Estos phrasal verbs son súper frecuentes en trabajo, estudios y exámenes. Aquí verás sus significados principales, patrones comunes y trucos para recordarlos.
1) Mapa rápido
set up = empezar algo, organizar
carry out = ejecutar algo planificado
bring up = introducir una idea en la conversación
come up with = inventar una idea/solución
put off = mover para después / quitar las ganas
turn down = decir que no / bajar nivel
work out = funcionar / hacer ejercicio / calcular
En contexto B2 suelen aparecer en textos sobre trabajo, estudios, proyectos y relaciones.
Aprende cada phrasal con un ejemplo realista, no solo con una traducción.
2) set up & carry out (montar / realizar)
| Phrasal | Significado principal B2 | Ejemplos |
|---|---|---|
| set up | • montar/crear (negocio, organización, sistema) • organizar (reunión, evento, equipo) • configurar (un dispositivo, cuenta) | They set up a new company last year. We need to set up a meeting with the client. Can you set up the projector? |
| carry out | • realizar/llevar a cabo (experimento, estudio, plan, investigación, orden) | Scientists carried out several experiments. We will carry out a detailed analysis. The instructions were carried out correctly. |
Truco: set up = “montar” algo; carry out = “hacer realidad” un plan.
3) bring up & come up with (sacar un tema / idear)
| Phrasal | Significado principal B2 | Ejemplos |
|---|---|---|
| bring up | • sacar un tema / mencionar algo en una conversación o reunión • (también: criar a un niño → bring up a child) | He brought up an important question at the meeting. I didn’t want to bring up that topic again. She was brought up by her grandparents. |
| come up with | • inventar/idear algo (idea, plan, solución, excusa, nombre) | They came up with a brilliant solution. We need to come up with a new marketing strategy. Can you come up with a better name? |
bring up = sacar tema que vas a discutir; come up with = crear la idea en sí.
4) put off, turn down & work out
| Phrasal | Significado principal B2 | Ejemplos |
|---|---|---|
| put off | • posponer / retrasar (reunión, cita, plan) • desanimar / quitar las ganas (sentido más avanzado) | We had to put off the meeting until Friday. His attitude really put me off. |
| turn down | • rechazar (oferta, invitación, solicitud) • bajar (volumen, intensidad) | She turned down the job offer. Can you turn down the music, please? |
| work out | • funcionar / resultar bien • hacer ejercicio físico • calcular / resolver (problema, suma, solución) | In the end, everything worked out fine. I work out three times a week. We need to work out the total cost. |
Fíjate en el contexto: put off casi siempre = posponer; turn down = decir “no”; work out = o hacer ejercicio o “salir bien / resolver”.
5) Posición del objeto con estos phrasals
A) Separables (puedes poner el objeto en medio)
- set up:
We set up the company in 2020.
We set it up in 2020. - put off:
They put off the meeting.
They put it off. - turn down:
He turned down the offer.
He turned it down.
B) Poco separables en la práctica
- carry out, bring up, work out: también pueden separarse con pronombres, pero en muchos contextos se dejan juntos: carry out an experiment, bring up a topic.
Si el objeto es pronombre (it, them, him…) casi siempre va en medio: turn it down, put them off, set it up.
6) Errores comunes con estos phrasals
| Incorrecto | Problema | Versión correcta |
|---|---|---|
| *We carried an experiment out yesterday.* | Orden poco natural aunque no 100% imposible. Mejor junto o pronombre en medio. | We carried out an experiment yesterday. We carried it out yesterday. |
| *They put off it because of the rain.* | Pronombre mal colocado. | They put it off because of the rain. |
| *She turned down the volume it.* | Orden incorrecto; “it” sobra. | She turned the volume down. / She turned it down. |
| *He brought an interesting topic up yesterday.* | Gramatical, pero en B2 suena mejor junto con el objeto largo. | He brought up an interesting topic yesterday. |
| *We came up a new idea.* | Falta la preposición with. | We came up with a new idea. |
Cuando veas un phrasal nuevo, memoriza la preposición completa: no es come up, es come up with.
7) Mini-práctica
- Completa con el phrasal correcto: set up, carry out, bring up, come up with, put off, turn down, work out.
a) We need to ______ a new plan before Friday.
b) The company was ______ in 2010 by two engineers.
c) They ______ the experiment three times to check the results.
d) I didn’t want to ______ the subject during dinner.
e) Can we ______ the meeting until next week?
f) She ______ the job offer because the salary was too low.
g) Don’t worry, everything will ______ fine in the end. - Reescribe usando un phrasal verb del cuadro: set up, carry out, bring up, come up with, put off, turn down, work out.
a) They created a new startup last year.
b) The scientists did several tests.
c) We need to invent a better solution.
d) He rejected their invitation.
e) We postponed our trip because of the storm.
f) She mentioned an interesting point in the meeting.
g) We finally solved the problem. - Coloca el objeto (pronombre) en el lugar correcto:
a) They set up the system. → They set ______ up.
b) We carried out the plan. → We carried ______ out.
c) She turned down the music. → She turned ______ down.
d) We put off the trip. → We put ______ off.
e) They worked out the answer. → They worked ______ out. - Elige la opción correcta:
a) We (set up / put off) a new project last month.
b) The government will (carry out / bring up) a survey about education.
c) I don’t want to (come up with / bring up) that topic again; it’s too personal.
d) We had to (turn down / work out) the meeting because of an emergency.
e) If we cooperate, I’m sure we’ll (put off / work out) a good solution. - (Producción guiada) Escribe 4–5 frases sobre trabajo/estudios usando al menos 4 phrasals de la lista. Intenta mezclarlos con vocabulario de proyectos, exámenes, etc.
Respuestas ejemplo (orientativas):
1) a) come up with · b) set up · c) carried out · d) bring up · e) put off
f) turned down · g) work out
2) a) They set up a new startup last year.
b) The scientists carried out several tests.
c) We need to come up with a better solution.
d) He turned down their invitation.
e) We put off our trip because of the storm.
f) She brought up an interesting point in the meeting.
g) We finally worked out the problem.
3) a) They set it up. · b) We carried it out.
c) She turned it down. · d) We put it off.
e) They worked it out.
4) a) set up · b) carry out · c) bring up · d) turn down · e) work out
5) Respuesta libre; revisa que el phrasal tenga sentido con el contexto.
8) Próximo paso
Continúa con Pronunciación: connected speech (assimilation, elision), donde verás cómo se unen las palabras en el habla natural y por qué a veces los nativos “se comen” sonidos al hablar rápido.