128 Phrasal verbs (1)

A Introduction

A phrasal verb is a verb + adverb, e.g. come in, sit down,

take off. There are very many phrasal verbs in English.
Here are some adverbs which are used in phrasal verbs:
about, along, around, away, back, behind, by, down,
forward, in, off, on, out, over, round, through, up
Some of these words can also be prepositions.
For prepositional verbs see Unit 126.

B Understanding phrasal verbs

Some phrasal verbs are easy to understand.
Tom asked Melanie to come in. The man in front turned round and stared at me.
The meanings are clear if you know the words come, in, turn and round.
But many phrasal verbs are idiomatic. The verb + adverb has a special meaning.
Fortunately the plan came off. (= succeeded) Why did you turn down such a
good offer? (= refuse) I can't make out if it's a man or a woman over there. (=
see clearly)
Sometimes a phrasal verb has the same meaning as a one-word verb.
find out — discover leave out — omit send out — distribute
go back = return make up = invent (a story) throw away = discard
go on = continue put off— postpone turn up — arrive
The phrasal verb is usually more informal than the one-word verb.

C Word order with phrasal verbs

When a phrasal verb has an object, the object can go either before or after the adverb.
VERB OBJECT ADVERB VERB ADVERB OBJECT

Melanie took her coat off. ORMelanie took off her coat.
I wrote the number down. OR I wrote down the number.
Who let the cat out? OR Who let out the cat?
A long object goes after the adverb.
The gang have carried out a number of bank raids in the last few months.
Why don't you try on that dress in the window?
A pronoun (e.g. it, them) always goes before the adverb.
Melanie felt hot in her coat, so she took it off. NOT She too
off it.
There have been a number of raids. The police know who carried them out.
NOT The police know who caried out them.
 128 Exercises

1 Understanding phrasal verbs (A-B)

Work out the meaning of these phrasal verbs and put them in the right sentences:
come back, come in, cut out, fall over, get on, give away, go away, let in, lie down, pay back, stay in, take back
(Use a dictionary if you need to.)
? Hello. Nice to see you. Come in and sit down.
? I didn't have a key, but luckily someone was there to let me in.
1 Can't we go out somewhere? I don't want to ................................ all evening.
2 Could you lend me ten pounds? I'll.................you .............. on Friday.
3 The pavement is very icy. Be careful you don't
4 I was feeling so tired I had to ......................... on the bed for a while.
5 There was an article in the newspaper that I wanted to ……………………. and keep.
6 Mark's gone out, and I don't know when he's going to ................................
7 The driver unlocked the coach so that the passengers were able to
8 I'll have to .......... these books .………… to the library.
9 Your brother was being a nuisance, so I told him to.....................................
10 In order to get publicity, the company decided to ……………………. ... some of the new sweets free to
children.

2 One-word verb and phrasal verb (B)

Put in a phrasal verb that means the same as the verb in brackets. Use the correct form of the phrasal verb.
Rachel: I've (►) found out (discovered) what the problem is with the exam.
Vicky: Oh, good. Tell me.
Rachel: When they printed the papers, they (1) ……………………… (omitted) a page. No one noticed
until the papers had all been (2) .......……………….. (distributed).
Now they'll have to (3) ................................ (discard) all the papers and
(4) ………………………. (postpone) the exam.
Vicky: Are you sure you haven't (5) .................................. (invented) this whole story?
Rachel: It's true, I tell you. And isn't it good news?
Vicky: I don't know about that. It means we'll have to (6)…………………………(continue) revising.

13 Word order with phrasal verbs (C)

Complete the sentences by putting in the phrasal verbs. Some of the spaces you have to leave empty.
Sometimes more than one answer is correct.
? The sweater was full of holes, so I threw it away (threw away).
? I've put up (put up) that picture we bought last week.
1 There's always litter here. No one ever ......................... it............. .(pickup).
2 It's quite cold now. I think I'll ............................my coat……………(put on).
3 I haven't heard from Rita lately. I might........................ her ........... (ring up).
4 Daniel has to go into college to......................... his project ............. (hand in).
5 I can't remember the address. I wish I'd.......................... it …………..(writedown).
6 Nick is trying to ....................... all the money he's just lost ………… (win back).
7 I'm not going to have time to............................. these dishes ..………….. (wash up).
8 If you don't know the number, you can …………………. It……………. (look up) in the phone
book.
9 There was an accident which......... …………. ... all the traffic coming into town………… (held up).
10 The words 'expect' and 'except' are so similar that I keep……………….. them …………. (mix up).
 129 Phrasal verbs (2)

A Everyday situations
Here are some phrasal verbs in everyday situations.
Come on, we're going now. Trevor dug up an old coin
in the garden. You have to fill in your name and
address. How did you get on in the test? I usually get
up late on Sundays. I'm going out for the evening.
Melanie poured tea for the guests and handed the cakes round.
Hurry up. We haven't got much time. David hit his head on a
lamppost and knocked himself out. Mark picked up the
cassette and put it in the player. You have to plug the machine
in first. I'm going to throw these old clothes away. We were too
tired to wash up after the meal. Sarah woke up suddenly in the
night.

B Phrasal verbs and one-word verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same meaning as a one-word verb (see also Unit 128B).
They're going to bring in a new law against drinking and driving. (= introduce) How did
the argument come about? (= happen) Emma isn't speaking to Matthew. They've fallen out.
(= quarrelled) We've fixed up a meeting for next Tuesday. (= arranged) Trevor gave up
playing football years ago. (= stopped) / had a pain in my arm, but it's gone away. (=
disappeared) We heard the bomb go off jive miles away. (= explode) The traffic was held up
by road works. (= delayed)
The United Nations was set up to settle conflicts peacefully. (= established) I'm
trying to work out how much money I've spent. (= calculate)

C Business situations
Here are some examples of phrasal verbs in business situations.
If we're spending too much money, we'll have to cut back. (= spend less)
Our lawyers will draw up a new contract. (= write)
We mustn't fall behind in the race to develop new products. (= be slower than others)
The two sides were close to an agreement, but it fell through. (= didn't happen)
The company fought off a takeover by ICM Computers. (= managed to stop)
/ tried to ring Santiago, but I couldn't get through. (= make contact)
The company has laid off two hundred workers because of a lack of new orders.
The computer will print out the details.
The consultants put forward a proposal to reorganize the company. (= suggested)
I'll get the information for you. Can I ring you back in half an hour? (= phone again)
Sarah paid a visit to the client to try to sort out the difficulties. (= put right)
The company boss has stepped down after ten years in charge. (= left the job)
We are taking on the challenge of expanding overseas. (= accepting)
Large companies sometimes take over smaller ones. (= take control of)
 Exercises
1 Phrasal verbs in everyday situations (A)
Look at the pictures and say what is happening.
Use these phrasal verbs: dig up, pick up, plug in, throw away, wash up
Use these objects: the armchair, litter, the plates, the road, the television

► They're throwing the armchair away.

1. ……………………………………………….. 3 …………………………………………..
2. ……………………………………………….. 4 ....................................................................

Phrasal verbs and one-word verbs (B)

Rewrite the sentences replacing each underlined verb with a phrasal verb.
► We're trying to arrange a holiday together.
We're trying to fix up a holiday
together.Nick says he's stopped smoking.

1 How did the accident happen?

2 I think Matthew and Emma have quarrelled.

i The problem isn't going to just disappear.

5 The government is introducing a new tax on computers.

6 Zedco want to establish a new sales office in Germany.

Business situations (C)

Complete the news article about Zedco. Put in these words: fallen behind, fell through,
fight off, laying off, put forward, sort out, step down, taking over, taken on
Zedco Chief Executive Barry Douglas has (►) put forward a new plan designed to
(1) ……………………………………………… the company's problems. It is only twelve months since Zedco tried to
strengthen its position by (2) ............................................Alpha Plastics. But the deal
(3) …………………………………… ......... , and Alpha managed to (4) ..............…………………. Zedco's attempts to
take control. Since then Zedco has performed poorly and has (5) ………………………………in the race for
market share. Managing Director James Ironside has had to (6) ………………………………, and Barry
Douglas has (7) ……………………………… the task of rescuing the company. There are fears that the new
plan will mean (8)........................................ staff in order to reduce expenditure.
 130 Phrasal verbs (3)

Here up has the sense of 'increasing', and on has the sense of connected'.

B Adverb meanings
Look at these adverbs and their meanings.
Remember that an adverb can have a number of different meanings.
down = becoming less on = continuing
turn down the music carry on working
bring down the cost oj living drive on a bit further
down = completely to the ground hang on/hold on a minute
knock a house down out = away, disappearing
cut down a tree wash out the dirt
down = stopping completely cross out a mistake
the car broke down blow out the candle
a factory closing down out = to different people
down = on paper hand out free tickets
copy down the words share out the winnings
write down the message out = aloud
note down the details read out the article
off = away, departing call out anxiously
set off on a journey out = from start to finish
jump in the car and drive off write out the whole list
see Emma off at the station work out the answer
the plane took off over = from start to finish
the pain is wearing off check your work over
off = disconnected think the problem over
switch off the heater up = increasing
cut off our electricity prices are going up
the caller rang off put up taxes
on = connected speak up so we can hear
switch on the kettle up = completely
turn on the TV eat up these chocolates
leave the lights on all night fill up with petrol
on = wearing count up the money
put a coat on tear up the paper
try the sweater on
 130 Exercises

i Adverb meanings (B)

Look back at B and then write the meaning of the underlined words in these sentences.
► I must get these ideas down in writing. on paper
1 Daniel finished all the cake ug.
2 I'm writing in pencil so I can rub out my mistakes.
3 Vicky didn't answer. She just went on reading.
4 I'll just read over what I've written.
5 A woman in the audience shouted something out
6 The water was turned off for about an hour today.
7 Nick's aggressive manner frightens people off.
8 The company wants to keep its costs down.
9 The embassy was burnt down by terrorists.
10 Someone will have to type all these figures out.
11 Social workers were giving out soup to the hungry.
12 Luckily Zedco's sales figures are moving up again.
13 The man was tall and dark. He had a blue jacket on.
14 Business is so bad that many firms have shut down.

2 Adverb meanings (B)

Put in the correct adverb.
► Melanie: Everything is so expensive. Prices seem to be going up all the time.
David: Yes, and the government is supposed to be bringing inflation down.
1 Laura: You shouldn't leave the television. . . ................. all night.
Trevor: Sorry, I forgot. I usually turn it ........................
2 Vicky: I've written the wrong word here.
Rachel: Well, rub it
Vicky: I can't. It's in biro. I'll have to write the whole thing ……………. again.
3 Sarah: They're going to pull …………… this beautiful old build ing.
Mark: I know. Some p rotesters were handing ……………. leaflets about it.
4 Emma: Hold…………… a m i n u t e . I t h o u g h t I h e ar d s o m eo n e c a l l
Matthew: I th ink you mus t have imag ined it.

3 Adverb meanings (B)

What are they saying? Put in the phrasal verbs.

► I'm afraid the car has broken down

1 Why don't you………………………… . this coat? 3 I can't hear. Please ………………………..
2 Look, the plane is …………………....... 4 We're just……………………….. on holiday.