Explanations

Understanding • Verbs are often followed by particles like back, off, through, up, etc (the word
phrasal verbs particle means adverb or preposition). Sometimes both verb and particle have
their normal meaning. At other times there is a new meaning when they are
put together. Compare:
Can you bring up the radio from downstairs? (normal meaning)
She has brought up two children on her own.
(new meaning = look after until adult)
The term 'phrasal verb' is used for the second case, where the verb + particle
together has a special meaning. Phrasal verbs are common in informal
English.

• Often one phrasal verb can have several different meanings and the correct
one is only clear from the context.

• There are four types of phrasal verbs. These are covered in Grammar 26 and 27.
Grammar 26: • phrasal verbs with two particles.
• phrasal verbs with one particle; there must be an object; the
particle is inseparable.
Grammar 27: • phrasal verbs with one particle; there must be an object; the
particle can be separated from the verb.
• phrasal verbs with one particle; there is no object.

Verbs with two A selection of phrasal verbs is listed here with examples. Others, and other
particles meanings of those listed here, are included in the Practice section.
Most of the verbs in the list need an object, and the object can only come at the
end (so the verbs are inseparable).
I'm looking forward to my holidays.
But some verbs are marked with an asterisk *. With these verbs there is another
form: there is no object, and the final particle is not used.
I've decided to cut down on smoking. I've decided to cut down.

Cut down on*

I've decided to cut down on smoking. (reduce the amount of)
Catch up with*
They are too far ahead for us to catch up with them. (reach the same place
as)
Come up against
I'm afraid we've come up against a problem we can't solve. (meet, find)
Come up with
Have you come up with an answer yet? (think of)

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 G R A M M A R 26 P H R A S A L VERBS 1

Drop in on*
I dropped in on Bill and Sheila on my way home. (visit for a short time)
Face up to
You must face up to reality! (accept, deal with)
Feel up to
You must feel up to going to work. (have the strength and energy to do)
Get away with
Jack stole the money and got away with it. (do something bad and not be
punished)
Get along/on with*
Do you get along/on with your new boss? (have good relations with)
Get on with
Stop talking and get on with your work! (continue with)
Get out of
/ managed to get out of working late. (avoid a responsibility)
Get round to
/ haven't got round to decorating yet. (find time to do)
Get up to
What has young Bill been getting up to? (do something bad)
Go in for
Do you go in for sailing? (have as a hobby)
Grow out of
Julie has grown out of playing with dolls. (become too old for)
Keep up with*
You're going too fast! I can't keep up with you! (stay in the same place as)
Look down on
Our neighbours look down on anyone without a car. (feel superior to)
Look up to
/ really look up to my teacher. (respect)
Look forward to
We are looking forward to our holiday. (think we will enjoy)
Make up for
This wonderful dinner made up for the bad service. (compensate for)
Put up with
I can't put up with these screaming children! (accept without complaining)
Run out of*
Oh dear, we've run out of petrol! (have no more of)
Stand up for
You must learn to stand up for yourself! (defend)

Verbs with one These phrasal verbs take an object, and the object must come after the particle.
particle: transitive It cannot go between the verb and the particle.
and inseparable I love coffee. I can't do without it in the morning! (NOT do it without)

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Ask after
Jim asked after you yesterday. (ask for news of)
Call for
I'll call for you at six. (come to your house and collect you)
Call on
I called on some friends in Plymouth. (visit for a short time)
Come across
Joe came across this old painting in the attic. (find by chance)
Come into
Sue came into a large sum of money. (inherit)
Count on
I'm counting on you to help me. (depend on)
Deal with
How can we deal with the traffic problem? (take action to solve a problem)
Do without
We'll have to do without a holiday this year. (manage without having)
Get at
What are you getting at? (suggest)
Get over
Barry has got over his illness now. (recover from)
Go over
Let's go over our plan once more. (discuss the details)
Join in
Try to join in the lesson as much as you can. (take part in, contribute to)
Live on
They live on the money her father gives them. (have as income)
Look into
The government is looking into the problem. (investigate)
Look round
Let's look round the town today. (look at everything)
Make for
Where are you making for exactly? (go in the direction of)
Pick on
My teacher is always picking on me. (choose a person to punish)
Run into
I ran into Steve in the supermarket yesterdayю (meet by chance)
See about
Well have to see about getting you an officeю (make arrangements)
See to
Can you see to the dog's food? (attend to, take care of)
Stand for
I won't stand for such rudeness! (tolerate)
Andrew is standing for parliament. (be a candidate for)
Take after
Helen takes after her mother. (have the same characteristics as)

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 GRAMMAR 26 PHRASAL VERBS 1

Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the phrasal verb in brackets. You may
have to change the f o r m .

a) Sorry, but I haven't found time to fix your bike yet. (get round to)
got round to fixing your bike yet.

b) Oh bother, we don't have any milk left. (run out of)

c) It took me a long time to recover from my illness. (get over)

d) Julie must be too old to bite her nails. (grow out of)

e) I think we've found an answer to the problem. (come up with)

f) I don't think I'm well enough to play football today. (feel up to)

g) Ann is someone I really respect. (look up to)

h) I must arrange to have the kitchen painted. (see about)

i) Please help me. I'm relying on you. (count on)

j) Peter is just like his father! (take after)

FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

2 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the w o r d given. Do not change the w o r d given. You must use
between t w o and five words, including the w o r d given.

a) Quite by chance, Brenda met Philip at the station.

ran
Brenda ran into Philip at the station.
b) You'll just have to learn to accept the facts!
face
You'll just the facts.
c) How can you bear so much traffic noise?
put
How can you traffic noise?
d) Charles cheated in his exams, and didn't get caught.
got
Charles cheated in his exams, and it.
e) I visited a few friends while I was in Manchester.
called
I while I was in Manchester.
f) What are you trying to say?
getting
What at?
g) I must go to the dentist, and get my teeth taken care of.
seen
I must go to the dentist to.

3 Complete each sentence w i t h one of the words from the box.

a) I'll send someone to call for the parcel on Thursday.

b) You'll have to work hard to keep with the rest of the class.
c) Jean didn't expect to come up such difficulties.
d) It's not fair. You're always picking me.
e) Terry sang the first verse and then everyone joined
f) I came one of your novels in a second-hand bookshop.
g) I'm not interested in buying anything. I'm just looking
h) Don't you think the manager should deal this problem?
i) George came a lot of money when his uncle died.
j) You look very guilty! What have you been getting up ?

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4 Complete each sentence w i t h the most suitable w o r d or phrase.

a) The weather was fine, and everyone was B. the coast.

A) going in for B) making for C) joining in D) seeing about
b) How much money do you manage to ?
A) come into B) go in for C) deal with D) live on
c) There isn't any sugar, I'm afraid. You'll have to
A) run out B) put up with C) do without D) make for
d) I was passing their house, so I Claire and Michael.
A) dropped in on B) came up with C) got on with D) ran into
e) I don't really winter sports very much.
A) deal with B) face up to C) go in for D) get round to
f) Losing my job was a great shock, but I think I'm it.
A) seeing to B) putting up with C) standing for D) getting over
g) Sheila's gone to having a new phone installed.
A) see about B) deal with C) get round to D) ask after
h) I've had to a lot of insulting behaviour from you!
A) look down on B) put up with C) stand up for D) get on with
i) The hotel was terrible, but the wonderful beach our
disappointment.
A) got over B) faced up to C) saw to D) made up for
j) Jack has decided to the time he spends watching television.
A) run out of B) see to C) cut down on D) come up with

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5 Choose the most suitable ending for each sentence. Note that some of the phrasal
verbs have a different meaning to the one given in the Explanations section.

a) I can't put up with B.

A) you if you should come to London. B) people who smoke all the time.
C) the plates onto the top shelf.
b) The chairperson of the committee then called on Tony
A) but his line was engaged. B) to make a speech in reply.
C) so that his voice could be heard above the crowd.
c) Mary has been chosen to stand for
A) the bad behaviour of her colleagues. B) herself in future.
C) Parliament in the next election.
d) After my holidays it takes me a few days to catch up with
A) the people running in front of me. B) all the news I've missed.
C) a really bad cold.
e) Small children soon grow out of
A) their shoes. B) all the good food they eat.
C) the habits they have when they get older.
f) I've decided to go in for
A) eating fruit for breakfast. B) a few days rest in the country.
C) a photography competition in Photographer's Weekly.
g) I'm afraid that our plans to open a new factory have run into
A) some old friends. B) a tree by the side of the road.
C) a few unexpected difficulties.
h) We find that this type of tyre makes for
A) safer driving in wet weather. B) the first place it can stop.
C) all smaller types of cars.
i) I saw my old friend John last week. I couldn't get over
A) my cold before I saw him, though. B) near enough to talk to him though.
C) how young he looked.
j) Here people are only worried about keeping up with
A) others who are faster. B) late-night television programmes.
C) the Joneses.

Key points 1 Check any new phrasal verb in a dictionary to see how it is used.
2 Remember that many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning.
3 Phrasal verbs tend to be more common in spoken language and informal
written language.

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 Explanations
Verbs with one These phrasal verbs take an object. This object can come after the particle or
particle: transitive between the verb and the particle (so the verbs are separable).
and separable We brought up this child. We brought her up.
In general, as in the examples above, object phrases tend to be put after the
particle while pronouns are often put between the verb and the particle.
Two exceptions in the list below are call back and show around where the object
is always put between the verb and the particle.
Verbs marked with an asterisk * have a second meaning. With this meaning
they have an intransitive form.

Bring up
We brought up this child. (look after until adult)
Carry out
You haven't carried out my instructions. (act upon)
Call off
We have decided to call off the match. (cancel)
Clear up*
Could you clear up your room please? (make tidy)
The weather is clearing up*. (improve)
Fill in*
Can you fill in this form please? (complete by writing)
Our teacher was ill, so Mrs Frost filled in*. (take someone's place)
Find out
I want to find out what happened. (learn about, discover)
Give away
The millionaire gave all his money away. (make a gift of)
Jill asked me not to give her secret away. (make something known)
Give up*
I've decided to give up eating meat. (stop doing something)
Jorge finally gave up teaching me Portuguese*. (stop trying to do something)
Hold up
Two masked men held up the bank. (rob)
Knock out
The blow on the head knocked me out. (make unconscious)
Leave out
I always leave out the difficult exercises. (not include)
Look up*
/ have to look this word up in my dictionary. (find information)
Things are looking up*. (appear better)

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FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

Make up*
I think you made this story up. (invent)
The couple quarrelled but then made up*. (become friends again)
Pick up
I'll pick you up at six. (collect)
Put aside
Harry puts money aside every week for his holiday. (save)
Put off
They put the meeting off until Thursday. (postpone)
The smell of fish put me off my tea. (make someone not want to
do something)
Put up
If you come to Florence I can put you up. (provide accommodation)
Show around
Let me show you around the new building. (give a guided tour)
Take over*
A German company took us over last year. (buy a company)
If you are tired, I'll take over*. (take someone's place)
Take up
I've decided to take up tennis. (start a hobby)
Tear up
Wendy tore up Alan's letters. (tear into pieces)
Think over
Please think over our offer. (consider)
Try out
Have you tried out the new computer? (use for the first time)
Turn down
Paul was offered the job but he turned it down. (refuse an offer)
Wear out
All this work has worn me out. (make tired)
Work out
This is a difficult problem. I can't work it out. (find a solution)

Verbs w i t h one These phrasal verbs have no object.

particle: Verbs marked with an asterisk * have a second meaning. With this meaning
intransitive they have a transitive form. There are other meanings not included here.

Break down
The car broke down on the motorway. (stop working)
Break out
The war broke out unexpectedly. (begin suddenly)
Come out
Her new book came out last week. (be published)

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 G R A M M A R 27 P H R A S A L VERBS 2

Draw up*
Suddenly an ambulance drew up outside. (come to a stop)
My lawyer is drawing up a contract for us*. (write a legal document)
Fall out
Charles and Emily have fallen out again. (quarrel)
Get away
The bank robbers got away in a stolen van. (escape)
Give in
She pleaded with me, and I finally gave in. (stop fighting against)
Go off
Everyone panicked when the bomb went off. (explode)
Look out
Look out! There's a car coming! (beware)
Set in
/ think the rain has set in for the day. (to arrive and stay)
Show off
You always show off at parties. (behave to attract attention)
Take off
Your plane takes off at 6.00. (leave the ground)
Turn up*
Guess who turned up at our party? (arrive, often unexpectedly)
Can you turn up the sound*? (increase)
Wear off
When the drug wears off you may feel pain. (become less strong or
disappear)

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FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E LANGUAGE PRACTICE

Rewrite each sentence using a verb f r o m the box so that the meaning stays the
same. You may have to change the f o r m .

a) Jack always arrives late for work.

b) See if their number is in the phone directory.

c) I'm saving up to buy a new bike.

d) After a few days the pain in Dave's leg went away.

e) I'm afraid the match has been cancelled.

f) The government refused to yield to the demands of the terrorists.

g) We offered them £250,000 for the house but they refused our offer.

h) You can stay with us if you come to Cambridge.

i) I can't calculate how much the whole trip will cost.

j) A large silver limousine stopped outside the house.

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 G R A M M A R 27 P H R A S A L VERBS 2

2 Put one w o r d in each space.

a) Why don't you let me show you round London?

b) Jane is coming to pick us after work.
c) Have you found what time the train leaves?
d) We had to wait for an hour before the plane took
e) Harry was brought by his grandparents.
f) A shelf fell on my head and knocked me
g) I was so angry when I saw the parking ticket that I tore it
h) A fire has broken in an office block in central London.
i) Julian always talks loudly and shows
j) If you don't like this part you can leave it

3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the w o r d given. Do not change the w o r d given. You must use
between t w o and five words, including the w o r d given.

a) I think it's going to rain all day.

in
I think the rain has set in for the day.
b) I don't know what to write on this form.
in
I don't know this form.
c) I started doing this job when Janet left.
over
I when Janet left.
d) This story of yours isn't true!
up
You story!
e) We believe that it was you who robbed the post office.
up
We believe that the post office.
f) Tina's car stopped working on the way to Scotland.
down
Tina's car on the way to Scotland.
g) It would be a good idea to stop drinking coffee.
up
It would be a good idea coffee.
h) Ruth's party has been postponed until next month.
off
Ruth's party next month.

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FIRST C E R T I F I C A T E L A N G U A G E P R A C T I C E

4 Put one suitable w o r d in each space.

a) In the army, all orders have to be ....carried..... out!

b) Why don't you up golf? It's a good pastime.
c) If I won a lot of money, I would some of it away.
d) Let's out the new food processor.
e) This room is a mess. Why don't you it up?
f) Joe is very quarrelsome, he out with everyone.
g) Where were you exactly when the bomb off?
h) Can you in for me while I go to the bank?

5 Complete each sentence w i t h the most suitable w o r d or phrase.

a) Brian C. at our dinner party wearing a pink bow tie.

A) wore out B) showed off C) turned up D) tried out
b) You don't have to decide now, you can
A) put it aside B) call it off C) tear it up D) think it over
c) Pat was caught by the police, but Martin
A) gave in B) gave up C) got away D) held up
d) After the quarrel, we kissed and
A) cleared up B) looked up C) made up D) put up
e) Why exactly did war between the two countries?
A) break out B) set in C) go off D) call off
f) After a long day at work most people feel
A) broken down B) worn out C) knocked out D) turned down
g) I've just been offered a new job! Things are
A) turning up B) clearing up C) making up D) looking up
h) In the end I the form in disgust, and threw it away.
A) filled in B) worked out C) tore up D) put off

6 Replace the words in italics w i t h a suitable phrasal verb.

a) I think that you invented this story. ..made up...

b) When do you think your book will be published?
c) I think that the weather is improving
d) I can't find an answer to this problem
e) Be careful! You're going to fall!
f) I'm afraid William tends to stop trying
g) The plane is going to leave the ground
h) I think that Sue and Neil have quarrelled

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7 Choose the best meaning for the words in italics. Note that some of the phrasal
verbs have a different meaning to the one given in the Explanations section.

a) At half past six, the alarm clock went off. B.

A) exploded B) rang C) disappeared
b) Jim is very good at taking off his teacher
A) flying with his teacher B) getting rid of his teacher
C) imitating his teacher
c) Please don't bring up that subject again!
A) start shouting about it B) mention it C) talk about it for hours on end
d) There is one small matter I would like to clear up
A) find an explanation for B) make clean and tidy
C) get rid of once and for all
e) Jean is really good at picking up languages
A) choosing languages B) learning languages by being in a country
C) learning languages by heart
f) All my old clothes need taking up
A) taking to the cleaners B) to be replaced C) to be made shorter
g) The whole cost of the equipment works out at £450
A) comes to B) can be reduced to C) will involve an extra
h) Jackie broke down and everyone felt sorry for her
A) injured herself B) caused an accident C) started crying

Key p o i n t s 1 Check any new phrasal verb in a dictionary, to see how it is used.
2 Remember that many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning.
3 Phrasal verbs are common in spoken and informal written language.

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