Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Office Talk
This set covers the small task verbs people use at a desk: reviewing a report, setting up a call, and looking into an error.
Not sure when the object goes in the middle? Read separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
go over
review
Let’s go over the report one more time before submitting it.
Let’s review the report one more time before submitting it.
A careful review. Run through is the quicker version.
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work out
calculate
We need to work out how much this project will cost.
We need to calculate how much this project will cost.
Work the answer out or work it out.
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figure out
understand
Can you help me figure out how to use this software?
Can you help me understand how to use this software?
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set up
arrange
They will set up a meeting to discuss the proposal.
They will arrange a meeting to discuss the proposal.
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run through
review quickly
Let’s run through the main points before the presentation.
Let’s review the main points quickly before the presentation.
A quick check. Go over is the careful version.
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tie up
finish making the arrangements
We need to tie up the last details of the contract by Friday.
We need to finalize the last details of the contract by Friday.
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fit in
make time for
I’ll try to fit in a quick call with you this afternoon.
I’ll try to make time for a quick call with you this afternoon.
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deal with
handle
The manager will deal with the customer complaints this afternoon.
The manager will handle the customer complaints this afternoon.
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see to
take care of
Could you see to the printer? It’s jammed again.
Could you take care of the printer? It’s jammed again.
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look into
investigate a problem
The team is looking into the error on the invoice.
The team is investigating the error on the invoice.
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All 10 office talk phrasal verbs at a glance
Separable means the object can sit in the middle, and a pronoun has to. Inseparable means it never can. No object means the verb does not take one. Full explanation here.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| go over | review | Inseparable |
| work out | calculate | Separable |
| figure out | understand | Separable |
| set up | arrange | Separable |
| run through | review quickly | Inseparable |
| tie up | finish making the arrangements | Separable |
| fit in | make time for | Separable |
| deal with | handle | Inseparable |
| see to | take care of | Inseparable |
| look into | investigate a problem | Inseparable |
About this set
It is for everyday office English after the Work pack: less about hiring and layoffs, more about finishing the next item on a list.
Several verbs are close in meaning (deal with, see to, look into), so the examples show when each one fits.
Usage notes
- go over. Usually inseparable in this meaning: go over the report. It means review, not physically go across something.
- set up. Separable. Set up a meeting or set it up.
- look into. Inseparable. Look into the error means investigate it. Do not say look the error into.
- see to. British English for take care of a small task. See to the printer is more specific than deal with problems in general.
Mistakes to avoid
Incorrect: We ran the report through it before the meeting.
Correct: We ran through the report before the meeting.
When run through means review, the report comes straight after through, and one object is enough. We ran the report through it could only mean something else, such as passing the report through a system.
Incorrect: I will deal it with tomorrow.
Correct: I will deal with it tomorrow.
Deal with is inseparable, so the pronoun follows the preposition.
Incorrect: Can you look the problem into?
Correct: Can you look into the problem?
Look into is inseparable. Nothing comes between the verb and the preposition.
Incorrect: I cannot fit in you this week.
Correct: I cannot fit you in this week.
Fit in is separable, and a pronoun object must go in the middle.
Common questions
What is the difference between go over and run through?
Go over is a careful review. Run through is a quick check, just the main points before a presentation. If you have ten minutes, you run through. If you are checking every figure, you go over the report.
Are deal with and see to interchangeable?
Not always. Deal with often covers a problem or a person (complaints, a difficult client). See to is usually a concrete task: see to the printer, see to the booking.