The Phrasal Verb Problem
Phrasal verbs are the #1 thing that blocks Spanish speakers from sounding natural in English. "Give up" doesn't mean "dar arriba." "Find out" doesn't mean "encontrar afuera." In this unit, you'll learn how to decode them — and stop translating word by word.
Phrasal Verb Explorer
Tap each phrasal verb to reveal its meaning. Try to guess before you look!
Dialogue Practice
See the phrasal verbs in action. Tap any line to see the Spanish translation.
Maria
Hey, have you found out who's leading the new project?
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James
Yeah, it turns out it's going to be Sandra. She came up with the original idea.
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Maria
Oh really? I've worked with her before. She's great at figuring out complex problems.
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James
Same here. I've picked up a lot from her approach to project management.
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Maria
We should go over the project brief together. Are you free after lunch?
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James
Sure. Let me look up the meeting room availability and I'll send you an invite.
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Key Phrases
Have you found out...?
¿Ya te enteraste...?
Present perfect + phrasal verb — asking about recent discoveries
It turns out...
Resulta que...
A natural way to share surprising information
I've picked up a lot from...
He aprendido mucho de...
Present perfect + 'pick up' = learning informally over time
Structure Builder
Present perfect vs. simple past — the difference that changes everything.
I have worked in three different countries.
He trabajado en tres países diferentes.
She has managed teams of over 50 people.
Ella ha gestionado equipos de más de 50 personas.
We have never had a problem with that client.
Nunca hemos tenido un problema con ese cliente.
Have you ever given a presentation in English?
¿Alguna vez has dado una presentación en inglés?
Error Correction
Can you spot the mistakes that Spanish speakers make most often?
Pronunciation Lab
Where does the stress go in a phrasal verb? Not where you think.
find OUT
Spanish stress pattern
FIND out
English stress pattern
find OUT
In most phrasal verbs, the PARTICLE (out, up, over) gets the main stress, not the verb. Say: find OUT, not FIND out.
Self-Test
Test yourself on everything from this unit — phrasal verbs, grammar, and key vocabulary.
descubrir / enterarse
phrasal-verb