Part 2 of 2 · Same verb · different particle

“put” phrasal verbs

Same verb, different particle, different meaning. “put” has 10 of them, so they come in 2 parts. Learn these 5 one at a time, then test yourself.

10 phrasal verbslisten & quiz

put

through together up up to up with

put + through · 1 of 5

put through

connect by phone

put sb through to sb
also: put (someone) through

to connect someone to another person on the phone, usually by transferring the call.

How oftenNow and then

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Could you put me through to the manager, please?

A: Hi, can I speak to Dr. Lee?
B: Sure, I'll put you through now.

Common mistake

Not: Can you put me through ~~with~~ accounts?

Say: Can you put me through to accounts?

'Put someone THROUGH TO' a person/department — not 'with'.

More on “put through”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

During my internship, I often answered calls and put customers through to the right department.

Tell it apart

I'll put you through to her.

connect your call now

I'll pass your message on to her.

relay it later

Goes with

put + someone + through

Practice saying this

Next: put together

put + together · 2 of 5

put together

assemble

put sth together

To join parts to make something whole, like building furniture or making something from separate pieces.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

It took me an hour to put together the new bookshelf.

A: Did you manage to put together the table from IKEA?
B: Yeah, but I had to redo it twice!

Common mistake

Not: I can't put ~~together it.~~

Say: I can't put it together.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'put it together'.

More on “put together”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my opinion, being able to put together simple furniture is a useful skill, especially for students living on their own.

Tell it apart

He put the bookcase together.

assembled it

He took the bookcase apart.

disassembled it

Goes with

put together + item

Practice saying this

Next: put up

put + up · 3 of 5

put up

let someone stay in your home

put sb up

to allow someone to stay at your home for a short period, usually as a guest.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

When my cousin visited the city, I put her up for the weekend.

A: My flight got cancelled. Do you know any cheap hotels nearby?
B: Don't worry, I can put you up at my place tonight.

Common mistake

Not: They put up me for a few days.

Say: They put me up for a few days.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'put me up'.

More on “put up”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If a friend from another country visited my city, I would be happy to put them up for a few days and show them around.

Tell it apart

They put me up for the weekend.

let me stay at their place

They put up with me all weekend.

tolerated me

Goes with

put + someone + up

Practice saying this

Next: put up to

put + up to · 4 of 5

put up to

encourage someone to do something (often wrong)

put sb up to sth
informal

to persuade or encourage someone to do something, especially something they probably shouldn’t do

How oftenNow and then

LevelB2

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

Who put you up to playing that prank on your teacher?

A: I can't believe you actually dyed your hair blue!
B: Well, it was Tom who put me up to it.

Common mistake

Not: His mates put him up to do it.

Say: His mates put him up to it. / ...put him up to doing it.

'Put someone up to' + noun or '-ing' (or just 'it') — not a to-infinitive.

More on “put up to”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my opinion, peer pressure can be dangerous because friends might put you up to making bad decisions.

Tell it apart

His friends put him up to it.

talked him into doing it

His friends put up with it.

tolerated it

Goes with

put + someone + up to

Practice saying this

Next: put up with

put + up with · 5 of 5

put up with

tolerate

put up with sth

to accept an unpleasant situation or person without complaining, even though you do not like it.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

I can't put up with this noise any longer.

A: How do you manage to put up with your noisy neighbors?
B: I just wear headphones and try to ignore them.

Common mistake

Not: I can't put up his constant complaining.

Say: I can't put up with his constant complaining.

It's a three-part phrase: 'put up WITH' something. Don't drop 'with'.

More on “put up with”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my last job, I had to put up with a lot of stress, but I learned how to manage it over time.

Tell it apart

I put up with the noise for years.

tolerated it

They put up a new fence.

built / erected it

Goes with

put up with + nuisance

Practice saying this

Test yourself: which “put” fits?

Fill the gap

Which “put” fits?

Read the sentence, then pick the phrasal verb that belongs in the gap.

All of “put”

10 phrasal verbs in 2 parts.

Turn this into speaking practice

Pick one and say it out loud. Save the ones you mix up.

put through put together put up put up to put up with