing or highlighting positive characteristics in others.

Step 2: 'Bring out' means to reveal, publish, or highlight clearly.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 08CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The crisis ________ immediate and decisive government intervention."

A) calls for

B) calls off

C) calls in

D) calls on

Correct answer: A) calls for

Explanation

Step 1: A crisis publicly demands or requires immediate action.

Step 2: 'Call for' means to demand or require something.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 09CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "She was ________ by her aunt in a small country village."

A) brought up

B) brought out

C) brought about

D) brought down

Correct answer: A) brought up

Explanation

Step 1: Refers to raising and nurturing a child.

Step 2: 'Bring up' is the phrasal verb meaning to raise children.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 10CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The new CEO ________ the company's operations last month."

A) took over

B) took after

C) took off

D) took to

Correct answer: A) took over

Explanation

Step 1: Context involves assuming control of a company.

Step 2: 'Take over' means to assume control or responsibility.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 11CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "We should never ________ those who are less fortunate than us."

A) look down upon

B) look forward to

C) look after

D) look into

Correct answer: A) look down upon

Explanation

Step 1: The sentence advises against treating others with contempt or superiority.

Step 2: 'Look down upon' means to regard with contempt.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 12CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "We had to ________ a physician to check on the sick patient."

A) call in

B) call off

C) call on

D) call for

Correct answer: A) call in

Explanation

Step 1: Summoning a specialist/professional for help.

Step 2: 'Call in' is used for summoning someone to assist.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 13CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The host ________ the guest speaker to share his thoughts."

A) called upon

B) called off

C) called for

D) called out

Correct answer: A) called upon

Explanation

Step 1: Formally asking or inviting someone to speak.

Step 2: 'Call upon' means to request someone to speak or perform a task.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 14CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The new airline's business is expected to ________ next month."

A) take off

B) take after

C) take over

D) take to

Correct answer: A) take off

Explanation

Step 1: Refers to business starting to succeed rapidly or an aircraft leaving the ground.

Step 2: 'Take off' fits both aeronautical and business expansion contexts.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 15CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "I am highly ________ hearing from you soon."

A) looking forward to

B) looking after

C) looking into

D) looking down upon

Correct answer: A) looking forward to

Explanation

Step 1: Awaiting something with pleasure. Note that it takes a gerund ('hearing').

Step 2: 'Looking forward to' is correct.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 16CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The introduction of smart boards ________ a massive revolution in teaching."

A) brought about

B) brought up

C) brought out

D) brought down

Correct answer: A) brought about

Explanation

Step 1: The introduction of boards caused or produced a massive revolution.

Step 2: 'Bring about' means to cause something to happen.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 17CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "She has recently ________ gardening to relieve stress."

A) taken to

B) taken over

C) taken after

D) taken off

Correct answer: A) taken to

Explanation

Step 1: Developing a habit or liking for a new hobby.

Step 2: 'Take to' means to begin a habit or develop a liking for.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 18CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "They had to ________ their holiday plans because of the sudden weather alert."

A) put off

B) put up with

C) put out

D) put on

Correct answer: A) put off

Explanation

Step 1: The plans were postponed due to weather.

Step 2: 'Put off' is correct.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 19CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "The company has taken strategic steps to ________ production costs."

A) bring down

B) bring about

C) bring up

D) bring out

Correct answer: A) bring down

Explanation

Step 1: Lowering or reducing costs.

Step 2: 'Bring down' means to reduce or lower prices/costs.

Conclusion: Option A.

Question 20CGL pattern

Fill in the blank: "He ________ his coat and left the warm house."

A) put on

B) put out

C) put off

D) put up with

Correct answer: A) put on

Explanation

Step 1: Context involves dressing oneself or wearing clothing.

Step 2: 'Put on' is correct.

Conclusion: Option A.

Strategy errors to avoid

Preposition Confusion Traps

Substituting one preposition for another (e.g. 'look into' vs 'look after') completely alters the sentence meaning. Learn these verbs clustered around their root verb to prevent errors.

Ignoring Gerund Constraints

Phrasal verbs like "look forward to" MUST be followed by a gerund (V-ing form). Exam options often try to trick you by writing "I look forward to meet you."

Master the next modules

Spellings Idioms & Phrases Active & Passive Voice