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ANGLO-PEDIA Anglo-File 115: PHRASAL VERBS

A phrasal verb is composed of a verb and a preposition, where the preposition has given the

initial verb a new meaning:

Verb: take Phrasal verbs: take after = resemble take over = take control

Phrasal verbs are common in spoken English and informal correspondence such as e-mails. They

are not common in written English (articles, letters etc.), where we tend to use longer one-word

verbs (resemble, consider etc.)

Almost all phrasal verbs have a non-phrasal synonym. Therefore, you can express yourself without using phrasal verbs. However, you need to know the most common phrasal verbs in

order to be more comfortable in your conversations with native speakers.

As phrasal verbs are actually new expressions that need to be memorised, oral exercises are particularly helpful in learning them.

Note that some phrasal verbs have 2 different meanings:

take off = remove (Take off your coat.)

take off = leave the ground (The plane took off to Florida on time.)

take up: begin a new activity (I took up horse riding last year.)

take up = accept an offer or invitation (She took up the job offer.)

Bring up = mention (He brought up the subject last night.)

Bring up = raise children (Bringing up children is an important task.)

turn down = reduce volume (Please turn down the radio.) turn down = reject (She turned down our invitation.)

turn up = increase volume (Please turn up the radio.) turn up = appear (He turned up at the party without an invitation.)

Work out = calculate (We have worked out the probabilities.) Work out = do physical exercise (I like working out in the gymnasium).

Grammatically, phrasal verbs are divided into two groups: separable verbs and non-separable verbs:

Part 1: SEPARABLE PHRASAL VERBS

With separable verbs, the object of the verb can go between the two parts (verb and preposition) or after the two parts:

Take your shoes off. / Take off your shoes. Take over the company. / Take the company over.

If you replace the object by a pronoun, you must put the pronoun between the two parts:

Must I take off my shoes? Yes, you must take them off. (NOT: take off them)

Did he take the company over? Yes, he took it over. (NOT: took over it)

Here is a list of some common separable phrasal verbs:

bring about = cause bring up = mention a topic / raise children

call off = cancel

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calm down = become calm again / make (someone) feel calmer

carry on = continue check out = leave a hotel

cheer up = become happy again / make (someone) feel happier drop off = leave something/someone somewhere

fill in (fill out) = complete (a form) find out = discover information

give up = stop (doing something) hand in = submit

look up = look for information in a reference book

pick out = select pick up = go to get someone

point out = draw someone's attention to put off = postpone

put on = wear put out = extinguish (cigarette, fire)

take off = remove clothing / leave the ground (airplane) take over = take control of

take up = begin a new activity / accept an offer or invitation

try on = wear clothing to see if it fits turn down = decrease volume / refuse an offer or invitation

turn off (switch off) = stop a machine, equipment, light etc. turn on (switch on) = start a machine, equipment, light etc.

turn up = increase volume / appear work out = calculate / do physical exercise

Part 2: NON-SEPARABLE PHRASAL VERBS

With non-separable verbs, we do not separate the verb from the preposition, neither with an

object nor with a pronoun:

He takes after his father. NOT: He takes his father after.

He takes after him. NOT: He takes him after.

I need to deal with this problem. NOT: I need to deal this problem with.

I need to deal with it. NOT: I need to deal it with.

Here is a list of some common non-separable phrasal verbs:

break down = stop working check in = register at a hotel or the airport

come across = find by chance deal with = handle a situation

get off = leave a public vehicle (e.g. bus, train) get on with = have a good relationship with

get on = enter any public vehicle get over = recover from an illness or an unpleasant event

go over = review

go ahead = proceed grow up = become an adult

look after = take care of look for =search for

look into = investigate pass away = die

pass out = lose consciousness put up with = tolerate

run into = meet by chance

run out = finish the supply take after = resemble

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ANGLO-PEDIA Anglo-File 115: PHRASAL VERBS

EXERCISES

Part 1: (Tracks 1-46)

Replace the underlined word or phrase in each sentence with a phrasal verb.

Example: - My car stopped working on my way to work.

- My car broke down on my way to work.

1. That decision caused the collapse of the company.

……………………………………………………….

2. We shouldn’t mention this subject.

………………………………………………………..

3. Please cancel all my meetings.

………………………………………………………..

4. I was extremely angry. It took me a while to become calm again.

………………………………………………………..

5. I am sorry I interrupted you. Please continue.

……………………………………………………….. 6. This is the last call for passengers for this flight to register at the flight desk.

……………………………………………………….. 7. I will be leaving the hotel at 11a.m. tomorrow.

………………………………………………………..

8. She became happy again when the sun came out.

………………………………………………………..

9. I found an interesting article on this subject by chance.

………………………………………………………..

10. I am rather busy. Could you handle this enquiry please?

……………………………………………………….. 11. She needs to complete this form about her employment history.

……………………………………………………….. 12. He discovered that his great grandfather was a famous explorer.

……………………………………………………….. 13. Do you have a good relationship with your mother-in-law?

………………………………………………………..

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14. She is recovering from a bad case of the flu.

………………………………………………………..

15. I am going to stop my job and go travelling for a year.

………………………………………………………..

16. He reviewed the figures and came to a different conclusion.

……………………………………………………….. 17. Shall I book the flight for you? Yes, please proceed.

……………………………………………………….. 18. You must submit your papers by noon tomorrow.

……………………………………………………….. 19. He takes care of his vegetable garden.

………………………………………………………..

20. I have been searching for my diamond ring for weeks.

………………………………………………………..

21. They will be investigating the cause of the accident.

………………………………………………………..

22. Have you tried to find the word in the dictionary?

……………………………………………………….. 23. He died peacefully in his sleep.

……………………………………………………….. 24. If your blood pressure drops too low, you may lose consciousness.

………………………………………………………..

25. I have been selected to be a space tourist.

………………………………………………………..

26. She drew his attention to the fact that he was wearing odd socks.

………………………………………………………..

27. Children become adults very quickly.

………………………………………………………..

28. The meeting has been postponed until tomorrow.

……………………………………………………….. 29. She extinguished her cigarette in the ashtray.

……………………………………………………….. 30. You should not have to tolerate this behaviour.

………………………………………………………..

31. Their food supply will finish within a week.

………………………………………………………..

32. He resembles his father.

………………………………………………………..

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33. They have taken control of the company.

………………………………………………………..

34. Why don’t you begin ballroom dancing? It will do you good.

………………………………………………………..

35. Wear this dress to see if it fits.

……………………………………………………….. 36. Please decrease the volume of the TV, I can’t hear myself think!

……………………………………………………….. 37. Remember to stop the computer when you have finished.

……………………………………………………….. 38. She started the washing machine.

………………………………………………………..

39. Increase the volume of the music so that we can dance.

………………………………………………………..

40. I’ll calculate the price and get back to you.

………………………………………………………..

41. We entered the train at 2:00 p.m. and left the train at 2:45 p.m.

……………………………………………………….. 42. I am late for my train. Could you take me and leave me at the station.

……………………………………………………….. 43. I have missed the last bus! Could you come and get me at the station?

………………………………………………………..

44. We saw each other by chance at the supermarket.

………………………………………………………..

45. Please remove your shoes and wear these slippers.

………………………………………………………………

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Anglo-File 115: Phrasal Verbs / Answer Key

Part 1: Replace with a phrasal verb

1. That decision brought about the collapse of the company.

2. We shouldn’t bring up this subject. 3. Please call off all my meetings.

4. I was extremely angry. It took me a while to calm down. 5. I am sorry I interrupted you. Please go on.

6. This is the last call for passengers for this flight to check in.

7. I will be checking out at 11a.m. tomorrow. 8. She cheered up when the sun came out.

9. I came across an interesting article on this subject. 10. I am rather busy. Could you deal with this enquiry please?

11. She needs to fill in this form about her employment history.

12. He found out that his great grandfather was a famous explorer. 13. Do you get on with your mother-in-law?

14. She is getting over a bad case of the flu.

15. I am going to give up my job and go travelling for a year.

16. He went over the figures and came to a different conclusion.

17. Shall I book the flight for you? Yes, please go ahead. 18. You must hand in your papers by noon tomorrow.

19. He looks after his vegetable garden. 20. I have been looking for my diamond ring for weeks.

21. They will be looking into the cause of the accident

22. Have you looked up the word in the dictionary? 23. He passed away peacefully in his sleep.

24. If your blood pressure drops too low, you may pass out. 25. I have been picked out to be a space tourist.

26. She pointed out that he was wearing odd socks.

27. Children grow up very quickly.

28. The meeting has been put off until tomorrow.

29. She put out her cigarette in the ashtray. 30. You should not have to put up with this behaviour.

31. Their food supply will run out within a week.

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32. He takes after his father.

33. They have taken over the company. 34. Why don’t you take up ballroom dancing? It will do you good.

35. Try on this dress.

36. Please turn the TV down, I can’t hear myself think!

37. Remember to turn off the computer when you have finished.

38. She turned on the washing machine. 39. Turn up the music so that we can dance.

40. I’ll work out the price and get back to you. 41. We got on the train at 2:00 p.m. and got off the train at 2:45 p.m.

42. I am late for my train. Could you drop me off at the station.

43. I have missed the last bus! Could you pick me up at the station? 44. We ran into each other at the supermarket.

45. Please take off your shoes and put on these slippers.

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ANGLO-PEDIA Anglo-File 115: PHRASAL VERBS

EXERCISES

Part 2: (Tracks 47-59) Answer these questions with a pronoun. If the phrasal verb is separable, you must put

the pronoun between the two parts. If it is not separable, it goes after.

Example:

- Did you take up judo when you were young?

- Yes, I took it up when I was young.

-Did you come across this article on the Internet? Yes, I came across it on the Internet.

1. Have they called off the meeting?

……………………………………………………..

2. Do you often run into him?

………………………………………………………..

3. Are you going to work out the price?.

……………………………………………………….. 4. Does he take after his mother?

……………………………………………………….. 5. Did you get on the bus at the station?

……………………………………………………….. 6. Will they be looking into the complaints soon?

………………………………………………………..

7. Has he given up smoking?

………………………………………………………..

8. Does he look after the children?

………………………………………………………..

9. Is she getting over her cold?

……………………………………………………….. 10. Have they gone over the figures carefully?

………………………………………………………..

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Anglo-File 115: Phrasal Verbs / Answer Key

Part 2: Replace with a pronoun 1. Yes, they’ve called it off.

2. Yes, I often run into him.

3.Yes, I am going to work it out. 4. Yes, he takes after her.

5. Yes, we got on it at the station.

6. Yes, they will be looking into them soon. 7. Yes, he has given it up.

8. Yes, he looks after them. 9. Yes, she is getting over it.

10. Yes, they’ve gone over them carefully.

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