English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and Intermediate » Unit 79: Phrasal verbs 1: form and meaning

Word List
  • carry on (with sth)
  • fall over
  • find out
  • get on (with sb)
  • give sth away
  • give up (sth) [stop doing an activity]
  • go away [go on holiday]
  • go away [leave]
  • go back
  • go off [electricity]
  • go off [explode]
  • go off [go bad]
  • go off [ring]
  • hurry (up)
  • lie down
  • look sth up
  • pick sb up [collect sb]
  • pick sth up [lift sth from the floor]
  • put sth back
  • put sth on [make equipment work]
  • put sth up [raise]
  • put sth on [put clothes on your body]
  • save (up)
  • sort sth out
  • switch sth on
  • take sb on
  • take sth back
  • wake (up)
Exercises

79.1 ‣ Choose the correct adverb or preposition to complete the sentence.

  1. I can’t see. Could you put the light _____?
    • a. in
    • b. on
    • c. out
  2. If he doesn’t want it, he can give it _____.
    • a. out
    • b. away
    • c. up
  3. Have they sorted it _____?
    • a. out
    • b. over
    • c. up
  4. It was broken, so I had to take it _____.
    • a. over
    • b. on
    • c. back
  5. I went to the airport to pick her _____.
    • a. up
    • b. down
    • c. over
  6. What time did you wake _____?
    • a. to
    • b. up
    • c. for
  7. I get married next year. I need to start saving _____.
    • a. out
    • b. on
    • c. up
  8. Could you switch the TV _____?
    • a. down
    • b. on
    • c. in

79.2 ‣ Replace the underlined word(s) with a phrasal verb that keeps a similar meaning.

  1. We never discovered what it means.
  2. I’d like to return next year._____
  3. We collected Mia from the station. _____
  4. We’ll have to increase the price this year. _____
  5. I’ve decided to stop eating chocolate. _____
  6. Is Hana going to continue with her English course? _____
  7. I told them to leave. _____
  8. I have a good relationship with my parents. _____
  9. We are planning to employ ten new drivers next year. _____

79.3 ‣ Complete the dialogues.

  1. A: Can you afford that bike?
    B: No, I’ll have to for it.
  2. A: Is there still a problem?
    B: Don’t worry. I’ll _____ it _____.
  3. A: Can we look at some books?
    B: Yes, but _____ them _____ afterwards.
  4. A: Did you feel unwell?
    B: Yes, I had to _____ on the bed.
  5. A: What’s the matter?
    B: I _____ and cut my knee.
  6. A: I don’t know what this means.
    B: Well, _____ it _____ in a dictionary.
  7. A: Does he look smart?
    B: Yes. He’s _____ his suit.
  8. A: _____ or we’ll be late.
    B: OK, I’m coming.
Answer Key
A ‣ Formation

A phrasal verb is a verb + adverb or preposition, and sometimes a verb + adverb and preposition.

He fell over [fell to the ground] and hurt his knee.

I’ll try to find out [learn/discover] the quickest way to get there.

He didn’t like his coat, so he gave it away [gave it to someone for no money].

If you don’t understand the meaning, look it up [find the meaning in a book/dictionary].

Who’s going to sort out the problem? [deal with it successfully; solve it]

He doesn’t get on with [have a good relationship with] his parents. (verb + adv. + prep.)

B ‣ Meaning

The adverb or preposition does not always change the meaning of the verb, and is not always used.
I didn’t wake (up) until 7 o’clock.
She’s saving (up) for a new computer.
Hurry (up) or we’ll be late.
I went to lie (down) on the bed.

Sometimes an adverb adds a particular meaning to the verb. For example, back can mean return.
I bought this jacket yesterday, but I’m going to take it back to the shop; it’s too small.
You can look at the books, but remember to put them back on the shelf.
They liked Greece so much they want to go back next year.

Often, the adverb or preposition changes the meaning of the verb: give up doesn’t mean the same as give, and carry on doesn’t mean the same as carry.
My wife has decided to give up [stop] smoking.
We’ll take a short break and then carry on [continue] with the meeting.
The shops are going to put up [increase] the price of bread.
When the hotel gets busy, we have to take on [employ] more staff .

C ‣ Multiple meanings

Many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning.

go away
I was busy, so I told him to go away [leave].
We try to go away in August. [go on holiday]

Pick something /someone up
I picked up most of the rubbish. [lifted it from the floor]
I’m going to pick Jane up at the station. [collect someone, usually in a car]

Put something on
Could you put the light on [make a piece of equipment work by pressing a switch; syn switch sth on]?
I put on my best suit. [put clothes on your body]

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