PHRASAL VERBS

What are Phrasal Verbs?

A phrasal verb is an idiomatic expression that combines verbs

and prepositions to make new verbs whose meaning is often not
obvious from the dictionary definitions of the individual words.

They are widely used in both written and spoken English, and new
ones are formed all the time as they are a flexible way of creating
new terms.
Passed away, do without, look forward to, called off, made up,
carried away, break out, run out, put up with, and keep up.

1. Don’t smoke in the forest. Fires……………………………………….. easily

at this time of the year.
2. I…………………………………………… seeing my friends again.
3. I’m afraid; we have……………………………………………… of apple juice.
4. Your class has helped me a lot to…………………………………….
phrasal verbs exercises.
5. A friend of mine has……………………………………… her wedding.
Passed away, do without, look forward to, called off, made up,
carried away, break out, run out, put up with, and keep up.

1. His mother can’t…………………………………… his terrible behaviour

anymore.
2. As an excuse for being late, she…………………………………………………. a
whole story.
3. I got……………………………………………. by his enthusiasm.
4. I just can not…………………………………my mobile. I always keep it with
me.
5. she was very sad because of her father………………………last week.
 To take action because of The police were ACTING ON a tip
Act on something like information from an informer and caught the
received. gang red-handed.

Perform something with They ACTED OUT the story on

Act out
actions and gestures.. stage.

My computer’s ACTING UP; I

Act up Behave badly or strangely.
think I might have a virus.
 Ask how someone is doing,
Ask about especially professionally and in He ASKED ABOUT my father.
terms of health.
Enquire about someone’s Jenny rang earlier and ASKED AFTER
Ask after
health, how life is going. you, so I told her you were fine.
Ask a number of people for I have no idea, but I’ll ASK AROUND at
Ask around
information of help. work and see if anyone can help.
To invite somebody into your
Ask in Jon’s at the door.’ ‘ASK him IN.’
house.
He wanted to ASK her OUT but was
Ask out To invite someone for a date.
too shy.
They have ASKED us OVER for drinks
Ask over Invite.
on Friday.
Ask round Invite someone. We ASKED John ROUND for diner.
Bear down She spotted him on the other side of the
Move towards.
on room and BORE DOWN ON him.

The judge’s character may well BEAR ON

Bear on Influence, affect.
the final decision.

Confirm that something Statistics BEAR OUT the government’s

Bear out
is correct. positions on the issue.
How are you BEARING UP under the
Bear up Resist pressure.
strain?
Bear up Cope with something
He’s BEARING UP UNDER the pressure.
under difficult or stressful.
Please BEAR WITH me a moment while I
Bear with Be patient.
finish this email.
 When the parts of a plant
Die back above ground die, but the The plant DIES BACK in the winter.
roots remain alive.
It was on the front pages of all the
Decrease or become
Die down papers for a few days, but the
quieter.
interest gradually DIED DOWN.
I’m DYING FOR the weekend- this
Die for Want something a lot.
week’s been so hard.
Most of the elm trees in the UK
Die off Become extinct. DIED OFF when Dutch elm disease
arrived.
Some scientists say that the
Become extinct or dinosaurs DIED OUT when a comet
Die out
disappear. hit the earth and caused a nuclear
winter.
 Keep something near I KEEP a dictionary AROUND
Keep around
you. when I’m doing my homework.

She found the course hard but she

Continue with
Keep at KEPT AT it and completed it
something difficult.
successfully.

Don’t allow someone Medicines should always be KEPT

Keep away
near something. AWAY from children.

Maintain a safe The police told the crowd to KEEP

Keep back
distance. BACK from the fire.
 The police MADE AFTER the
Make after Chase.
stolen car.
Make away The thieves MADE AWAY WITH
Steal.
with the painting.

I thought you weren’t coming, so I

Make it Arrive or get a result.
was really pleased you MADE IT.

Try to compensate for He tried to MAKE IT UP TO her,

Make it up to
doing something wrong. but she wouldn’t speak to him.
Understand or have an What do you MAKE OF your new
Make of
opinion. boss?
Leave somewhere in a They MADE OFF when they heard
Make off
hurry. the police siren.
Q. Two prisoners ______ of Midford Prison last night. They are
armed and dangerous.
A) ran out
B) passed out
C) broke out
D) made out
Q. She ______ when she heard the bad news. It must have been a
terrible shock to her.
A) passed out
B) worn out
C) called off
D) bottled up
Q. The article ______ the problem, but it did not discuss it in
detail.
A) brought on
B) passed on
C) called on
D) touched on
Q. His cold was ______ by the unexpected change in
temperature.
A) broken up
B) brought on
C) broken away
D) broken down
Q. The offer was so good that I couldn’t ______ it ______.
A) turn / down
B) clear / up
C) make / out
D) hand / out
Q. A bus crashed on the main highway this morning and ______
traffic for hours.
A) held up
B) cleared up
C) made up
D) blew up
Q. It would be a good idea to discuss the plan. Why don’t you
______ a meeting.
A) take up
B) set up
C) make out
D) pick out
Q. You should ______ an insurance policy.
A) take up
B) give up
C) break off
D) take out
Q. The troops easily ______ the rebellion.
A) went in for
B) took over
C) put down
D) showed up
Q. The plane is almost taking ______. We had better be quick.
A) off
B) in
C) on
D) up
1. While they were on holiday their house was broken ______ and
some valuable paintings were stolen.
A) down B) into C) about D) away

2. By the way, I’ve just heard that Sally and Chris have ______
their engagement.
A) broken into B) broken down
C) broken away D) broken up

3. After a bitter discussion they went ______ each other.

A) to B) at C) off D) over
4. A: The new boss looks a bit serious, doesn’t he? I don’t think
I’m going to like him.

B: Oh, come on, Joyce, you can’t go ______ appearances. He’s

probably very nice. A) after B) by C) out D) over

5. No one really believed it when the news came that Titanic

had ______.
A) gone away B) gone down C) gone out D) gone by
6. I’ve been afraid of dogs ever since a large Canine ______ me
when I was a child.
A) went for B) went after C) went to D) went over

7. By the way, Bill, how much did that Regency desk go ______ in
the auction on Saturday?
A) away B) for C) in D) off

8. The dog went ______ the beggar and he shouted “ help!”.

A) over B) off C) for D) down
9. A: And another thing I’d like to say is that... B: Sorry to ______,
Mr. Green, but you’re wanted on the phone. It’s your wife.
A) butt in B) get throuh
C) stop over D) go over

10. I’m afraid Mr Brown’s been ______ (asked to go somewhere

else) on business.
A) put on B) called away
C) got in D) called for
11. By the way, Clive ______ (paid a short visit) but you were out.
So I told him to come and see you tomorrow.
A) fall for B) called by
C) get by D) cut down in

12. Shall I ______ (collect) you on my way to work?

A) call off B) bring down
C) call for D) call away
13. I was just getting out of the bath when the lights ______.
A) went up B) went off
C) went away D) went down

14. A bomb ______ (exploded) in the town center, killing three

people and injuring twenty-five others.
A) went on B) went off
C) set on D) set off
15. Don’t eat that cheese - it’s ______!
A) gone away B) gone out
C) gone off D) gone down

16. It’s difficult to see through this windscreen - I can’t even make
______ where the road is.
A) up B) out C) into D) over

17. He had such a strong accent that it was very difficult to ______
what he was saying.
A) make up B) make out
C) make over D) make for
18. A sudden draught caused the candle to ______ (stop burning).
A) put off B) cut off
C) go off D) go out

19. When the meeting had finished, they went ______ the plan
once again.
A) up B) on C) over D) down

20. Have a piece of cake, everyone. There should be enough to

______.
A) go down B) go along C) go round D) go over
21. Lucille is ______ a difficult period at work right now.
A) going into B) going over
C) going out of D) going through

22. I know you’ve got it - so come on, ______!

A) hand it on B) hand it out
C) hand it over D) hand it in

23. Could you hand ______ a minute? I’ll be right back.

A) on B) in C) up D) on to
24. I’ll have to ______ now, I’m afraid; there is someone at the
door.
A) hang on B) hang up
C) hang out D) hang back

25. Now, James, are you quite sure that I’m not putting you ______
(putting you to any trouble)?
A) after B) by
C) out D) over
26. When a fire ______ at least ten priceless paintings were
completely destroyed.
A) broke out B) broke off
C) broke down D) broke through
THANK YOU