Unit 140: Phrasal verbs 4

English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 140: Phrasal verbs 4 - on/off (1)

On and off for lights, machines etc.

We say:
the light is on / put the light on / leave the light on etc.
turn the light on/off or switch the light on/off

Shall I leave the lights on or turn them off?
'Is the heating on?' 'No, I switched it off.'
We need some boiling water, so I'll put the kettle on.

Also put on some music / a CD etc.

I haven't listened to this CD yet. Shall I put it on? (= shall I play it)

On and off for events etc.

go on = happen

What's all that noise? What's going on? (= what's happening)

call something off = cancel it

The open air concert had to be called off because of the weather.

put something off, put off doing something = delay it

The wedding has been put off until January.
We can't put off making a decision. We have to decide now.

On and off for clothes etc.

put on clothes, glasses, make-up, a seat belt etc.

My hands were cold, so I put my gloves on.

Also put on weight = get heavier

I've put on two kilograms in the last month.

try on clothes (to see if they fit)

I tried on a jacket in the shop, but it didn't fit me very well.

take off clothes, glasses etc.

It was warm, so I took off my jacket.

Off = away from a person or place

be off (to a place)

Tomorrow I'm off to Paris / I'm off on holiday.
(= I'm going to Paris / I'm going on holiday)

walk off / run off / drive off / ride off / go off (similar to walk away / run away etc.)

Diane got on her bike and rode off.
Mark left home at the age of 18 and went off to Canada.

set off = start a journey

We set off very early to avoid the traffic. (= We left early)

take off = leave the ground (for planes)

After a long delay the plane finally took off.

see somebody off = go with them to the airport/station to say goodbye

Helen was going away. We went to the station with her to see her off.

140.1 Complete the sentences using put on + the following:

a CD
the heating
the kettle
~~the light~~
the oven

It was getting dark, so I .
It was getting cold, so I __________ .
I wanted to bake a cake, so I __________ .
I wanted to make some tea, so I __________ .
I wanted to listen to some music, so I __________ .

140.2 Complete the sentences. Each time use a verb + on or off.

It was warm, so I ⁽¹⁾ my jacket.
What are all these people doing? What's ⁽²⁾ __________ ?
The weather was too bad for the plane to ⁽³⁾ __________ , so the flight was delayed.
I didn't want to be disturbed, so I ⁽⁴⁾ __________ my phone.
Rachel got into her car and ⁽⁵⁾ __________ at high speed.
Tim has ⁽⁶⁾ __________ weight since I last saw him. He used to be quite thin.
A: What time are you leaving tomorrow?
B: I'm not sure yet, but I'd like to ⁽⁷⁾ __________ as early as possible.
Don't ⁽⁸⁾ __________ until tomorrow what you can do today.
There was going to be a strike by bus drivers, but now they have been offered more money and the strike has been ⁽⁹⁾ __________ .
Are you cold? Shall I get you a sweater to ⁽¹⁰⁾ __________ ?
When I go away, I prefer to be alone at the station or airport. I don't like it when people come to ⁽¹¹⁾ __________ me ⁽¹²⁾ __________ .

140.3 Look at the pictures and complete the sentences.

Her hands were cold, so she .
The plane __________ at 1 0.55.
Maria __________ , but it was too big for her.
The match __________ because of the weather.
Mark's parents went to the airport to __________ .
He took his sunglasses out of his pocket and __________ .

Answer Key

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