Phrasal Verbs With ‘Follow’: Unlocking the Power of Fluent English

If you’re on a journey to master the English language, understanding and incorporating phrasal verbs into your vocabulary is essential. Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more particles (usually prepositions or adverbs). They add depth and nuance to your language skills, allowing you to express yourself more fluently and naturally. In this article, we’ll delve into phrasal verbs with the verb ‘follow’ and explore their various meanings and usage.

The most popular phrasal verbs with “Follow”

1. Follow up (on/with something): To follow up on something means to take further action or investigate a previous matter. It implies continuing or pursuing a topic or task in a diligent manner.
   • After the meeting, the manager followed up with an email to discuss the project’s progress
   • I saw an ad in the paper and I decided to follow it up
2. Follow through (on something): This phrasal verb is used when someone completes or carries out a plan or commitment. It suggests consistency and determination in seeing something to its end.
   • She always follows through on her promises, which is why she is so reliable
   • Harry started training as an actor, but he never followed it through.
3. Follow on: To follow on refers to the next stage or event in a sequence. It is often used in sports contexts or when discussing subsequent steps in a process.
   • After winning the regional championship, the team is looking forward to the follow-on competitions
4. Follow suit: When you follow suit, you imitate or do the same thing as someone else. This expression comes from card games, where players must play a card of the same suit as the one played before.
   • When one company introduced a four-day workweek, many others followed suit
5. Follow someone’s lead: To follow someone’s lead means to imitate or take direction from another person, usually someone in a leadership or authoritative role. It can also imply following someone’s example or advice.
   • The new employees were encouraged to follow their manager’s lead in approaching challenging projects
6. Follow in someone’s footsteps: Similar to the previous phrasal verb, this expression means to pursue a similar path or career as someone else, often a parent, mentor, or role model.
   • Having grown up in a family of doctors, Sarah decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a physician.
7. Follow someone around: This phrasal verb describes the act of continuously observing or monitoring someone, often in a way that feels intrusive or uncomfortable.
   • The paparazzi followed the celebrity around town, trying to capture candid shots
   • She told him to go away and stop following her around
8. Follow one’s instincts: To follow one’s instincts means to trust and act upon your inner feelings or intuition, especially when making decisions.
   • In uncertain situations, it’s essential to follow your instincts and do what feels right
9. Follow someone’s advice: To follow someone’s advice is to take heed of their recommendations or suggestions and act upon them.
   • He followed his financial advisor’s advice and invested wisely for his future
10. Follow the crowd: This phrasal verb suggests doing what everyone else is doing without thinking critically or independently. It can imply going along with the majority, even if it may not be the best choice.
    • Instead of following the crowd, be confident in your own decisions and ideas
11. Follow out: carry out, fulfill.
    • We have followed out your instructions down to the last detail

Learning and incorporating these phrasal verbs with ‘follow’ into your English repertoire will enhance your language skills and make you sound more natural and fluent in your conversations. As with any language learning, practice and context are crucial. So, don’t hesitate to use these expressions in various situations to become a more proficient English speaker.