Phrasal Verbs – Set 2 (Look, Make, Put) | SSC Banking UPSC CAT Grammar | BhashaLab

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Section 1 – What is Phrasal Verbs – Set 2 (Look, Make, Put) and Why Should You Care?

Have you ever come across a simple sentence in an exam like "The committee will look into the matter" or "The match was put off due to rain", only to get confused between options like put out, put off, or look for? You are not alone! Thousands of aspirants lose marks in English sections because phrasal verbs completely change the meaning of basic root verbs when combined with small prepositions or adverbs (particles).  

Phrasal verbs rooted in Look, Make, and Put transform simple physical actions—like looking with your eyes or placing an object—into abstract concepts like investigating, compensating, deciphering, or tolerating. Understanding these three root families helps you solve Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, Phrase Replacement, and Cloze Tests with absolute confidence.  

💬 सोचिए कि "Look" का शाब्दिक अर्थ "देखना" होता है, लेकिन जब इसके आगे "into" जुड़ता है तो यह "look into" (जाँच-पड़ताल करना) बन जाता है! इसी तरह "Put" का अर्थ "रखना" है, पर "put out" का अर्थ "आग बुझाना" और "put off" का अर्थ "कार्यक्रम टालना" हो जाता है। परीक्षा में ये छोटे-छोटे शब्द ही आपके अंक तय करते हैं!  

Phrasal verbs carry immense weight across competitive exams: SSC CGL features 4–6 questions, Banking exams (SBI PO, IBPS PO) test 3–6 questions, NDA/CDS/AFCAT include 5–10 direct questions, CUET tests 4–6 questions, and State PSCs / UPSC CSAT include 2–5 questions.  

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Section 2 – The Complete Breakdown

Sub-Topic 1: The "LOOK" Phrasal Verb Family

Phrasal verbs rooted in "look" shift the physical action of visual observation into cognitive actions like searching, investigating, anticipating, admiring, or despising.  

💬 "Look" परिवार के phrasal verbs केवल आँखों से देखने तक सीमित नहीं हैं; ये खोजना, किसी मामले की छानबीन करना, बेसब्री से इंतज़ार करना, या किसी को आदर देने या नीचा दिखाने जैसे भावों को प्रकट करते हैं।  

How to Identify

How to Identify (English)	कैसे पहचानें? (Hindi)
1. Look for "look" combined with particles (into, for, after, forward to, down upon).	1. "Look" के साथ जुड़े अव्यय (जैसे into, for, after, forward to, down upon) को देखें।
2. Distinguish casual search (look for) from official inquiry (look into).	2. सामान्य खोज (look for) और आधिकारिक जाँच (look into) के अंतर को पहचानें।
3. Check if respect (look up to) or contempt (look down upon) is implied.	3. देखें कि क्या वाक्य में सम्मान (look up to) या नीचा दिखाने (look down upon) का भाव है।
4. Test if it answers "What are they searching, expecting, or investigating?"	4. जांचें कि क्या यह उत्तर देता है: "वे क्या खोज रहे हैं, किसकी जाँच कर रहे हैं या किसका इंतज़ार कर रहे हैं?"

Quick Examples Table

Phrasal Verb	Meaning (English)	Meaning (Hindi)	Example Sentence
Look into	To investigate or examine a matter	जाँच-पड़ताल करना	The panel will look into the financial discrepancy.
Look for	To search for something lost or needed	खोजना / ढूँढना	She is looking for her missing file.
Look after	To take care of someone or something	देखभाल करना	He stayed home to look after his aging parents.
Look forward to	To await something with eagerness	बेसब्री से इंतज़ार करना	We are looking forward to attending the conference.
Look up to	To respect or regard as a role model	आदर करना / आदर्श मानना	Young players always look up to team captains.
Look down upon	To regard with contempt or consider inferior	नीची नज़र से देखना	One should never look down upon manual laborers.

• The #1 Exam Rule: Never use "into" after the word investigate; write either investigate the matter or look into the matter. Additionally, look forward to must always be followed by a Gerund ($V_1 + \text{ing}$)!  

Sub-Topic 2: The "MAKE" Phrasal Verb Family

Phrasal verbs formed with "make" center on comprehension, compensation, invention, escape, or transition. They transform physical creation into abstract concepts like understanding context, fabricating stories, or compensating for losses.  

💬 "Make" परिवार के phrasal verbs मुख्य रूप से किसी धुंधली बात को समझने (make out), नुकसान की भरपाई करने (make up for), मनगढ़ंत कहानी बनाने (make up), या संपत्ति हस्तांतरित करने (make over) को व्यक्त करते हैं।  

How to Identify

How to Identify (English)	कैसे पहचानें? (Hindi)
1. Look for "make" combined with out, up, up for, or off with.	1. "Make" के साथ जुड़े अव्यय (out, up, up for, off with) को पहचानें।
2. Check if understanding faint handwriting or voice is described (make out).	2. देखें कि क्या लिखावट या आवाज को मुश्किल से समझने की बात हो रही है (make out)।
3. Distinguish inventing a lie (make up) from compensating a loss (make up for).	3. झूठी कहानी बनाने (make up) और नुकसान की भरपाई करने (make up for) में अंतर करें।
4. Test if it answers "What was understood, invented, or compensated?"	4. जांचें कि क्या यह उत्तर देता है: "क्या समझा गया, क्या मनगढ़ंत बनाया गया या किसकी भरपाई की गई?"

Quick Examples Table

Phrasal Verb	Meaning (English)	Meaning (Hindi)	Example Sentence
Make out	To decipher or comprehend with difficulty	मुश्किल से समझ पाना	I could barely make out the faded signature.
Make up	To invent a story/excuse or reconcile	मनगढ़ंत बनाना / सुलह करना	She made up a clever excuse for being late.
Make up for	To compensate for a loss or missed time	भरपाई करना / क्षतिपूर्ति करना	Extra study hours will make up for lost time.
Make off with	To steal something and hurry away	चुराकर भाग जाना	The thieves made off with cash from the vault.
Make over	To legally transfer ownership of property	कानूनी रूप से हस्तांतरित करना	He decided to make over his estate to the trust.

• The #1 Exam Rule: Use make out for deciphering difficult text or sound, use make up for inventing excuses, and use the full three-word form make up for when compensating for damage or loss!  

Sub-Topic 3: The "PUT" Phrasal Verb Family

Phrasal verbs derived from "put" deal with delaying events, extinguishing fires, accommodating guests, tolerating bad behavior, or communicating ideas.  

💬 "Put" से बने phrasal verbs कार्यक्रम स्थगित करने (put off), आग या दीया बुझाने (put out), किसी अप्रिय व्यवहार को बर्दाश्त करने (put up with), और अपनी बात दूसरों को समझाने (put across) के लिए इस्तेमाल होते हैं।  

How to Identify

How to Identify (English)	कैसे पहचानें? (Hindi)
1. Locate "put" followed by off, out, up with, on, or across.	1. "Put" के साथ जुड़े शब्दों (off, out, up with, on, across) को खोजें।
2. Distinguish postponing an event (put off) from extinguishing a fire (put out).	2. कार्यक्रम स्थगित करने (put off) और आग बुझाने (put out) के अंतर को समझें।
3. Check if enduring difficult behavior is involved (put up with).	3. देखें कि क्या किसी अप्रिय स्थिति या व्यक्ति को बर्दाश्त करने का भाव है (put up with)।
4. Test if it answers "What was delayed, extinguished, worn, or tolerated?"	4. जांचें कि क्या यह उत्तर देता है: "क्या टाला गया, क्या बुझाया गया या क्या बर्दाश्त किया गया?"

Quick Examples Table

Phrasal Verb	Meaning (English)	Meaning (Hindi)	Example Sentence
Put off	To postpone, delay, or cause disinterest	स्थगित करना / टालना	Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Put out	To extinguish a fire, light, or cigarette	बुझाना (आग/दीया)	Firefighters worked for hours to put out the blaze.
Put up with	To tolerate or endure an unpleasant situation	बर्दाश्त करना / सहन करना	I cannot put up with his rude comments any longer.
Put on	To wear clothing or gain weight	पहनना / वज़न बढ़ाना	He put on his heavy coat before going outside.
Put across	To communicate or convey ideas successfully	अपनी बात स्पष्टता से समझाना	She put her views across clearly in the meeting.
Put up	To provide temporary lodging	ठहराना / आवास देना	My aunt put us up for two days during our trip.

• The #1 Exam Rule: Postponing an event is put off, extinguishing a fire is put out, and enduring bad behavior requires the full three-word inseparable phrase put up with!  

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Section 3 – The Exam Traps (Don't Fall for These)

These are the exact trap patterns examiners set every year in error spotting and phrase replacement questions:  

⚠️ EXAM TRAP 1

What students think: "The committee is going to investigate into the matter." Correct answer: "The committee is going to look into the matter" OR "The committee is going to investigate the matter." Rule: Investigate is a transitive verb that takes a direct object without "into"; adding "into" is a redundancy error. Seen in: SSC CGL, NDA [VERIFY]  

⚠️ EXAM TRAP 2

What students think: "We are looking forward to meet the Chief Guest." Correct answer: "We are looking forward to meeting the Chief Guest." Rule: In look forward to, "to" acts as a preposition, requiring a gerund ($V_1 + \text{ing}$) rather than a base infinitive. Seen in: SBI PO, IBPS Clerk, CDS [VERIFY]  

⚠️ EXAM TRAP 3

What students think: "The firefighters managed to put off the dangerous blaze." Correct answer: "The firefighters managed to put out the dangerous blaze." Rule: Delaying an event is put off; extinguishing a flame or light requires put out. Seen in: SSC CHSL, RRB NTPC [VERIFY]  

⚠️ EXAM TRAP 4

What students think: "I cannot put up his arrogant nature." Correct answer: "I cannot put up with his arrogant nature." Rule: Tolerating something requires the complete three-word phrase put up with. Seen in: AFCAT, IBPS PO [VERIFY]  

⚠️ EXAM TRAP 5

What students think: "The handwriting was so messy that I couldn't make up what was written." Correct answer: "The handwriting was so messy that I couldn't make out what was written." Rule: Deciphering faint text or audio requires make out, whereas make up means fabricating stories. Seen in: CAT, SSC CGL [VERIFY]  

⚠️ EXAM TRAP 6

What students think: "You must put off it immediately." Correct answer: "You must put it off immediately." Rule: When the object of a separable phrasal verb is a pronoun (it, them), the pronoun must sit between the verb and the particle. Seen in: IBPS PO, CLAT [VERIFY]  

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Section 4 – Solved Examples (Exam Style)

Q1. Identify the segment containing an error: The high-level commission will (a) / investigate into the charges (b) / of corruption against (c) / the senior officials. (d) [SSC Style] [Difficulty: Easy]  

a) The high-level commission will b) investigate into the charges c) of corruption against d) the senior officials  

✅ Correct: b) investigate into the charges Explanation (English): The verb investigate does not take the preposition into. It should either be investigate the charges or look into the charges. Adding into after investigate creates a prepositional redundancy error. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): "Investigate" के साथ "into" लगाना व्याकरण की दृष्टि से गलत (Redundant) है। या तो केवल "investigate the charges" लिखें या फिर Phrasal verb "look into the charges" का प्रयोग करें। Rule tested: Redundancy with Look into vs Investigate [Section 02 – Sub-Topic 1, Rule 01]  

Q2. Select the option that best replaces the highlighted phrase: All the board members are looking forward to receive the revised financial statements. [Banking Style] [Difficulty: Medium]  

a) looking forward to receiving b) looking forward for receiving c) looking forward to be receiving d) No replacement required  

✅ Correct: a) looking forward to receiving Explanation (English): In the idiomatic phrase look forward to, to functions as a preposition rather than part of an infinitive. Therefore, it must be followed by a gerund. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): "Look forward to" एक ऐसा Phrasal verb है जिसके बाद हमेशा Verb की -ing फॉर्म ( i.e. Gerund) आती है। इसलिए "looking forward to receiving" सही प्रयोग है। Rule tested: Gerund following Look forward to [Section 02 – Sub-Topic 1, Rule 02]  

Q3. What does the author imply by stating that it was almost impossible to make out the ancient inscriptions on the weather-beaten stone pillar? [UPSC CSAT Style] [Difficulty: Medium]  

a) The inscriptions were legally transferred to a museum. b) The inscriptions were completely fake and manufactured. c) The inscriptions were extremely difficult to decipher or read. d) The inscriptions were destroyed by fire.  

✅ Correct: c) The inscriptions were extremely difficult to decipher or read. Explanation (English): Make out means to discern, decipher, or comprehend something with difficulty, such as faded text or faint audio. Thus, stating that it was impossible to make out the inscriptions implies they could not be read or deciphered. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): "Make out" का अर्थ होता है किसी धुंधली या पुरानी लिखावट को मुश्किल से पढ़ना या समझना। वाक्य का अर्थ है कि खंभे पर लिखे प्राचीन लेखों को पढ़ना या समझना बेहद कठिन था। Rule tested: Abstract Contextual Interpretation of Make out [Section 02 – Sub-Topic 2]  

Q4. Complete the sentence: The annual sports meet was __________ owing to incessant rain. [Railways / Defence Style] [Difficulty: Easy]  

a) put off b) put out c) put on d) put up  

✅ Correct: a) put off Explanation (English): Put off means to delay or postpone an event to a later time. This fits the context of postponing a sporting event due to heavy rainfall. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): बारिश की वजह से खेल प्रतियोगिता को "स्थगित" (आगे के लिए टालना) कर दिया गया। किसी कार्यक्रम को आगे टालने के लिए "put off" का प्रयोग होता है। Rule tested: Event Postponement Verbs [Section 02 – Sub-Topic 3]  

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Section 5 – Common Errors Indian Students Make

ERROR TYPE: Preposition Redundancy with "Investigate"

❌ Wrong: The senior officer decided to investigate into the complaint.

✅ Correct: The senior officer decided to investigate the complaint. OR look into the complaint. Why: Investigate is a transitive verb that takes a direct object without into. Look into already includes the prepositional meaning. 💬 Hindi: "Investigate" के साथ कभी "into" का प्रयोग न करें। जाँच के लिए या तो केवल investigate लिखें या फिर look into का प्रयोग करें। Seen in: SSC CGL, IBPS PO [VERIFY]  

ERROR TYPE: Bare Infinitive after "Look forward to"

❌ Wrong: I am looking forward to meet you at the venue.

✅ Correct: I am looking forward to meeting you at the venue. Why: In look forward to, to acts as a preposition, requiring a gerund rather than a base verb. 💬 Hindi: "Look forward to" के बाद हमेशा Verb का -ing रूप (Gerund) ही प्रयोग करें, केवल $V_1$ नहीं। Seen in: SBI PO, NDA, CDS [VERIFY]  

ERROR TYPE: Confusing Postponement ("Put off") with Extinguishing ("Put out")

❌ Wrong: The meeting was put out due to lack of quorum.

✅ Correct: The meeting was put off due to lack of quorum. Why: Postponing events requires put off, whereas put out means extinguishing a fire, flame, or light. 💬 Hindi: बैठक या परीक्षा टालने के लिए put off का प्रयोग करें, आग बुझाने वाले put out का नहीं। Seen in: SSC CHSL, RRB NTPC [VERIFY]  

ERROR TYPE: Missing "With" in "Put up with"

❌ Wrong: She refuses to put up his ill-temper any longer.

✅ Correct: She refuses to put up with his ill-temper any longer. Why: Tolerating something requires all three words in the phrasal verb: put up with.

💬 Hindi: किसी चीज़ या इंसान को बर्दाश्त करने के लिए put up with के तीनों शब्द अनिवार्य हैं। Seen in: AFCAT, IBPS Clerk [VERIFY]  

ERROR TYPE: Omission of "For" in "Make up for"

❌ Wrong: Nothing can make up the loss of a loved one.

✅ Correct: Nothing can make up for the loss of a loved one. Why: Compensating for damage, loss, or delay requires make up for. Make up alone means fabricating stories or reconciling.

💬 Hindi: नुकसान या घाटे की भरपाई करने के अर्थ में make up for आता है, केवल make up नहीं। Seen in: LIC AAO, SBI PO [VERIFY]  

ERROR TYPE: Misusing "Make out" for Fabricating Stories

❌ Wrong: He made out a fake story to avoid getting punished.

✅ Correct: He made up a fake story to avoid getting punished. Why: Inventing lies or excuses is make up. Make out means deciphering or understanding text/audio with difficulty.

💬 Hindi: झूठी कहानी या बहाना बनाने के लिए make up का प्रयोग होता है, make out का मतलब तो समझना होता है। Seen in: CAT, SSC MTS [VERIFY] 

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Section 6 – Previous Year Questions — Test Yourself

These questions have actually appeared in competitive exams. Try each one before reading the answer.  

1. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given phrasal verb: Look into [SSC CGL [VERIFY]] a) To look inside a window b) To investigate or examine c) To ignore intentionally d) To search for a lost friend  

Answer: b Explanation (English): Look into means to investigate, inquire, or examine a situation thoroughly. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): "Look into" का अर्थ किसी मामले की छानबीन या जाँच-पड़ताल करना होता है। सही उत्तर b है।  

2. Spot the error: The fire brigade (a) / worked hard and (b) / finally put off (c) / the factory fire. (d) [SSC CHSL [VERIFY]] a) The fire brigade b) worked hard and c) finally put off d) the factory fire  

Answer: c Explanation (English): Fire is extinguished, so put out should be used instead of put off (which means postpone). समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): आग बुझाने के लिए "put out" का प्रयोग होता है, कार्यक्रम टालने वाले "put off" का नहीं। इसलिए भाग c में गलती है।  

3. Fill in the blank: I am really looking forward to __________ you at the annual convocation. [SSC MTS [VERIFY]] a) meet b) meeting c) met d) have met  

Answer: b Explanation (English): Look forward to must be followed by a gerund . Therefore, meeting is correct. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): "Look forward to" के बाद क्रिया का -ing रूप आता है। इसलिए "meeting" उत्तर सही है।  

4. Replace the bold phrase: The team struggled to make up the financial deficit before the fiscal year closed. [IBPS PO [VERIFY]] a) make up for the financial deficit b) make out the financial deficit c) make over the financial deficit d) No replacement required  

Answer: a Explanation (English): To compensate for a loss or financial deficit, the complete three-word phrase make up for is required. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): वित्तीय घाटे या नुकसान की भरपाई के लिए "make up for" का प्रयोग होता है। उत्तर a है।  

5. Meaning of: Put up with [IBPS Clerk [VERIFY]] a) To stay in a hotel b) To tolerate or bear enduringly c) To post a banner d) To cancel an event  

Answer: b Explanation (English): Put up with means to tolerate or endure an unpleasant situation or person without complaining. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): "Put up with" का अर्थ किसी परेशानी को बर्दाश्त करना या सहन करना होता है। उत्तर b सही है।  

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Section 7 – Practice Worksheet

Test your understanding right now with our interactive practice module! This worksheet contains 20 exam-style questions spanning Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced difficulty levels, complete with instant answer checking and detailed explanations.

[PRACTICE WORKSHEET WILL BE EMBEDDED HERE]

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Section 8 – Exam-wise Quick Strategy

SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS)

Focus on direct preposition errors, exact particle pairings, and redundancy traps (e.g., investigate into, put off vs put out). Look for particle-verb mismatches immediately to spot errors quickly. Target spending no more than 15–20 seconds per question.  

Banking (IBPS PO / SBI PO / Clerk)

Prioritize contextual appropriateness, phrase replacement, and gerund structures (look forward to , make up for). Read the whole sentence to ensure the chosen phrasal verb fits the formal tone. Target spending around 25–30 seconds per question.  

UPSC / CAT / CLAT

Focus on secondary definitions (put off meaning to repel/discourage), legal transfers (make over), and subtle context decoding in reading passages. Avoid taking phrasal verbs literally. Allocate 30–45 seconds per question.  

Defence / Railways / State PSC

Focus on direct meaning identification for high-yield verbs (put up with, look after, put off, look for). Conjugate only the base verb while keeping particles unchanged. Target 10–15 seconds per question.  

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For the complete exam-wise strategy guide, download our full PDF notes on this topic — link below.  

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