What Are Phrasal Verbs and Why Do They Matter in SSC?
A phrasal verb combines a standard verb with one or two prepositions or adverbs (e.g., break down, call off, look forward to). In combination, the pair acquires an idiomatic meaning fundamentally distinct from the verb's literal definition.
In Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exams, questions testing phrasal verbs typically do not ask for a raw dictionary definition. Instead, they test whether you can recognize the correct preposition in context:
- Cloze Test: Selecting the exact phrasal verb that fits the narrative tone of the paragraph.
- Sentence Improvement: Replacing an incorrect preposition (e.g., changing *called out the strike* to *called off the strike*).
- Fill in the Blanks: Differentiating between closely related verbs like *take after* vs *take over*.
High-Frequency Phrasal Verbs for SSC CGL & CHSL
Below is a curated table of recurring phrasal verbs frequently tested in SSC previous year question papers:
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Contextual Exam Example |
|---|---|---|
| Break into | Enter forcibly or illegally | The burglar attempted to break into the warehouse during midnight. |
| Break down | Fail mechanically; lose emotional control | Their car broke down on the highway; she broke down upon hearing the news. |
| Call off | Cancel an event or agreement | The union leaders decided to call off the scheduled strike after successful negotiations. |
| Call on / upon | Visit briefly; ask formally | The minister called on the flood victims to assess relief measures. |
| Carry out | Execute or perform a task | The laboratory assistants carried out the experiment with utmost precision. |
| Give in | Surrender or yield under pressure | Despite fierce resistance, the opposition finally gave in to the government's terms. |
| Give up | Quit an effort or habit | He refused to give up his preparation despite facing multiple setbacks. |
| Look after | Take care of or tend to | She stayed back in her hometown to look after her elderly grandparents. |
| Look into | Investigate a case or matter | The committee promised to look into the allegations of financial discrepancies. |
| Put off | Postpone or delay | Never put off until tomorrow what you can accomplish today. |
| Put up with | Tolerate or endure | The manager could no longer put up with deliberate negligence in the office. |
| Turn down | Reject an offer or proposal | The candidate decided to turn down the initial offer due to relocation issues. |
Solved Representative Practice Questions (SSC Pattern)
Test your understanding with these exam-style questions selected from our comprehensive 200-question phrasal verb database:
Question 1 (Sentence Improvement)
The meeting was called out by the chairman due to a lack of quorum.
- called in
- called off
- called for
- No improvement
Correct Answer: (B) called off
Explanation: To cancel an event or meeting, the correct phrasal verb is call off. Call out means to summon someone for help or challenge them publicly. Call for means to demand or require.
Question 2 (Fill in the Blanks)
The committee has promised to __________ the complaints filed by the employees.
- look for
- look after
- look into
- look up
Correct Answer: (C) look into
Explanation: Look into means to examine or investigate an issue. Look for means to search for a missing item. Look after means to care for someone. Look up means to consult a reference book.
Question 3 (Error Spotting)
She could not (A) / put off with (B) / his rude behavior any longer. (C) / No error (D)
Correct Answer: (B) put off with
Explanation: The correct phrasal verb meaning to tolerate is put up with. Put off means to postpone, and combining it with *with* is grammatically invalid.
Common Confusions & Traps to Avoid
Look into vs Look for: Look into is an official investigation (e.g., police looking into a case). Look for is a simple physical search (e.g., looking for lost keys).
Put off vs Put out: Put off means to postpone an appointment. Put out means to extinguish a fire or flame. Confusing these two is a staple SSC filler trap.
Take after vs Take over: Take after means to resemble an older relative in appearance or character. Take over means to assume control or leadership of a business or position.
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