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Phrasal verbs with BE are extremely common in everyday English. Although they look simple, many learners find them confusing because BE combines with adjectives, adverbs, or prepositions to create different meanings.
In this lesson, you’ll learn a carefully selected list of common phrasal verbs with BE, along with clear meanings, natural examples, and helpful grammar notes. Mastering these expressions will help you sound more fluent and confident in both spoken and written English.
List of Phrasal Verbs with BE
Here are 21 essential phrasal verbs with BE that cover emotions, states, relationships, and situations:
- Be above
- Be along
- Be around
- Be cut out for
- Be down
- Be down to
- Be down on
- Be down with
- Be fed up
- Be in for
- Be in on
- Be on about
- Be on to
- Be out for
- Be there for
- Be snowed under
- Be taken aback
- Be taken with
- Be up for
- Be up to
- Be with
Phrasal Verbs with BE: Meaning and Examples
Each phrasal verb with BE has specific meanings and contexts. Below are detailed explanations with examples, pronunciation, and grammar information.
She is above gossip and refuses to join in. The doctor should be along soon. Is your manager around this afternoon? He is cut out for leadership roles. She is down after failing the exam.Be above
Be along
Be around
Be cut out for
Be down
The first five phrasal verbs with BE focus on state and position. “Be above,” “be along,” and “be around” describe availability and location, while “be cut out for” and “be down” express suitability and emotional states. These foundational verbs set the context for more complex expressions involving BE.
I’m down with the flu today. We’re down to our last option. The boss is down on careless mistakes. I’m fed up with constant delays.Be down with
Be down to
Be down on
Be fed up
The next group—”be down to,” “be down on,” and “be fed up”—centers on negative feelings and critical judgment. “Be down” variations express limitation and criticism, while “be fed up” conveys frustration. Together, these verbs help you articulate dissatisfaction and negative judgments in English.
You’re in for a surprise. She’s in on the plan.Be in for
Be in on
The verbs “be in for,” “be in on,” and “be on about” shift focus to involvement and communication. “Be in for” anticipates future experiences, “be in on” indicates awareness and participation, while “be on about” describes repetitive talking. These expressions help you describe how people are involved in or discussing situations.
He’s always on about his new car. The police are on to him. He’s out for success.Be on about
Be on to
Be out for
The final group—”be on to,” “be out for,” “be there for,” “be snowed under,” “be taken aback,” and “be taken with”—addresses discovery, support, and surprise. These phrasal verbs cover emotional reactions (“be taken aback”), strong feelings (“be out for,” “be taken with”), and support (“be there for”), completing the full range of BE expressions for relationships and emotions.
I’ll always be there for you. I’m snowed under with work. She was taken aback by his comment. He was taken with her confidence. Are you up for a challenge?Be there for
Be snowed under
Be taken aback
Be taken with
Be up for
The expressions “be taken aback,” “be taken with,” “be snowed under,” and “be up for” capture emotional reactions and willingness. Moving forward, “be up to” and “be with” complete the full range of BE phrasal verbs by expressing activity and agreement, covering the emotional and relational breadth of this essential verb category.
What are you up to tonight? I’m with you on that decision.Be up to
Be with
Dialogue Examples: Phrasal Verbs with BE in Context
Here’s a comprehensive dialogue demonstrating multiple phrasal verbs with BE in realistic everyday situations:
- A
- You look exhausted. What’s going on? Person
- B
- I’ve been snowed under with deadlines all week. Person
- A
- That sounds stressful. Are you up for taking a break tonight? Person
- B
- I’d love to, but I’m still down to my last task. Person
- A
- Don’t worry. I’ll be there for you if you need help. Person
- B
- Thanks. Actually, I’m down because the manager is down on my proposal. Person
- A
- Why? I thought you were cut out for this project. Person
- B
- I am, but he’s on about the budget issues. Person
- A
- The police are finally on to the real problem. You’re innocent. Person
- B
- Exactly. I’m with you on this. I’m out for justice here. Person
- A
- Let’s discuss it. Are you in on the new strategy meeting? Person
- B
- Yes, but between you and me, I’m a bit taken aback by the timing. Person
- A
- I understand. Just be there for the team when it matters most.
This dialogue shows how phrasal verbs with BE function in professional and personal contexts, illustrating multiple meanings and natural usage patterns.
Common Mistakes with Phrasal Verbs with BE
Learners often confuse these phrasal verbs or make grammatical errors. Here are three common mistakes and how to correct them:
1. Confusing “Be cut out for” with “Be down on”
❌ Wrong He is cut out for his poor spelling mistakes.
✅ Correct The teacher is down on his poor spelling mistakes.
“Be cut out for” means being naturally talented or suited for something. “Be down on” means having a critical or negative opinion. The objects and contexts are completely different. Mark is “cut out for” a job or role, but someone “is down on” (disapproves of) behavior or habits.
2. Forgetting to conjugate the verb BE
❌ Wrong He be taken aback by the news yesterday.
✅ Correct He was taken aback by the news yesterday.
The verb BE must be conjugated according to tense and subject (am/is/are/was/were). The rest of the phrasal verb stays the same. In past tense with a singular subject, use “was,” not “be.”
3. Confusing “Be there for” with “Be there”
❌ Wrong I will be there at the meeting to support you.
✅ Correct I will be there for you at the meeting if you need support.
“Be there for” means offering emotional or practical support to someone. Simply “be there” just means being present in a location. The preposition “for” is essential to the meaning of emotional support.
Key Grammar Notes
Ready to explore further? Dive into more patterns with Phrasal Verbs with BACK and Phrasal Verbs with BREAK to see how meanings change across different contexts.
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