LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2

Phrasal or Multi-Word Verbs

Phrasal verbs can be intransitive (not followed by a direct object) or transitive (followed by a direct object). -
Examples of intransitive phrasal verbs:
get up, sit down, go out, turn round, grow up

Examples of transitive phrasal verbs:

pick up, try on, fill in, pay back, throw away

When a phrasal verb has a direct object, the two parts of the verb can usually be separated: the adverb particle
can be put before or after the object.
e.g. Don’t throw away those letters! I want to keep them.
or, Don't throw those letters away!

When the object is a pronoun, the adverb particle can only go after the object.
e.g. Don't throw that away! NOT. Don't throw away that!

However, some phrasal verbs are inseparable. They always have objects but can never be separated by them.

e.g. I looked for my book but couldn't find it. NOT. I looked my book for.

These verbs are sometimes separated by adverbs.

e.g. I looked everywhere for my book.

Examples of inseparable phrasal verbs:

look after, break into, go on, get on/off.

Some phrasal verbs have an extra preposition.

e.g. get away with, look forward to, get on with.

These phrasal verbs always have objects but most of them cannot be separated by them.
e.g. We're looking forward to our holiday. NOT. We're looking our holiday forward to.

In the multi-part verb exercise in the exam you will probably have to use all types of phrasal verbs. Look
carefully at the instructions and don't forget to use pronouns where necessary.

EXERCISES:
Complete with the correct verb from the box below and add the particle(s). Add object pronouns if
necessary. Verbs can be used more than once or not at all.

LOOK – FILL – GET – TURN – PICK – PAY – PULL – RUN – COME --TAKE -- WAKE

1. They didn't _________________ the crime. The police caught them last week.
2. I’ve dropped all my photocopies. Could you help me to __________________?
3. John's lent me some money but I can't ___________________ until next month.
4. I can't see very well. Can you _______________________ the light, please?
5. Sue and Jack want to go out on Saturday but they don't want to leave the children at home alone, so they've
asked me to __________________________ .
6. If you would like to apply for the job, you need to _____________________ this form and send it to us as
soon as possible.
7. I need to go the petrol station before we leave because I really don’t want to _____________ petrol late at
night.
8. My children always ______________ going to their grandparents house because they know they always have
a wonderful time there.
9. The phone’s ringing. Can you ____________, please? My hands are covered in flour.
10. Why don’t you all ______________ to my house for drinks after the film?
11. The central heating is on, but it’s still cold in here. I’m going to _____________ a bit more.
12. Don’t stand there with your back to me! ______________ and look at me when I’m talking to you.
13. I don’t know why I bought these trousers. They really don’t suit me, so I’m going to _______________ to
the shop.
14. The police haven’t found the murderer yet. People say it was the perfect crime and they think the murderer
is going to ______________________.
LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2

Answer the questions below about yourself. Use multi-word verbs, incorporating object pronouns where
necessary. Look at an example:

Question: What do you do if you lose your keys?

Answer: I look for them.

1) What do you do if you drop something on the floor accidentally?

2) What do you do at home if you feel a bit cold?

3) If there's a word in a reading text you don't know, what do you do?

4) If you're smoking a cigarette just before you go into the cinema, what do you do?

5) What do you do if you have some old clothes, books, toys, you don't need
any more?

6) Your dog desperate1y needs to get some exercise. What do you do?

7) If someone behind you calls out your name in the street, what do you do?

8) Imagine you have two jobs, but find you don't have enough time to study any more.
What would you do in this situation?

9) You meet somebody you would like to have a date with. What do you do?

10) If you are going to apply for a grant, what is one of the first things you wi1l
probab1y need to do?

11) If you want to make some toast, but all the bread is still in the freezer, what do you
have to do?

12) Your mother and father are going out for the evening, and they have 1eft your baby
sister at home with you. What are you going to do?

13) If you see some jeans you like in your favorite shop, what will you do before you
buy them?

14) What do you say to your friend if you are going to arrive late to the cinema?

15) If you're wearing gloves and a scarf, what do you usually do when you get to class?

16) You have an argument with your partner. What will probably happen as a result?

17) If you have a problem, what do you try to do?

18) You have been on your feet all day and feel a little tired. What do you do?