Which sentence does not contain a phrasal verb?

• A. Do not lean against the wall.
• B. Turn off the lights.
• C. Look up the word.
• D. Give up the plan.

Answer: (A)

Phrasal verbs are verbs that combine with a small word (a particle) to create a meaning that often isn’t obvious from the verb alone. Common examples show up when the meaning changes with the particle, like turning off the lights, looking up a word, or giving up a plan.

In the sentence Do not lean against the wall, the verb lean is followed by against to describe a physical position—resting or pressing one's body against a surface. That use is straightforward and not an idiomatic, meaning-changing verb pair. So it doesn’t form a phrasal verb in the usual sense. The other sentences pair a verb with a particle to create a distinct, often idiomatic meaning: turn off the lights (switch off), look up the word (search for it), and give up the plan (abandon it). Therefore, the sentence without a phrasal verb is the one about leaning against the wall.