Phrasal verbs with be

The verb be is one of the most common and flexible verbs in English, and in phrasal verbs it takes on even more shades of meaning.

When combined with small words like up, out, in, with, or for, it creates expressions that describe states, relationships, and attitudes rather than actions.

For example:

• be with means to support or agree with someone.
• be out of means to have no more of something.
• be up to means to be doing something — often something secret or suspicious.

These combinations usually describe a condition or situation rather than a physical act, which makes be different from action-based phrasal verbs like give up or take off.

To remember them easily, focus on the small word (the preposition or adverb) — it often holds the key to the meaning. Visual associations or short stories can also help: imagine someone out of milk or up to something mysterious.

Learning phrasal verbs with be is a great way to understand subtle shades of meaning in English and sound more natural in everyday speech.