English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 141: Phrasal verbs 5 - on/off (2)

Verb + on = continue doing something

drive on / walk on / play on = continue driving/walking/playing etc.
  • Shall we stop at this petrol station or shall we drive on to the next one?

go on = continue
  • The party went on until 4 o'clock in the morning.

go on / carry on doing something = continue doing something
  • We can't go on spending money like this. We'll have nothing left soon.
  • I don't want to carry on working here. I'm going to look for another job.

Also go on with / carry on with something
  • Don't let me disturb you. Please carry on with what you're doing.

keep on doing something = do it continuously or repeatedly
  • He keeps on criticising me. I'm fed up with it!

Get on

get on = progress
  • How are you getting on in your new job? (= How is it going?)

get on (with somebody) = have a good relationship
  • Joanne and Karen don't get on. They're always arguing.
  • Richard gets on well with his neighbours. They're all very friendly.

get on with something = continue doing something you have to do, usually after an interruption
  • I must get on with my work. I have a lot to do.

Verb + off

doze off / drop off / nod off = fall asleep
  • The lecture wasn't very interesting. In fact I dozed off in the middle of it.

finish something off = do the last part of something
  • A: Have you finished painting the kitchen?
    B: Nearly. I'll finish it off tomorrow.

go off = explode
  • A bomb went off in the city centre, but fortunately nobody was hurt.
Also an alarm can go off = ring
  • Did you hear the alarm go off?

put somebody off (doing something) = cause somebody not to want something or to do something
  • We wanted to go to the exhibition, but we were put off by the long queue.
  • What put you off applying for the job? Was the salary too low?

rip somebody off = cheat somebody (informal)
  • Did you really pay £2,000 for that painting? I think you were ripped off.
    (= you paid too much)

show off = try to impress people with your ability, your knowledge etc.
  • Look at that boy on the bike riding with no hands. He's just showing off.

tell somebody off = speak angrily to somebody because they did something wrong
  • Clare's mother told her off for wearing dirty shoes in the house.

141.1 Change the underlined words. Keep the same meaning, but use a verb + on or off.

  1. Did you hear the bomb explode?
    Did you hear the bomb ?
  2. The meeting continued longer than I expected.
    The meeting __________ longer than I expected.
  3. We didn't stop to rest. We continued walking.
    We didn't stop to rest. We __________ .
  4. I fell asleep while I was watching TV.
    I __________ while I was watching TV.
  5. Gary doesn't want to retire. He wants to continue working.
    Gary doesn't want to retire. He wants to __________ working.
  6. The fire alarm rang in the middle of the night.
    The fire alarm __________ in the middle of the night.
  7. Martin phones me continuously. It's very annoying.
    Martin __________ . It's very annoying.

141.2 Complete each sentence using a verb + on or off.

  1. We can't spending money like this. We'll have nothing left soon.
  2. I was standing by the car when suddenly the alarm __________ .
  3. I'm not ready to go home yet. I have a few things to __________ .
  4. 'Shall I stop the car here?' 'No, __________ .'
  5. Bill paid too much for the car he bought. I think he was __________ .
  6. 'Is Emma enjoying her course at university?' 'Yes, she's __________ very well.'
  7. I was very tired at work today. I nearly __________ at my desk a couple of times.
  8. Ben was __________ by his boss for being late for work repeatedly.
  9. I really like working with my colleagues. We all __________ really well together.
  10. There was a very loud noise. It sounded like a bomb __________ .
  11. I __________ making the same mistake. It's very frustrating.
  12. I've just had a coffee break, and now I must __________ with my work.
  13. Peter is always trying to impress people. He's always __________ .
  14. We decided not to go to the concert. We were __________ by the cost of tickets.

141.3 Complete the sentences. Use the following verbs (in the correct form) + on or off. Sometimes you will need other words as well:

  • carry
  • finish
  • get
  • get
  • get
  • go
  • rip
  • tell
  1. A: How in your new job?
    B: Fine, thanks. It's going very well.
  2. A: Have you written the letter you had to write?
    B: I've started it. I'll __________ in the morning.
  3. A: We took a taxi to the airport. It cost £40.
    B: £40! Normally it cost s about £20. You __________ .
  4. A: Why were you late for work this morning?
    B: I overslept. My alarm dock didn't __________ .
  5. A: How __________ in your interview? Do you think you'll get the job?
    B: I hope so. The interview was OK.
  6. A: Did you stop playing tennis when it started to rain?
    B: No, we __________ . The rain wasn't very heavy.
  7. A: Some children at the next table in the restaurant were behaving very badly.
    B: Why didn't their parents __________ ?
  8. A: Why does Paul want to leave his job?
    B: He __________ his boss.

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