Life involves problems — practical, emotional, work, family. English has many phrasal verbs specifically for facing and solving problems. 'Run out of' (have no more left). 'Deal with' (handle, manage). 'Sort out' (fix, organise). 'Get over' (recover from). 'Put up with' (tolerate, accept reluctantly). 'Cope with' (manage difficulty). 'Work out' (solve, figure out, exercise). 'Figure out' (understand, solve). Each is fixed and used the same way every time. The lesson is topic-based — grouping phrasal verbs by theme (problems and solutions) rather than verb root. This complements the verb-root lessons (get, put, take, come/go, look, make). Students who know these chunks describe problem situations naturally. Connects to the relationship phrasal verbs lesson (#64) and other vocabulary-in-use lessons.
Before you start — think honestly about your own teaching and experience.
Look at the examples. Answer each question before reading the explanation — this is how your students will learn too.
run out of (= have no more left, supply exhausted)
We ran out of milk yesterday — I need to buy more.
The car ran out of fuel on the way to the city.
I am running out of patience with the slow service.
For handling problems:
deal with (= handle, manage, take action)
The manager dealt with the customer's complaint quickly.
We need to deal with this problem before it gets worse.
sort out (= fix, organise, resolve)
We sorted out the misunderstanding by talking calmly.
I need to sort out my finances.
What do these three phrasal verbs have in common?
All three describe responses to problems. 'Run out of' describes the problem itself — no more resources. 'Deal with' describes general handling — taking action on the problem. 'Sort out' describes a successful resolution — fixing the problem. They can be used together to describe a problem cycle: 'We ran out of money, but we dealt with the situation by borrowing, and finally sorted out our finances.' Students who know these chunks describe problem situations naturally. Students who use only formal verbs ('encountered the problem', 'managed the situation', 'resolved the issue') sound stilted. The phrasal verbs are more natural in everyday speech and informal writing. Save formal verbs for academic essays and formal reports.
get over (= recover from — illness, setback, emotional difficulty)
It took her weeks to get over the flu.
He is still trying to get over the loss of his father.
I cannot get over how much you have grown!
put up with (= tolerate, accept reluctantly)
I cannot put up with this noise any longer.
She puts up with a lot from her difficult colleagues.
cope with (= manage difficulty, handle stress)
She is coping with the new responsibilities well.
It is hard to cope with so much pressure.
What is the difference between these three?
'Get over' is about recovery — moving past a problem that has happened. Recovery from illness, from grief, from a setback. The problem is already past; you are recovering. 'Put up with' is about tolerance — accepting something you do not like but cannot change. The problem is ongoing; you are enduring it. 'Cope with' is about managing — handling difficulty as it happens. The problem is current; you are managing it. The three describe different responses to problems. Get over (recovery from past). Put up with (tolerance of present). Cope with (managing present). Students should know all three. The choice depends on whether the problem is past, ongoing, or current. The grammar: get over takes a direct object. Put up with is three words and stays together. Cope with takes 'with + thing'.
work out (= solve, calculate, figure out — also exercise)
I cannot work out the answer to this maths problem.
We worked out a solution to the dispute.
I work out at the gym three times a week. (different meaning — exercise)
figure out (= understand, solve, work out)
I am trying to figure out how to use this new phone.
She figured out the answer quickly.
turn out (= happen in the end, prove to be)
It all turned out fine in the end.
The new policy turned out to be effective.
The difference between work out and figure out:
They overlap a lot. Work out is more about calculation or methodical solution. Figure out is more about understanding or insight. Both work for solving problems.
How can students use these problem-solving phrasal verbs?
'Work out' and 'figure out' are very close in meaning — both mean solve or understand. They can be used interchangeably in many contexts. 'Work out the answer' / 'figure out the answer' — both work. 'Work out' has another meaning (exercise) which is unrelated. 'Figure out' is just for understanding/solving. 'Turn out' is different — it means how something ended up, the result. 'It turned out fine' (the result was fine). 'It turned out to be a mistake' (proved to be a mistake). For solving problems, students can use work out or figure out. For describing how things ended, turn out. These three problem-solving phrasal verbs cover most situations.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| run out of | Have no more left | We ran out of milk. | For exhausted supplies. |
| deal with | Handle, manage, take action | We need to deal with this problem. | General problem handling. |
| sort out | Fix, resolve, organise | We sorted out the misunderstanding. | Successful resolution. |
| get over | Recover from | It took weeks to get over the flu. | For recovery from illness, loss, setback. |
| put up with | Tolerate, accept reluctantly | I cannot put up with the noise. | Three-word phrasal verb. Stays together. |
| cope with | Manage difficulty | She copes with stress well. | For managing pressure or stress. |
| work out | Solve, calculate (also: exercise) | Work out the answer. (also: I work out at the gym.) | Two meanings — solve and exercise. |
| figure out | Understand, solve, work out | Figure out how to use this. | Similar to work out for solving. |
| turn out | End up, prove to be | It turned out fine. | For results and outcomes. |
NOTE 1 — Match phrasal verb to problem stage: Run out of (the problem starting). Deal with / cope with (current problem). Sort out (resolving). Get over (recovering). Each fits a different stage. Use the right one for the right stage.
NOTE 2 — Put up with is three words: 'Put up with' is a three-word phrasal verb that stays together. 'Put up with the noise' (correct). 'Put up the noise with' (wrong word order). The three words always stay together.
NOTE 3 — Work out has two meanings: Solve a problem (work out the answer) and exercise (work out at the gym). Context tells which. Both very common.
NOTE 4 — Get over takes time: 'Get over' usually takes time. Recovering from illness — days or weeks. Getting over a loss — months or years. The phrase implies a process, not an instant action.
NOTE 5 — Cope with vs deal with: Deal with is about handling — taking action. Cope with is about managing — enduring difficulty. Slightly different. 'I dealt with the customer's complaint' (took action). 'I coped with the stress of the deadline' (endured/managed).
Phrasal verbs for problems are essential for everyday work and life. Students who use them describe difficulties naturally. Students who use formal alternatives (encounter, manage, resolve) sound stilted. The chunks fit informal and neutral contexts. For formal academic writing, formal alternatives may be preferred. The lesson is topic-based — grouping phrasal verbs by theme. Complements the verb-root lessons (get, put, take, look, make).
Use real or imagined problem scenarios for practice. Running out of resources, dealing with a difficult colleague, sorting out a mistake, getting over an illness, putting up with noisy neighbours, coping with stress, working out a problem. Students describe each scenario using the appropriate phrasal verbs. Real situations make the chunks memorable.
Choose the correct phrasal verb for each problem situation.
Each sentence has a problem with a phrasal verb. Suggest a better version and explain.
Use this sequence directly in class — guided discovery, no textbook needed. Tap each step to mark it done.
STEP 1 — Topic-based phrasal verbs (5 min): Establish that this lesson groups phrasal verbs by topic (problems) rather than by verb root. Complements the verb-root lessons. Topic-based grouping is useful for everyday situations.
STEP 2 — Run out of and deal with (6 min): Drill the basic problem chunks. Run out of (no more left). Deal with (handle, manage). Different aspects of problems — out of resources vs handling. Practise five examples each.
STEP 3 — Sort out, get over, cope with (8 min): Drill these three. Sort out (fix, resolve). Get over (recover from). Cope with (manage difficulty). Match each to a context. Practise five examples each.
STEP 4 — Put up with — three words (4 min): Spend focused time on this three-word phrasal verb. Put up with (tolerate, accept reluctantly). The three words stay together. 'I put up with the noise.' Practise five examples.
STEP 5 — Work out and figure out (7 min): Drill the solving phrasal verbs. Work out (solve, also exercise). Figure out (understand, solve). Show that they overlap for solving problems. Note the second meaning of work out (exercise). Practise five examples.
Use directly in class — copy, adapt, or read aloud. No printing needed.
For each strategy, choose the option that best describes where you are now.
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