English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 139: Phrasal verbs 3 (out)

out = not burning, not shining

go outSuddenly all the lights in the building went out.
put out a fire / a cigarette / a lightWe managed to put the fire out.
turn out a lightI turned the lights out before leaving.
blow out a candleWe don't need the candle. You can blow it out.

work out

work out = do physical exercises
  • Rachel works out at the gym three times a week.

work out = develop, progress
  • Good luck for the future. I hope everything works out well for you.
  • A: Why did James leave the company?
    B: Things didn't work out. (= things didn't work out well)

work out (for mathematical calculations)
  • The total bill for three people is £84.60. That works out at £28.20 each.
work something out = calculate, think about a problem and find the answer
  • 345 x 76? I need to do this on paper. I can't work it out in my head.

Other verbs + out

carry out an order, an experiment, a survey, an investigation, a plan etc.
  • Soldiers are expected to carry out orders.
  • An investigation into the accident will be carried out as soon as possible.

fall out (with somebody) = stop being friends
  • They used to be very good friends. I'm surprised to hear that they have fallen out.
  • David fell out with his father and left home.

find out that/what/when ... etc., find out about something = get information
  • The police never found out who committed the murder.
  • I just found out that it's Helen's birthday today.
  • I checked a few websites to find out about hotels in the town.

give/ hand things out = give to each person
  • At the end of the lecture, the speaker gave out information sheets to the audience.

point something out (to somebody) = draw attention to something
  • As we drove through the city, our guide pointed out all the sights.
  • I didn't realise I'd made a mistake until somebody pointed it out to me.

run out (of something)
  • We ran out of petrol on the motorway. (= we used all our petrol)

sort something out = find a solution to, put in order
  • There are a few problems we need to sort out.
  • All these papers are mixed up. I'll have to sort them out.

turn out to be ..., turn out good/nice etc. , turn out that ...
  • Nobody believed Paul at first, but he turned out to be right. (= it became clear in the end that he was right)
  • The weather wasn't so good in the morning, but it turned out nice later.
  • I thought they knew each other, but it turned out that they'd never met.

try out a machine, a system, a new idea etc. = test it to see if it is OK
  • The company is trying out a new computer system at the moment.

139.1 Which words can go together? Choose from the list.

  • a candle
  • a cigarette
  • a light
  • a mess
  • a mistake
  • a new product
  • an order
  1. turn out
  2. point out __________
  3. blow out __________
  4. carry out __________
  5. put out __________
  6. try out __________
  7. sort out __________

139.2 Complete the sentences using a verb + out.

  1. The company is a new computer system at the moment.
  2. Steve is very fit. He does a lot of sport and __________ regularly.
  3. The road will be closed for two days next week while building work is __________ .
  4. We didn't manage to discuss everything at the meeting. We __________ of time.
  5. You have to __________ the problem yourself. I can't do it for you.
  6. I don't know what happened exactly. I need to __________ .
  7. The new drug will be __________ on a small group of patients.
  8. I thought the two books were the same until a friend of mine __________ the difference.
  9. They got married a few years ago, but it didn't __________ and they separated.
  10. There was a power cut and all the lights __________ .
  11. We thought she was American at first, but she __________ to be Swedish.
  12. Sometimes it __________ cheaper to eat in a restaurant than to cook at home.
  13. I haven't applied for the job yet. I want to __________ more about the company first.
  14. It took the fire brigade two hours to __________ the fire.

139.3 For each picture, complete the sentence using a verb + out.


  1. They've (1) .

  2. The man with the beard is (2) __________ leaflets.

  3. The weather has (3) __________ .

  4. Sally and Kim are (4) __________ at the gym.

  5. They've (5) __________ .

  6. Lisa is trying to (6) __________ how (7) __________ .

139.4 Complete the sentences. Each time use a verb + out.

  1. A: Was the fire serious?
    B: No, we were able to .
  2. A: This recipe looks interesting.
    B: Yes, let's __________ .
  3. A: How much money do I owe you exactly?
    B: Just a moment. I'll have to __________ .
  4. A: What happened about your problem with your bank?
    B: It's OK now. I went to see them and we __________ .

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