PICK Phrasal Verbs · Academia VELA

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Separable Object can go in the middle or after: "pick it up" or "pick up the bag"

Inseparable Object always goes after the particle — never in the middle.

Intransitive No object needed — the verb stands alone.

Phrasal verbs with PICK

pick upSeparable

To lift something; to collect someone; to learn casually and naturally; to answer the phone; to improve.

"She picks up languages very easily." / "Can you pick up the kids from school?" / "Sales are picking up."

pick outSeparable

To choose or select from a group; to identify someone in a crowd.

"She picked out the ripest mangoes from the bin." / "Can you pick me out in this photo?"

pick onInseparable

To bully someone; to target a person unfairly or repeatedly.

"The older kids were picking on the new student — the teacher stepped in immediately."

pick up onInseparable

To notice a subtle sign, mood, or detail that others might miss.

"She picked up on the tension in the room before anyone said anything."

pick atInseparable

To eat very little, taking only small bites; to repeatedly touch or fidget with something.

"She was nervous and just picked at her food during the interview lunch."

pick apartSeparable

To analyze something in fine detail; to find all the faults and weaknesses.

"The professor picked apart every argument in the essay, one by one."

pick throughInseparable

To search carefully through a pile or collection to find what you want.

"He spent an hour picking through the boxes of old books at the market."

pick offSeparable

To eliminate or remove items or people one by one.

"The team picked off the unsold items from the display one by one."

pick overInseparable

To examine a group of things carefully, taking the best ones.

"She picked over the avocados, pressing each one gently before choosing."

pick up afterInseparable

To clean up the mess that someone else leaves behind.

"I'm tired of picking up after everyone — please put your things away."

⚠️ "Pick up" has at least 5 common meanings — context is everything!
✓ "Pick up the toy." → Lift it from the floor.
✓ "Pick up María from school." → Go and collect her.
✓ "He picked up French in six months." → Learned it naturally.
✓ "Can you pick up the phone?" → Answer it.
✓ "Business picked up after the holidays." → Improved.
Always read the context to know which meaning is intended.

Reading: Saturday at the Market

📖 Saturday at the Market

Andrés took his nine-year-old daughter Sofía to the weekly farmers' market in Zarcero on a bright Saturday morning. From the moment they arrived, Sofía began to pick up new words from the vendors — English phrases from the tourist stalls, Spanish food names she had never heard before. She was a natural learner.

Andrés went straight to the fruit section and began to pick out the best mangoes from a large wooden bin, choosing only the firmest and most fragrant ones. Nearby, an older woman was carefully picking over a pile of imported avocados, pressing each one before placing it in her basket. A food critic Andrés recognized was already picking apart the quality of the organic produce, speaking loudly about everything that was wrong with each item.

Then Andrés noticed a tense moment. The critic had started to pick on a shy young farmer whose tomatoes were small but perfectly ripe. Andrés picked up on the farmer's discomfort before anyone else did. He walked over calmly. "These tomatoes look perfect to me," he said to the critic. The critic moved on without another word.

Sofía, meanwhile, had been picking at a sample of artisanal cheese — just a small bite here and there — when she spotted a market assistant at the far end of the aisle. He was methodically picking off unsold items from the display, removing them one by one to make room for fresh stock. Another assistant was quietly picking through a crate of leftover herbs, separating the good from the wilted.

By the time they left, the helpers were already picking up after the vendors who had left their stalls untidy. "I love Saturdays," Sofía said, juggling two bags of fruit and a smile.

Reading comprehension — 10 questions